A20752:434
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.
1But the tempter will further urge his objection after this manner: let it be granted (will he say) that God doth chastise sometime his children whom he loveth, both with outward and inward afflictions, and that they suffer even the same miseries which thou endurest; yet seeing they are sometimes punishments also which he inflicteth upon the wicked, hence thou canst not gather that they are fatherly chastisements and signs of his love to thee: nay contrariwise thou mayest assure thy self, that they are fearful punishments and signs of Gods hatred, which God in justice inflicteth on thee for thy sins, that others may be warned by thine example. For if they were chastisements and fatherly corrections, then would they indeed correct thee, that is, reform and amend thee; for this is the end why God inflicteth them on his children, and his end cannot be frustrate: but in thee there is no reformation wrought, nor any increase of patience; whereas in the faithful, tribulation bringeth forth patience, 2as even by the Scriptures it is manifest. Nay contrariwise when the hand of God is upon thee, thou bewrayest great impatience, and utterest inconsiderate speeches, which tend to Gods dishonour, give offence to the world and wound thine own conscience. And therefore howsoever to other these are fatherly chastisements, yet to thee they are severe punishments, which move thee rather to despair, than assure thee of Gods love.
1But the tempter will further vrge his obiection after this manner: let it be graunted (will he say) that God doth chastise sometime his children whom he loueth, both with outward and inward afflictions, and that they suffer euen the same miseries which thou indurest; yet seeing they are sometimes punishments also which he inflicteth vpon the wicked, hence thou canst not gather that they are fatherly chastisements and signes of his loue to thee: nay contrariwise thou maiest assure thy selfe, that they are fearefull punishments and signes of Gods hatred, which God in iustice inflicteth on thee for thy sinnes, that others may bee warned by thine example. For if they were chastisements and fatherly corrections, then would they indeede correct thee, that is, reforme and amend thee; for this is the end why God inflicteth them on his children, and his end cannot be frustrate: but in thee there is no reformation wrought, nor any increase of patience; whereas in the faithfull, tribulation bringeth forth patience,