A20752:436
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 we are to know that we are not to judge of our grace and strength, in the time of temptation, and of the spiritual conflict, when as our souls are grievously sick with the sense of sin and apprehension of Gods heavy displeasure incurred thereby, when as the fire of Gods spirit is covered with the ashes of our corruptions, and the fruits and graces thereof nipped with the could winter and boisterous blasts ⟨p. 168⟩of temptations, but we are to look into our selves when the fit is past and the conflict ended, and then shall we find our patience by experience of Gods love confirmed, our faith renewed, all other graces strengthened and increased: and then shall we clear••y discern the bright beams of Gods love and favour, shining upon us, when the clouds of temptation are past away which did hide them from us.
But we are to know that we are not to iudge of our grace and strength, in the time of temptation, and of the spirituall conflict, when as our soules are grieuously sicke with the sense of sinne and apprehension of Gods heauie displeasure incurred thereby, when as the fire of Gods spirit is couered with the ashes of our corruptions, and the fruites and graces thereof nipped with the coulde winter and boysterous blasts ⟨p. 168⟩of temptations, but we are to looke into our selues when the fit is past and the conflict ended, and then shall we finde our patience by experience of Gods loue confirmed, our faith renewed, all other graces strengthened and increased: and then shall we clear••y discerne the bright beames of Gods loue and fauour, shining vpon vs, when the cloudes of temptation are past away which did hide them from vs.
§ Sect. 8 1But if in the time of trial and temptation we judge according to our present sense and feeling, we must needs be deceived: for it cannot be denied but that even the dear children of God who have received a great measure of grace, when the hand of God is upon them do doubt of his love and favour, and when they are grievously afflicted do bewray their corruption, and show their impatience by uttering inconsiderate speeches; for while we continue in this life, we have the relics of sin hanging on us, and we are partly flesh and partly spirit, yea the flesh is the stronger part, and therefore it is no marvel if the flesh being pinched in the time of temptation doth complain, and being lanced deeply with the razor of sharp afflictions doth cry out for pain, complaining of the Surgeon that he dealeth too rigorously with him. And if men through bodily sickness have their judgements blinded, their understanding dazzled and misled, their memory overthrown, so that they can put no difference between their friends and their enemies, but even rail upon those whom in the time of their health they dearly loved, and think none so much their enemy as their physician, raving and inconsiderately speaking they know not what; what wonder is it if the like effects follow the sickness of the soul, when it is as it were set upon the rack, pressed with the burden of sin, and tormented with the apprehension of Gods anger, considering that these kind of afflictions are fair more grievous and without comparison more intolerable,