A20752:376
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 if rather than they would endure the danger of the fight, they profess themselves friends to sin and Satan; or if having professed themselves Christs soldiers, they at the first encounter of their spiritual enemies tempting them to any sin, do forsake Christs standard shamefully, or cowardly yield to sin and Satan, voluntarily living in their slavery without desire of liberty: then either they show themselves notable cowards, worthy to be cashiered out of Gods camp: or traitorous rebels, who though outwardly they made a profession that they were Christs soldiers, yet in heart they desired to serve Satan.
But if rather than they would endure the danger of the fight, they professe themselues friends to sinne and Sathan; or if hauing professed themselues Christs souldiers, they at the first encounter of their spirituall enemies tempting them to any sinne, doe forsake Christs standerd shamefully, or cowardly yeeld to sinne and Sathan, voluntarily liuing in their slauerie without desire of liberty: then either they shew themselues notable cowards, worthie to be cassered out of Gods campe: or traiterous rebels, who though outwardly they made a profession that they were Christs souldiers, yet in heart they desired to serue Sathan.
§ Sect. 9 Here therefore is encouragement for the weak Christian, who is discouraged and ashamed to look his Redeemer Jesus Christ in the face, because of the manifold foils which he receiveth in this spiritual combat; for howsoever before the fight of temptations he resolveth manfully to make resistance and to overcome, yet when the devil strongly assaulteth, the world flattereth or frowneth, and the flesh treacherously betrayeth him, fighting secretly with whole legions of unlawful lusts against the spirit, then is he foiled and often taken captive of sin: But let such to their comfort know, that if they continue their earnest desire of fighting still the Lords battles, and overcoming their spiritual enemies, they are accepted of Jesus Christ, and in the end he will give them strength to obtain a final victory.
§ Sect. 9 Here therefore is incouragement for the weake Christian, who is discouraged and ashamed to looke his Redeemer Iesus Christ in the face, because of the manifold foiles which he receiueth in this spirituall combat; for howsoeuer before the fight of temptations he resolueth manfully to make resistance and to ouercome, yet when the diuell strongly assaulteth, the world flattreth or frowneth, and the flesh trecherously betraieth him, fighting secretly with whole legions of vnlawful lusts against the spirit, then is hee foiled and often taken captiue of sinne: But let such to their comfort know, that if they continue their earnest desire of fighting still the Lords battailes, and ouercomming their spirituall enemies, they are accepted of Iesus Christ, and in the end hee will giue them strength to obtaine a finall victorie.