A20752:298
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 as those who from their infancy are accustomed to take poisons in small quantities do enable their stomachs to digest more, till by long custom and increasing the quantity by degrees, it becometh so familiar to their stomachs, that instead of poisoning them they are nourished thereby, as histories do record of some of the Indian Kings: so Satan enticeth us to swallow down the poison of sin at the first in such small quantity, that our consciences may not be sick thereof: but having well digested the least, he increaseth the measure till by long custom he hath made it so familiar to our consciences, that those sins are even meat and drink unto us, which at the first we loathed as deadly poisons.
And as those who from their infancie are accustomed to take poysons in small quantities doe enable their stomackes to digest more, till by long custome and increasing the quantitie by degrees, it becommeth so familiar to their stomackes, that instead of poysoning them they are nourished thereby, as histories doe record of some of the Indian Kings: so Sathan inticeth vs to swallow downe the poyson of sinne at the first in such small quantitie, that our consciences may not be sicke thereof: but hauing well digested the least, he increaseth the measure till by long custome he hath made it so familiar to our consciences, that those sinnes are euen meate and drinke vnto vs, which at the first we loathed as deadly poysons.
Now if we would defeat this policy of Satan, we must continually watch over our own hearts and pull them back when we see that they but incline unto any sin; we must not lightly esteem of any sin, nor willingly give entertainment to the least wicked thought, for though in it self it be not so heinous, yet it will enlarge our consciences and make room for a greater, till at last we keep open house, ready to receive all wickedness which offereth it self unto us; and as we are careful to avoid the sins themselves, so with as much diligence we are to shun the occasions and means by which we might be drawn, or enticed thereunto. But of this point more hereafter.
Now if we would defeate this pollicie of Sathan, we must continually watch ouer our owne hearts and pull them backe when wee see that they but incline vnto any sinne; we must not lightly esteeme of any sinne, nor willingly giue entertainment to the least wicked thought, for though in it selfe it be not so hainous, yet it will inlarge our consciences and make roome for a greater, til at last we keepe open house, readie to receiue all wickednes which offereth it selfe vnto vs; and as we are carefull to auoyde the sinnes themselues, so with as much diligence we are to shunne the occasions and meanes by which we might be drawne, or inticed thereunto. But of this point more hereafter.