A20752:451
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, the motive or impulsive cause of Gods election is expressed, namely, Gods free love, mere goodwill and undeserved grace. And this also is manifest Luk. 12.32. Fear not little flock, for it is your fathers pleasure to give you a kingdom. And Eph. 1.5. who hath predestinated us to be adopted through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Secondly, the motiue or impulsiue cause of Gods election is expressed, namely, Gods free loue, meere goodwill and vndeserued grace. And this also is manifest Luk. 12.32. Feare not little flocke, for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome. And Eph. 1.5. who hath predestinated vs to be adopted through Iesus Christ vnto himselfe, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Here therefore are excluded all other causes, wherewith divers have imagined God was moved to elect us; as namely our own will, the foreseeing of our works worthiness or faith, and the merits of our Saviour Christ. And that these were not the causes which moved the Lord to elect us, it may be proved by manifest testimonies of scripture. First, our own will is expressly excluded, Rom. 9.16. It is not in him that willeth or runneth, but in God that showeth mercy. Secondly, not the foresight of our own works, for the Apostle plainly affirmeth Rom. 9.11.12. that before the children were borne, and when they had neither done good or evil, that the purpose of God might remain according to election, not by works, but by him that calleth. 12. It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger, 13. As it is written, I have loved Jacob and hated Esau. And chap. 11.5.6. he saith, that Gods election is of grace, and if it be of grace it is no more of works, or else were grace no more grace. Thirdly, not the foresight of any worthiness in us more than in others; For there is no difference, for all have