A20752:288
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.
And therefore let not Satan deceive us, in persuading us to rest in civill honesty; for if it be severed from true piety, from saving knowledge, from sincere love of God, justifying faith, and a zeal of Gods glory, it will not be acceptable in Gods sight; as proceeding from the love of our selves, and other carnal respects, namely to obtain praise or profit thereby.
And therefore let not Sathan deceiue vs, in perswading vs to rest in ciuill honestie; for if it be seuered from true pietie, from sauing knowledge, from sincere loue of God, iustifying faith, and a zeale of Gods glorie, it will not be acceptable in Gods sight; as proceeding from the loue of our selues, and other carnall respects, namely to obtaine praise or profit thereby.
§. Sect. 5 And thus Satan dealeth with civil worldlings. But if those which he incountreth be professors of religion,1 then he seeketh to persuade them, that if they outwardly perform the duties of piety, as the hearing of Gods word, the public and private calling upon Gods name, the frequent receiving of the Sacraments; if they attain to the knowledge and profession of religion, and can tip their tongues with godliness; then they may live how they list amongst their brethren, neglecting all the duties of the second table, so they outwardly observe the first; for though they be barren of good works, destitute of charity, filled with pride, addicted to covetousness, oppression, and all deceitful dealing, yet they shall be justified by their faith, and approved of God for their outward profession sake. But let such men know that this is a notable stratagem of Satan, to cause us to fall into ⟨p. 83⟩his secret ambushments to our destruction,2 which if they would prevent and avoid, let them consider that piety and charitable honesty are two such twins as are borne, live, and dye both together, that they are the life and soul of a Christian which cannot possibly be severed; that it is as possible for the good tree to bring forth bad fruit, for the fire to be without heat, and the Sun without light, as it is for a lively faith to be void of good works, true profession to be severed from holy practise, and justification before God from sanctification and holiness of life before men; that whosoever braggeth of his love to God and loveth not his brethren is a liar, and there is no truth in him,