A20752:396
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 all this will not persuade thee that the Lord abhorreth thee, yet at least be persuaded by thine own experience. For, hath not thy just God begun already to make thee taste the cup of his wrath, of which hereafter thou shalt drink in full measure; hath he not spoiled thee of thy goods, taken away thy good name, made thee an abject amongst men, afflicted thee in body with grievous and continual sickness, and filled thy soul full of horror and despair? Is not thy conscience stung with sin, and hath not the poison thereof drunk up thy spirit? Doest thou not plainly apprehend his wrath, and is not thy soul as it were set upon the rack, so that there is not one part of thee, either of body and soul which is not full of misery and wretchedness. Do not therefore fondly flatter thy self with a vain opinion of Gods love, but believe, if not my words, yet at least thine own senses; and seeing thou hast no hope of Gods love, if thou beest wise love thy self, follow thy pleasures, eat and drink and cheer up thine heart, and do not vainly macerate and turmoil thy self in labouring after impossibilities, and in striving for the assurance of Gods love, of which, when thou hast done what thou canst, yet shalt thou never be assured.
But if all this will not perswade thee that the Lord abhorreth thee, yet at least bee perswaded by thine owne experienc. For, hath not thy iust God begunne already to make thee taste the cuppe of his wrath, of which hereafter thou shalt drinke in full measure; hath hee not spoyled thee of thy goods, taken away thy good name, made thee an abiect amongst men, afflicted thee in body with grieuous and continuall sicknesse, and filled thy soule full of horror and despayre? Is not thy conscience stung with sinne, and hath not the poyson thereof drunke vp thy spirit? Doest thou not plainely apprehend his wrath, and is not thy soule as it were set vpon the racke, so that there is not one part of thee, either of body and soule which is not full of misery and wretchednesse. Doe not therefore fondly flatter thy selfe with a vaine opinion of Gods loue, but beleeue, if not my words, yet at least thine owne senses; and seeing thou hast no hope of Gods loue, if thou beest wise loue thy selfe, follow thy pleasures, eate and drinke and cheere vp thine heart, and doe not vainely macerate and turmoyle thy selfe in labouring after impossibilities, and in striuing for the assurance of Gods loue, of which, when thou hast done what thou canst, yet shalt thou neuer be assured.