A20752:357
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.
1That therefore these mourning souls may receive some comfort, let them know first, that if they have an earnest desire of repentance, faith, and the rest of Gods graces; if they have a good purpose to leave and forsake their sins, and to spend their lives in the service and worship of God: if they are displeased with their corruptions, and according to the measure of grace given, pray unto God, desiring the assistance of his holy spirit, whereby they may more and more mortify the old man, and crucify the flesh, and the lusts thereof: if they hate the sin they commit, and love the good which they cannot do: if they can grieve because they are no more grieved for their sins, and be displeased with themselves, because their sins do no more displease them: then may they be assured that they are Gods children, who are acceptable unto him in Jesus Christ. For he respecteth not so much our actions as our affections; nor our works, as our desires and endeavours: so that he who desires to be righteous is righteous; he that would repent, doth repent; he that striveth to leave and forsake his sins, he rep•teth of him, as if he had left and forsaken them; they that would never fall, nor be foiled by their spiritual enemies, God esteemeth as his invincible soldiers, and valiant worthies, who were never vanquished. For the Lord accepteth the desire for the deed; and if there be first a willing mind, 2it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not, as it is. 2. Cor. 8.12. So he is accounted blessed, not who hath attained unto perfect inherent righteousness indeed,3 but he who hungereth after righteousness, Matth. 5.6. that is, who hath a sense and feeling of his wants and imperfections, and withal an earnest desire to have his wants supplied.
1That therefore these mourning soules may receiue some comfort, let them know first, that if they haue an earnest desire of repentance, faith, and the rest of Gods graces; if they haue a good purpose to leaue and forsake their sinnes, and to spend their liues in the seruice and worship of God: if they are displeased with their corruptions, and according to the measure of grace giuen, pray vnto God, desiring the assistance of his holy spirit, whereby they may more and more mortifie the old man, and crucifie the flesh, and the lusts thereof: if they hate the sinne they commit, and loue the good which they cannot doe: if they can grieue because they are no more grieued for their sinnes, and be displeased with themselues, because their sinnes doe no more displease them: then may they be assured that they are Gods children, who are acceptable vnto him in Iesus Christ. For he respecteth not so much our actions as our affections; nor our workes, as our desires and indeuours: so that he who desires to be righteous is righteous; he that would repent, doth repent; hee that striueth to leaue and forsake his sinnes, hee repteth of him, as if he had left and forsaken them; they that would neuer fall, nor bee foiled by their spirituall enemies, God esteemeth as his inuincible souldiers, and valiant worthies, who were neuer vanquished. For the Lord accepteth the desire for the deede; and if there be first a willing minde,