A20752:452
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.
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 ⟨p. 176⟩sinned and are deprived of the glory of God: as it is Rom. 3.23. And the Apostle affirmeth both of himself and others, that they were all dead in their sins, and by nature the children of wrath as well as others, Eph. 2.1.3. Fourthly, the Lord respected not our faith as an impulsive cause moving him to elect us, but only as an effect of our election; neither was the Lord merciful unto us in making choice of us to be partakers of everlasting happiness, because we were faithful, but, that we might be faithful, as Paul professeth of himself 1. Cor. 7.25. And the holy Ghost affirmeth, Act. 13.46. that as many of the Gentiles as were ordained unto eternal life believed. Lastly, although the merit of Christ was the only meritorious cause of our salvation, yet it was not the cause of Gods election, for Gods election was from all eternity, and the cause of Christs merits, which were in time and the effects of Gods election, and therefore that which came after could not be the cause of that which was from all eternity, neither can the effect produce the cause, but the cause the effect. Moreover, we are not said in the scriptures to be chosen for Christ, but in Christ,