A20752:383
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.
for unless he were strengthened with his graces, he could not stand: but when one who seemeth in his own eyes destitute of grace, and full of sin and corruption (so, that he plainly seeth that he is altogether unable to withstand the least assault) is notwithstanding so supported by Gods almighty hand, and immediate power, that he doth not only stand in the battle, but in the end obtaineth victory; hereby the power and goodness of God most clearly appears to themselves and all the world. Seeing then our sins and falls do show unto us our own infirmities & weakness, and these do declare Gods unresistable power and might, which notwithstanding our feebleness doth uphold us: therefore let us so despair in our selves, as that thereby we may be moved to rely wholly upon the Lord, having so much more hope of victory, as the strength of God excelleth the strength of man; let us be so humbled with a true sense, and sorrow for our own infirmities and corruption, as that in the mean time we may receive more sound consolation and true joy, because we stand not by our own strength, which every hour would fail us, but by the power of Gods might: and therefore though Satan and all the power of hell conspire and band themselves against us, yet shall they not prevail; and though they foil us, yet shall they never finally overcome; for he that is with us is stronger than all they who are ⟨p. 135⟩against us; and the greater our weakness is, the fitter occasion shall the Lord have of showing his omnipotent power in giving us victory.
for vnlesse he were strengthned with his graces, he could not stand: but when one who seemeth in his owne eyes destitute of grace, and full of sinne and corruption (so, that he plainely seeth that he is altogether vnable to withstand the least assault) is notwithstanding so supported by Gods almightie hand, and immediate power, that he doth not onely stand in the battaile, but in the end obtaineth victorie; hereby the power and goodnesse of God most cleerely appeares to themselues and all the world. Seeing then our sinnes and falles do shew vnto vs our owne infirmities & weakenes, and these doe declare Gods vnresistable power and might, which notwithstanding our feeblenesse doth vphold vs: therefore let vs so despaire in our selues, as that thereby we may be mooued to rely wholy vpon the Lord, hauing so much more hope of victorie, as the strength of God excelleth the strength of man; let vs be so humbled with a true sense, and sorrow for our owne infirmities and corruption, as that in the meane time we may receiue more sound consolation and true ioy, because we stand not by our owne strength, which euery hower would faile vs, but by the power of Gods might: and therefore though Sathan and all the power of hell conspire and bande themselues against vs, yet shall they not preuaile; and though they foyle vs, yet shall they neuer finally ouercome; for he that is with vs is stronger than all they who are