A20752:342
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.
1And to the end that we may the rather be persuaded to continual care and Christian perseverance in this spiritual fight unto the end of our lives; let us consider that Gods promises and the crown of victory are not promised to those that enter into this spiritual fight, but unto those that continue fighting, till they have obtained a full victory over their enemies. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, 2Reu. 2.7. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee the crown of life. Vers. 10. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Vers. 11. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Manna that is hid, &c. Vers. 17. He that overcometh shall be clothed in white array, and I will not put out ⟨p. 111⟩his name out of the book of life. cap. 3.5. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame and sit with my father in his throne. As it is vers. 21. So that it is not sufficient that we enter the lists and sustain the first and second encounter, if afterwards we shamefully forsake the standard of Christ and cowardly run away, or else traitorously yield unto sin and Satan: but if we would be made partakers of Gods promises, we must overcome, that is, obtain a full victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil. There is none triumpheth for making his enemies once or twice to retire, or for getting the better in some skirmish; because they may gather their dispersed forces, and join with them new supplies, and so giving a fresh assault, obtain victory: but those only triumph who obtain a full victory; neither shall any triumph in the kingdom of glory, who resist Satan in one temptation only or bridle one lust of the flesh, but they who subdue them finally and wholly not once alone, but unto the end of their lives; for as it falleth out in worldly wars, oftentime the enemy doth retire back, and counterfeiteth a flight, to the end the other may pursue him securely and disorderly with full assurance of victory; and then he makes a stand and reuniting all his forces doth overcome his reckless enemy: so oftentimes Satan feigneth himself to be put to flight, to the end we may conceive an opinion of his great weakness, and our own invincible strength, and so be brought to negligence and security;