A20752:369
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.
If therefore we are regenerate, and have in us the spirit of God, and the graces thereof in the least measure, we may boldly say with Paul, that it is no more we that do offend God, but sin that dwelleth in us, neither shall we receive punishment but the flesh, that is, our unregenerate and corrupt part, which shall be mortified and fully abolished by the spirit of God; as for the spiritual and regenerate part, it shall daily be more and more strengthened and confirmed in the spiritual life, and the more punishments, afflictions and torments the flesh hath inflicted on it, the more shall the spiritual man grow up in grace and goodness, till our corruption being by little and little mortified, and in the end fully abolished by death, we shall be perfect men in Christ, living a spiritual and everlasting life in all glory and happiness in his kingdom. When therefore the Lord suffereth Satan to afflict us in our goods, bodies, and in our souls and consciences as he did Job, it is not because he hath forsaken us and given over his whole interest he hath in us to this wicked spirit, but, as the Apostle speaketh in another matter, he delivereth us unto Satan (to be afflicted) for the destruction of the flesh, 1that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, 1. Cor. 5.5.
If therefore we are regenerate, and haue in vs the spirit of God, and the graces thereof in the least measure, wee may boldly say with Paul, that it is no more we yt do offend God, but sinne that dwelleth in vs, neither shall we receiue punishment but the flesh, that is, our vnregenerate and corrupt part, which shall be mortified and fully abolished by the spirit of God; as for the spirituall and regenerate part, it shall daily bee more and more strengthened and confirmed in the spirituall life, and the more punishments, afflictions and torments the flesh hath inflicted on it, the more shall the spirituall man grow vp in grace and goodnes, till our corruption being by little and little mortified, and in the end fully abolished by death, we shall be perfect men in Christ, liuing a spirituall and euerlasting life in all glorie and happines in his kingdome. When therefore the Lord suffreth Sathan to afflict vs in our goods, bodies, and in our soules and consciences as hee did Iob, it is not because hee hath forsaken vs and giuen ouer his whole interest hee hath in vs to this wicked spirit, but, as the Apostle speaketh in another matter, he deliuereth vs vnto Sathan (to be afflicted) for the destruction of the flesh,