A20752:284
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems…The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems…
The Christian warfare wherein is first generally showed the malice, power and politic stratagems of the spiritual enemies of our salvation, Satan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the means also whereby the Christian may withstand and defeat them : and afterwards more specially their particular temptations, against the several causes and means of our salvation, whereby on the one side they allure us to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw us to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spiritual conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sins / by I. Downame ...The Christian warfare wherein is first generally shewed the malice, power and politike stratagems of the spirituall ennemies of our saluation, Sathan and his assistants the world and the flesh, with the meanes also whereby the Christian may vvithstand and defeate them : and afterwards more speciallie their particvlar temptatiions, against the seuerall causes and meanes of our saluation, whereby on the one side they allure vs to security and presumption, and on the other side, draw vs to doubting and desperation, are expressed and answered : written especially for their sakes who are exercised in the spirituall conflict of temptations, and are afflicted in conscience in the sight and sense of their sinnes / by I. Dovvname ...
London: printed for Cuthbert Burby, 1604
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If they be civill honest men, he persuadeth them that it is sufficient if they deal justly and uprightly with their neighbours both in their words and actions; and for Gods service consisting in the duties of piety, which is commanded in the first table, that it is enough if they have a good meaning, though they be utterly ignorant of the principles of religion, and that it is only required of preachers and those that be book-learned, to be able to render an account of their faith; as for them God will have them excused, so they lead an honest life amongst their neighbours, and be not tainted with gross and outrageous sins.
If they be ciuill honest men, he perswadeth them that it is sufficient if they deale iustly and vprightly with their neighbours both in their words and actions; and for Gods seruice consisting in the duties of pietie, which is commanded in the first table, that it is enough if they haue a good meaning, though they be vtterly ignorant of the principles of religion, and that it is onely required of preachers and those that be book-learned, to be able to render an account of their faith; as for them God will haue them excused, so they leade an honest life amongst their neighbours, and be not tainted with grosse and outragious sinnes.
§. Sect. 4 But beloved,1 if we would not be subdued by Satan, let us be most careful in withstanding this dangerous assault: for there is not any one temptation wherewith Satan prevaileth more, than by persuading men to content themselves with a civill kind of honesty, which is destitute of religion and the true fear of God. And to this end let us consider, that civill honesty severed from true piety is but glorious iniquity: for when we have attained to as great a measure thereof, as possibly we can in this age of corruption, we shall come short in divers duties of many of the Heathens, who have excelled in these moral and civill virtues: and consequently when we are at the best we shall be but honest Infidels and good natured worldlings, if we do not join thereunto the duties of piety. And how goodly a show soever our works make in the eyes of men, yet are they odious in Gods sight, if they be not done in knowledge, and grounded on Gods word and commandment, but in ignorance and according to our own inventions and the fond conceit of our blind understanding; if they proceed not from the true love of God, which is the only fountain of all acceptable obedience, but from the love of our selves and other carnal respects; if they be not the fruits of a lively faith, but done in ignorance and infidelity; for, what soever is not done in faith, is sin,