A20752:394
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. 2 Neither let Satan bewitch them with that vain opinion of Gods love towards them,1 because of those general benefits, which like the rain and Sun-shine are bestowed both upon the good and bad; for what in this respect can they promise more to themselves than Esau, and Saul? Were not they created men according to Gods own likeness? were they not preserved and nourished by God, and that more liberally than many Gods own children? For Esau had so much the he professed to his brother Jacob that he had enough, and was attended upon by four hundred men. And was not Saul a mighty King, who had all at command? Were not all ⟨p. 141⟩these in the Church of God, and outwardly enjoyed the word and Sacraments as well as any other; and yet God himself saith that he hated Esau, and had rejected Saul. And therefore let us never brag of our assurance of Gods love, because of these outward and common benefits which he indifferently bestoweth both upon the elect and reprobate; but if we would be assured indeed of Gods love, let us look into our selves, and consider if he have bestowed upon us his spiritual graces, faith, hope, patience, love of him and our brethren, true repentance for our sins, and holiness of life and the rest; and then by the fruits of sanctification we may be assured that we are sanctified, and consequently justified, called, elected, and eternally loved of God.
§. Sect. 2 Neither let Sathan bewitch them with that vaine opinion of Gods loue towards them,1 because of those generall benefits, which like the raine and Sunne-shine are bestowed both vpon the good and bad; for what in this respect can they promise more to themselues than Esau, and Saul? Were not they created men according to Gods own likenes? were they not preseured and nourished by God, and that more liberally than many Gods owne children? For Esau had so much the he professed to his brother Iacob that he had enough, and was attended vpon by foure hundred men. And was not Saul a mightie King, who had all at commaund? Were not all ⟨p. 141⟩these in the Church of God, and outwardly enioyed the word and Sacraments as well as any other; and yet God himself saith that he hated Esau, and had reiected Saul. And therefore let vs neuer bragge of our assurance of Gods loue, because of these outward and common benefits which he indifferently bestoweth both vpon the elect and reprobate; but if we would be assured indeed of Gods loue, let vs looke into our selues, and consider if he haue bestowed vpon vs his spirituall graces, faith, hope, patience, loue of him and our brethren, true repentance for our sinnes, and holinesse of life and the rest; and then by the fruites of sanctification we may be assured that we are sanctified, and consequently iustified, called, elected, and eternally loued of God.