A20752:414
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.
Sixthly, our sanctification and inherent righteousness it self, what is it else but the free gift of God, begun, increased, ⟨p. 153⟩and finished by his gracious spirit?1 what are the graces in us but Gods free and undeserved gifts? what are our best works but the fruits of his spirit working in us? for by nature we are dead in our sins, and the children of wrath as well as the unbelieving heathen or most profane worldling,2 Eph. 2.1.3. By nature we are not able so much as to think a good thought, or to will that which is good, no more than those who remain in the state of condemnation, as appeareth 2. Cor. 3.5. Phil. 2.13. but it is our Saviour Christ,3 who so loved his Church, that he gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it and cleanse it, by the washing of water through the word, &c. as it is Eph. 5.25.26. So that when we have attained to the highest measure of sanctification that we can possibly attain unto, we must in all humility confess with Paul, 4that by the grace of God we are that we are, as it is 1. Cor. 15.10. Neither must we attribute any thing in the work of our salvation, unto our sanctification and good works, but ascribe all to the free grace and undeserved love of God in Christ, whereby we are sanctified and stirred up to new obedience, who were altogether polluted, yea dead in our sins; so that our sanctification and worthiness is not the cause of Gods love and mercy towards us, but his love and free goodwill is the cause of our sanctification, and maketh us, who were unworthy in our selves, worthy in Christ of his love and favour. And therefore we must not measure Gods love by our worthiness and abundance of grace as being a cause thereof; nor despair of his favour and mercy, when we see our unworthiness and weakness in sanctifying graces; for these are no causes of his love but effects, and consequently when we want them altogether, though there be no cause of hope whilst we remain in this state, yet we are not utterly to despair for the time to come, seeing the Lord in his good time may begin his good work in us; and when it is begun, and we have received the least measure of sanctification, even a desire and holy endeavour to live in holiness and righteousness, we may be assured that it is Gods work, which he having begun will finish and accomplish,