A20752:398
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. 5 But against this which I have said, there are two objections,1 the first is made by the worldling, the other by Satan. The worldly man will say, that the Lord hath made him also partaker of all these benefits, and therefore there is no cause why he should doubt of his love; nor any reason why he should be censured or condemned for his faith. I answer, that he is not reprehended for his persuasion of Gods love, nor for his assurance of Gods promises in Christ; but for his boasting of this faith, persuasion, and assurance, whereas there is nothing in him in truth but a dead carcass of faith, carnal security, and vain presumption. For true faith purifieth the heart, Acts 15.9. and worketh by love, Gal. 5.6. it is plentiful in good works, and provoketh us to perform all good duties to God and our neighbours: and it is impossible that we should be truly persuaded of Gods love, and not love him again: it cannot be that we love God, if we show no care in glorifying his name, by letting our lights shine before men, nor any desire to perform obedience to his will. For as our ⟨p. 144⟩Saviour saith, He that loveth me keepeth my Commandments, and he that loveth me not, keepeth not my words, as it is John 14.23, 24. If therefore we live in our sins without repentance, if we make no conscience of our ways, and show no zeal in glorifying Gods name; if our faith be destitute of the fruits of good works, then is our persuasion but fond presumption; our assurance, carnal security; our faith dead, and like a carcass which breatheth not, as James speaketh, chap. 2.26. We do not then reprehend any for being persuaded of Gods love, gathering his assurance out of Gods manifold mercies, and innumerable benefits bestowed on his Church: nay, contrariwise we affirm that notwithstanding all our sins and unworthiness, we are to be persuaded of Gods love in Christ, yea, and to believe against belief, and to hope against hope, when as there is no ground or reason of either in our selves: but this we maintain, that whosoever hath this assurance and faith, in the least measure begun in him, doth truly love God again, and earnestly laboureth after mortification and newness of life;