A20752:371
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.
§. Sect. 7 If therefore we have but a desire to forsake our sins,1 and to attain unto true sanctification, this desire is Gods work, which he will finish & accomplish, according to that Psal. 145 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. For if the Lord do even press upon us whilst we do not desire his company; if he stand waiting and knocking at the door of our hearts, calling and crying unto us that we will open and give him entrance: when his holy spirit hath inflamed us with true love of him, and opened our hearts with an earnest desire to have him enter, will he now think you go away and refuse to come in when we invite him? Nay assuredly, for he hath promised the contrary, Revel. 3.20. Behold (saith he) I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with me; that is, I will make him a rich banquet of my heavenly graces, and give him to drink the water of life, of which whosoever drinketh shall never be more a thirst, but it shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life, as our Saviour speaketh Joh. 4.14. So our Saviour Christ calleth such as thirst unto him,2 If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink: And, I will give to him that is a thirst of the well of the water of life freely. If therefore we have a thirsting desire after Gods spirit and the graces thereof, we shall in Gods good time be satisfied, and filled with the full measure of them. And in the mean time though our infirmities be never so great and manifold, yet in Christ God will be well pleased with us, when as our corruptions do displease our selves, so that we earnestly desire to be freed from them, and to serve the Lord in righteousness ⟨p. 127⟩and holiness of life. For the Lord esteemeth more of our will than of our deeds, and of our holy endeavour, than of our best works, because this is the service and sacrifice of our hearts, wherewith above all other things he is most delighted: and therefore, Da cordi Deo & sufficit,