A20752:395
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. 3 And thus doth Satan falsely persuade the carnal man that he is highly in the love and favour of God:1 but contrariwise when he assaulteth the weak Christian, he changeth his copy, and goeth about to persuade him that he is not beloved of God, but subject to his wrath and heavy displeasure. And this he enforceth by two sorts of arguments: the one drawn from his manifold corruptions, whereby he is unworthy of Gods love; the other from those grievous afflictions and crosses which the Lord in this life inflicteth on him; both which he thus urgeth against him. Canst thou vild wretch conceive the least hope that thou art beloved of God? Why, do but take a view of thy self, and thou shalt see that original corruption hath overspread both thy body and soul like a filthy leprosy; unto which thou hast added actual transgressions more in number than the hairs of thy head, or the stars of heaven; for daily, nay hourly thou omittest some duty which thy God hath commanded thee, and committest some sin which he hath forbidden. Can therefore the Lord, who abhorreth wickedness, love the wicked? canst thou obtain his favour, and yet doest nothing but displease him? He that loveth God keepeth his commandments; but thou by transgressing them all, doest show that thou lovest him not: and will the Lord love them who hate and rebel against him? Can justice it self love wickedness, and perfect holiness impure corruption? No verily; for in his word he ⟨p. 142⟩hath threatened his wrath against all such notorious sinners, and he is no less true in his threatenings than in his promises.
§. Sect. 3 And thus doth Sathan falsely perswade the carnall man that he is highly in the loue and fauour of God:1 but contrariwise when he assaulteth the weake Christian, hee changeth his copie, and goeth about to perswade him that he is not beloued of God, but subiect to his wrath and heauie displeasure. And this he inforceth by two sorts of arguments: the one drawne from his manifold corruptions, whereby hee is vnworthie of Gods loue; the other from those grieuous afflictions and crosses which the Lord in this life inflicteth on him; both which he thus vrgeth against him. Canst thou vild wretch conceiue the least hope that thou art beloued of God? Why, doe but take a view of thy selfe, and thou shalt see that originall corruption hath ouerspread both thy bodie and soule like a filthy leprosie; vnto which thou hast added actuall transgressions more in number than the haires of thy head, or the starres of heauen; for daily, nay hourely thou omittest some dutie which thy God hath commanded thee, and committest some sinne which hee hath forbidden. Can therefore the Lord, who abhorreth wickednesse, loue the wicked? canst thou obtaine his fauour, and yet doest nothing but displease him? He that loueth God keepeth his commandements; but thou by transgressing them all, doest shew that thou louest him not: and will the Lord loue them who hate and rebell against him? Can iustice it selfe loue wickednes, and perfect holinesse impure corruption? No verely; for in his word hee