A20752:464
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 this temptation is so palpably absurd, that it becometh not Satan's policy to use it to any, but those only whose hearts are hardened, their eyes blinded, their consciences seared, and who having not believed and loved the truth, are given over of God to believe strong delusions; and therefore I will not spend much time in answering this temptation: only let such men as are seduced with Satan's lies know thus much, that Gods mercy is a just mercy, as his justice ⟨p. 179⟩is a merciful justice; that God is infinite in both, and no less glorified in the manifestation of the one than of the other. Let them know that there are no promises of the Gospel so general, which are not limited with the condition of faith, and the fruit thereof unfeigned repentance. Let them know, that God who is not only merciful but also true, yea truth it self, hath in his word revealed his will, as well concerning the eternal death and destruction of the wicked, as the salvation of the godly: he hath said,1 that many are called and few chosen; that the gate of heaven is so straight, that there are few who find it; that he will say to the workers of iniquity, Go your ways I know you not; 2that he will make a separation between the sheep and the goats, and as he saith to the one, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit ye the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world, 3so he will say to the other, Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Let them know that neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor wantons, nor buggerers, not thieves, nor covetous, 4nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, nor any that live in the like sins, without repentance, shall inherit the kingdom of God, for truth it self hath spoken it, 1. Cor. 6.9.10. but they shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, 5