A20752:329
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. XXII. Of the general means whereby we may be enabled to withstand our spiritual enemies.
CHAP. XXII. Of the generall meanes whereby we may be inabled to withstand our spirituall enemies.
§. Sect. 1 And so much concerning the manner of Satan's fight:1 now we are to speak of the conflict it self; wherein (as I have showed) the parties assaulting and oppugning are the devil and his assistants the world and the flesh; the party defending and resisting is the christian soldier. The cause of the fight is not for lands and dominions, nor for riches and mines of gold; for these would Satan be content to give if he had them in his possession, if we would renounce Gods service, and fall down and worship him; but for the everlasting salvation of our souls which Satan laboureth by all means possible to hinder, and to plunge us into endless ⟨p. 106⟩destruction. The weapons which the assailants use in this fight are not the sword & spear, or any other carnal furniture, but spiritual temptations, whereby they seek to entice, draw, and provoke man to sin, that consequently he may receive the wages thereof everlasting death. The weapons which the Christian soldier useth to defend himself and repel his enemies, is the spiritual armour before spoken of, namely, the girdle of verity the breast-plate of righteousness, the knowledge & profession of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit, and fervent and effectual prayer.