A20752:484
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 I would fain know what entrance with confidence, what boldness and assurance of faith, when we draw near unto God, and present our selves before his throne of majesty, if we remain doubtful of his love and our election? So Heb. 6.19. he saith that our hope is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul; 1but what certainty or steadfastness is there in it, if it waver and stagger through doubtfulness, so often as we look upon our sins and unworthiness? The Apostle Peter also doth tell us, that the ⟨p. 192⟩trust which we have through Jesus Christ must be perfect, 2that is, entire and perpetual, till we enjoy the thing which we hope for, 1. Pet. 1.13. And 2. Pet. 1.10, he exhorteth us to use all diligence that we may make our calling and election sure: which if we could not do, he should persuade us to the undertaking of a needless labour. Nay he plainly assureth us, that if we do these things (to wit if we join virtue with our faith, and with virtue knowledge, and with knowledge temperance, and with temperance patience, and with patience godliness, and with godliness brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness love) we shall never fall; because these are effects and undoubted signs of our election. And the Apostle John would not have it a matter doubtful, whether we are elected and shall be saved or no; but certainly known and undoubtedly believed: and therefore he aimeth principally at this mark, and propoundeth this as the chief end of his epistle, namely to show how we might know ordinarily, and be fully assured that we are beloved of God,3 elected, and shall be saved. So 1. Joh. 3.14. We know that we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren. And therefore in the latter end of his epistle he saith, that he had written it to this end, that we might know that we have eternal life. chap. 5.13.