A20752:475
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.
§. Sect. 1 And these are the temptations where with Satan assaulteth the worldling:1 but if he have to deal with a true Christian, who is indeed elected of God, and showeth the fruits of his election, by desiring and endeavouring to serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness, then he persuadeth him to doubt of his election, and to hang as it were wavering in the air, sometime lifted up with hope, sometime dejected and cast down with fear, till at last he being weary and tired with his doubtful thoughts, and having no where to rest himself, is swallowed up of desperation: like unto a silly bird which flieth over the main Ocean, and one while hopeth to attain unto the land, another while feareth seeing no place where to light, till at last being so weary that she can fly no further, she falleth down and is drowned in the sea. So these one while hope, and soon after finding their own infirmities, and not seeing where they may rest their wavering minds, doubt and fear, till at last through weariness they sink down and are swallowed up in the gulf of desperation, where they are drowned and destroyed, if it do not please the Lord to lift them up again, and to show them the firm Rock Jesus Christ, whereupon they may rest their weary minds and refresh their fainting souls; which he always doth perform to those that belong to his election; for it is impossible that any of them should perish, though Satan and all the power of hell seek their ruin and destruction.
§. Sect. 1 ANd these are the temptations where with Sathan assaulteth the worldling:1 but if he haue to deale with a true Christian, who is indeede elected of God, and sheweth the fruites of his election, by desiring and endeuouring to serue the Lord in holinesse and righteousnes, then he perswadeth him to doubt of his election, and to hang as it were wauering in the ayre, sometime lifted vp with hope, sometime deiected and cast downe with feare, till at last he being wearie and tired with his doubtful thoughts, and hauing no where to rest himselfe, is swallowed vp of desperation: like vnto a sillie bird which flieth ouer the maine Ocean, and one while hopeth to attaine vnto the land, another while feareth seeing no place where to light, till at last being so weary that she can flie no further, she falleth downe and is drowned in the sea. So these one while hope, and soone after finding their owne infirmities, and not seeing where they may rest their wauering minds, doubt and feare, till at last through wearinesse they sinke downe and are swallowed vp in the gulfe of desperation, where they are drowned and destroyed, if it doe not please the Lord to lift them vp again, and to shew them the firme Rock Iesus Christ, whereupon they may rest their wearie mindes and refresh their fainting soules; which hee alwaies doth perfourme to those that belong to his election; for it is impossible that any of them should perish, though Sathan and all the power of hell seeke their ruine and destruction.