A20752:301
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.
CHAP. XX. Of three other stratagems which Satan useth.
CHAP. XX. Of three other stratagems which Sathan vseth.
§. Sect. 1 A Fourth policy which Satan useth to entrap us in his secret ambushments is this.1 When by the violence of his tentations he cannot altogether restrain us from doing that which is good: then he will tempt us to do good actions to bad ends. In giving ⟨p. 91⟩of alms he will move men to propound this end that they may be seen of men; in doing of good works, he will tempt them to forget Gods glory, and to set before them as their main end of all their good actions, the meriting of heaven; and if men will needs appear virtuous and religious, he will entice them to use outward virtues as a cloak to hide their inward vices, and religion as a fair visor to cover their foul impiety. And thus he tempteth men to use all outward shows of humility, to the end they may the better disguise their hidden pride and ambition, as we may see in the example of Absalom; and all complements of courtesy and love, as a mask to hide their envy and malice. And thus he allureth men to profess religion, hear sermons, and use glorious speeches, that they may (seeming religious and men of good consciences) have their shops the better customed, and their words credited, and so have the fitter opportunity of deceiving them who for their profession repose trust in them.
§. Sect. 1 A Fourth pollicie which Sathan vseth to entrap vs in his secret ambushments is this.