A20752:422
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. 1 The second argument whereby Satan seeketh to persuade us that we are out of the favour of God,1 is taken from the manifold afflictions which are laid upon many of Gods children, whilst they remain in this vale of misery. But it is easy to answer this objection, if we be but a little conversant in the book of God; for there we may learn that afflictions and crosses are rather signs of Gods love than of his hatred; and marks rather of our election and adoption, than of reprobation and eternal damnation. For the Lord hath foreshowed us that his children should mourn when the world shall rejoice; that they should be hated and persecuted for his name sake;2 that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution and affliction, 2. Tim. 3.12. That they who will be conformable to him in glory, must also be conformable unto him in his sufferings,3 Rom. 8.29. That this short and momentany affliction, shall cause unto us a far most excellent and eternal weight of glory, 42. Cor. 4.17. That if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him, 52. Tim. 2.12. That whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth: and scourgeth every son that he receiveth, 6as it is Heb. 12.6. That those whom ⟨p. 158⟩he doth not thus correct, are bastards and no sons, vers. 8. And to these we may add the examples of Gods children from time to time, as of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Job, the Apostles, but especially our Saviour Christ himself, who was hungry, harbourless, despised, scoffed, reviled, buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorn, and lastly crucified; and yet even whilst he suffered all these afflictions, he was the only begotten and best beloved son of his heavenly father.