A20752:366
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.
But wherein doth this measure of grace and chief perfection of a Christian consist in this life? Surely, not in their works, for they are all imperfect, and so full of corruptions that they are odious in Gods sight, being considered in themselves, and examined by the rule of his exact justice; neither in their inherent righteousness, and begun sanctification, for when they are at the holiest they are polluted with the relics of original corruption, which bring forth the fruits ⟨p. 123⟩of actual transgressions, and make us unable to do the good we would, in that manner and measure which we should, and therefore those which are most righteous are not in this respect acceptable to God: but herein the perfection of a christian consisteth, when as seeing his imperfections, wants and sins, he is grieved and truly humbled with the sight and sense of his own misery and wretchedness, and disclaiming and rejecting his own righteousness and good works, doth flee unto our Saviour Christ, hungering after his righteousness, and by a lively faith applying unto his wounded soul his merit and obedience, doth look for salvation in him alone; and lastly, when as in obedience to his commandment, and in true thankfulness for his infinite mercies he hath an earnest desire to glorify his name, by a godly and Christian life, striving and endeavouring continually to forsake his sins, to mortify his corruption, and to attain unto more and more perfection in righteousness and holiness. For, Maxima pars Christianismi est toto pectore velle fieri Christianum; It is the greatest part of Christianity to desire with the whole heart to become a Christian.
But wherein doth this measure of grace and chiefe perfection of a Christian consist in this life? Surely, not in their workes, for they are all imperfect, and so full of corruptions that they are odious in Gods sight, being considered in themselues, and examined by the rule of his exact iustice; neither in their inherent righteousnes, and begun sanctification, for when they are at the holiest they are polluted with the reliques of originall corruption, which bring foorth the fruites ⟨p. 123⟩of actuall transgressions, and make vs vnable to doe the good we would, in that manner and measure which we should, and therefore those which are most righteous are not in this respect acceptable to God: but herein the perfection of a christian consisteth, when as seeing his imperfections, wants and sinnes, he is grieued and truly humbled with the sight and sense of his owne miserie and wretchednesse, and disclaiming and reiecting his owne righteousnes and good workes, doth flee vnto our Sauiour Christ, hungring after his righteousnes, and by a liuely faith applying vnto his wounded soule his merit and obedience, doth looke for saluation in him alone; and lastly, when as in obedience to his commandement, and in true thankfulnes for his infinite mercies he hath an earnest desire to glorifie his name, by a godly and Christian life, striuing and endeuouring continually to forsake his sinnes, to mortifie his corruption, and to attaine vnto more and more perfection in righteousnes and holines. For, Maxima pars Christianismi est toto pectore velle fieri Christianum; It is the greatest part of Christianitie to desire with the whole heart to become a Christian.