A20752:443
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.
Secondly, let it be granted that it is to be understood of Gods love towards us, yet it will make nothing for their purpose: for then this is the plain sense of the words; no man can know whether he be loved or hated of God by these common outward things which happen alike to all, and in respect whereof there is the same condition to the just and the wicked, and to the pure and polluted, to those that worship God and those that worship him not: there is no judgement that can be given, either of our selves or others in respect of our outward state, for sometime the just are poor, the unjust rich, the wicked advanced to honour, and the godly afflicted and persecuted. For example, Esau enjoyed his ⟨p. 173⟩delights and plenty of all things, Jacob like a poor pilgrim went into a strange country, having no other riches but his clothes on his back and his staff in his hand, & when he was come amongst his friends he endured tedious labours, & many miseries; and so David was persecuted, whilst Saul did sit on the throne; yea our Saviour Christ himself was arraigned at the bar and condemned, whilst Pilate and the chief Priests and Pharisees sate in the seat of justice, overswaying all at their own pleasures: and yet at the same time, Jacob was beloved, Esau hated; David chosen of God, Saul rejected; our Saviour Christ the dear son of his heavenly father, and his enemies the instruments and limbs of Satan. So that it is most true that Solomon speaketh, namely, no man can have assurance of Gods love and favour by these outward benefits bestowed both upon the godly and wicked; neither by his adversities and afflictions can gather that the Lord hateth him: for these befall all indifferently, as it pleaseth God to punish the reprobate, or to chastise his own children.
Secondly, let it be granted that it is to be vnderstood of Gods loue towards vs, yet it will make nothing for their purpose: for then this is the plaine sense of the words; no man can know whether hee bee loued or hated of God by these common outward things which happen alike to al, and in respect whereof there is the same condition to the iust and the wicked, and to the pure and polluted, to those that worship God and those that worship him not: there is no iudgement that can bee giuen, either of our selues or others in respect of our outward state, for sometime the iust are poore, the vniustrich, the wicked aduanced to honour, and the godly afflicted and persecuted. For example, Esau enioyed his ⟨p. 173⟩