A20752:424
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.
In a word, they are the straight path which leadeth to everlasting happiness, and a bridle to restrain us from running headlong in the broad way, which leadeth to endless woe and misery. And therefore seeing our momentany afflictions do serve for the manifesting of Gods glory, for the increasing of spiritual graces, and the furthering of our eternal salvation, let not Satan persuade us that we are out of Gods love and favour because of our afflictions, but rather let us repute them as they are indeed signs of his gracious providence and fatherly care which he hath over us.
In a word, they are the straight path which leadeth to euerlasting happinesse, and a bridle to restraine vs from running headlong in the broade way, which leadeth to endlesse wo and miserie. And therfore seeing our momentany afflictions do serue for the manifesting of Gods glorie, for the increasing of spirituall graces, and the furthering of our eternall saluation, let not Sathan perswade vs that wee are out of Gods loue and fauour because of our afflictions, but rather let vs repute them as they are indeede signes of his gracious prouidence and fatherly care which he hath ouer vs.
§. Sect. 3 But here the tempter will object that this I speak is true of the outward afflictions of the body,1 for thereby the flesh is mortified and subdued, and the spiritual graces of Gods spirit exercised and increased in us; but thy afflictions (will he say) are far different, for thy soul is filled with horror and fear, thy conscience is mortally stung with sin, and the weight thereof overwhelmeth thee; thou seest thy self subject to the curse of the law, and art already tormented with the pains of hell; thy God who looketh upon his children with an amiable countenance, frowneth upon thee like a severe Judge, and thou tastest of nothing but of his heavy wrath and displeasure; in a word, thou hast not one spark of true consolation wrought in thee by Gods spirit, with which those that are Gods children are fully replenished, and whereby they are encouraged patiently to abide all afflictions, but thy inward vexations are the torments of an evil conscience, and the flashings of hell fire wherewith hereafter thou shalt eternally be burned.