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…

¹Though then our infirmities be great and our falls many, yet are we not to be altogether discouraged thereby, seeing it is the will of God that we should thus bewray our infirmities and corruptions, to the end his power mercy and goodness, may be made the more manifest, and that both unto our selves, and unto others. For such is our spiritual blindness and secret pride, that if we should always alike withstand the temptations of Satan, without receiving any foil, and never fall into any sin, we would be ready to think that we stood by our own strength, and so ascribe the praise of victory to our selves, thereby robbing God of the honour due unto him: and also for the time to come, we would rely upon our selves rather than on the Lords assistance; than the which nothing could be more dishonourable unto God, nor pernicious unto our own souls. But when as in the spiritual combat of temptations, we sometimes stand and sometimes fall, sometimes resist those assaults which are strong and violent, and another time faint and yield in the lightest trials: this maketh it apparent that it is not our own power, which in it self is not much unlike at all times; but the power of God, which sustaineth us sometimes, that we may not be wholly discouraged; and sometimes withdraweth it self, that we may by receiving foils learn to know our infirmities, and wholly to rely our selves on the Lords assistance, returning all the praise of victory to the Lord, who only hath sustained us. As therefore our infirmities in respect of our selves, should serve to abate our pride, and to work in us true humiliation and utter despair in our own strength: so in respect that they show unto us the Lords power supporting us, they should the rather encourage ⟨p. 133⟩us to fight the spiritual combat, with assured hope of victory, seeing it is manifest that we stand not by our own power, which like a broken staff or cracked weapon would fail us when we did most trust and rely upon it, but by the almighty power of God, against which neither Satan nor the gates of hell can any jot prevail.

¹Though then our infirmities be great and our falles many, yet are we not to be altogether discouraged thereby, seeing it is the will of God that we should thus bewray our infirmities and corruptions, to the end his power mercie and goodnesse, may be made the more manifest, and that both vnto our selues, and vnto others. For such is our spirituall blindnes and secret pride, that if we should alwaies alike withstand the temptations of Sathan, without receiuing any foyle, and neuer fall into any sinne, we would be readie to thinke that we stoode by our owne strength, and so ascribe the praise of victorie to our selues, thereby robbing God of the honour due vnto him: and also for the time to come, we would rely vpon our selues rather than on the Lords assistance; than the which nothing could bee more dishonorable vnto God, nor pernicious vnto our owne soules. But when as in the spirituall combate of temptations, we sometimes stand and sometimes fall, sometimes resist those assaults which are strong and violent, and another time faint and yeeld in the lightest trials: this maketh it apparant that it is not our owne power, which in it selfe is not much vnlike at all times; but the power of God, which sustaineth vs sometimes, that we may not be wholy discouraged; and sometimes withdraweth it selfe, that we may by receiuing foyles learne to know our infirmities, and wholy to rely our selues on the Lords assistance, returning all the praise of victorie to the Lord, who onely hath sustained vs. As therefore our infirmities in respect of our selues, should serue to abate our pride, and to worke in vs true humiliation and vtter despare in our owne strength: so in respect that they shew vnto vs the Lords power supporting vs, they should the rather incourage