A20752:427
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 be to no purpose, ⟨p. 161⟩then will they disguise their fatherly affection under the visor of wrath and heavy displeasure; they banish out of their countenance all signs of love, and assume terrible looks and bitter frowns; yea they will sometimes thrust them out of doors, and reject them a while, leaving them to shift for themselves, and to endure all misery. And whence proceedeth all this? surely not from hatred, but from love and tender care which they have over them for their good. And this maketh them use the bridle of correction, to restrain them from running into all licentiousness; this causeth them to pretend wrath in the countenance, that they be not by their lewdness forced to entertain it into their hearts; this moveth them to reject them for a time, that they may reclaim and retain them for ever. Neither doth our heavenly Father, who is infinite in love, deal otherwise with his disobedient children; he useth but his word if his word will suffice; he goeth no further then gentle chastisement if that be enough; but if he sharply scourge us, yea if he look upon us with a frowning countenance, and show nothing in outward appearance but his wrath and heavy displeasure; if he seem to reject us for a time, and to give us over to be tormented by Satan: yet undoubtedly all this proceedeth from his love and that fatherly care he hath over us, for our everlasting good and salvation; he seeketh not our destruction, but amendment; he frowneth on us for a time, that he may look graciously on us for ever; he seemeth to reject us for a while, that like the prodigal son we may return again, and be received into his everlasting love and favour.
but if all this be to no purpose, ⟨p. 161⟩then will they disguise their fatherly affection vnder the vizard of wrath and heauie displeasure; they banish out of their countenance all signes of loue, and assume terrible looks and bitter frownes; yea they will sometimes thrust them out of doores, and reiect them a while, leauing them to shift for themselues, and to endure all miserie. And whence proceedeth all this? surely not from hatred, but from loue and tender care which they haue ouer them for their good. And this maketh them vse the bridle of correction, to restraine them from running into all licentiousnesse; this causeth them to pretend wrath in the countenance, that they be not by their lewdnesse forced to entertaine it into their hearts; this mooueth them to reiect them for a time, that they may reclaime and retaine them for euer. Neither doth our heauenly Father, who is infinite in loue, deale otherwise with his disobedient children; hee vseth but his word if his word will suffice; hee goeth no further then gentle chastizement if that be inough; but if hee sharply scourge vs, yea if hee looke vpon vs with a frowning countenance, and shew nothing in outward appearance but his wrath and heauie displeasure; if he seeme to reiect vs for a time, and to giue vs ouer to be tormented by Sathan: yet vndoubtedly all this proceedeth from his loue and that fatherly care hee hath ouer vs, for our euerlasting good and saluation; hee seeketh not our destruction, but amendment; he frowneth on vs for a time, that hee may looke graciously on vs for euer; he seemeth to reiect vs for a while, that like the prodigall sonne we may returne againe, and be receiued into his euerlasting loue and fauour.