A20752:314
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.
for as no enemy is so foolish as will after that he hath made one sufficient breach for entry, or forced one gate of the city, go from that to another, but rather enter where the way is made; so Satan laying siege to our souls, would not seek to make a new battery with his temptations, if the former had made way for him to enter and surprise us; he would not tempt us to pride and presumption, if he had overcome our faith and plunged us into despair; he would never transform himself into an angel of light, if he could have overcome us in his own likeness; he would never tell us of Gods mercy, if he had already overwhelmed us with the sight of our sins, and consideration of Gods justice; nor yet of Gods justice, if he could keep us in carnal security, by setting before us his mercy: but that way whereby he perceives he any whit prevails, he will follow and continue earnest in the same pursuit, till he perceive he cannot catch us. As therefore when the fit of the ague shifteth from time to time, it is a good sign that our nature waxing strong doth prevail against the disease; so when Satan's temptations in a short time often change, and that from one contrary to another, it is a sign that Gods spirit being strong in us, doth resist Satan and putteth him to these shifts, whereas he would hold on a constant course if he prevailed against us.
for as no enemie is so foolish as will after that hee hath made one sufficient breach for entrie, or forced one gate of the citie, go from that to another, but rather enter where the way is made; so Sathan laying siege to our soules, would not seeke to make a new battrie with his temptations, if the former had made way for him to enter and surprize vs; he would not tempt vs to pride and presumption, if he had ouercome our faith and plunged vs into despaire; hee would neuer transforme himselfe into an angell of light, if he could haue ouercome vs in his owne likenes; he would neuer tell vs of Gods mercie, if hee had alreadie ouerwhelmed vs with the sight of our sins, and consideration of Gods iustice; nor yet of Gods iustice, if he could keepe vs in carnall securitie, by setting before vs his mercie: but that way whereby he perceiues he any whit preuailes, he will follow and continue earnest in the same pursuite, till he perceiue he cannot catch vs. As therefore when the fit of the ague shifteth from time to time, it is a good signe that our nature waxing strong doth preuaile against the disease; so when Sathans temptations in a short time often change, and that from one contrarie to another, it is a signe that Gods spirit being strong in vs, doth resist Sathan and putteth him to these shifts, whereas he would hold on a constant course if he preuailed against vs.