A20752:500
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. 5 Lastly,1 that we may be most certain of this certainty of faith, we will add to these testimonies, some examples of believers mentioned in Gods word. And first let us consider the faith of Abraham: which was not wavering and doubtful, but most certain and assured; for above hope he believed under hope, and he was not weak in faith, neither did he doubt of the promise of God through unbelief,2 but was strengthened in the faith, and gave glory unto God, being fully assured that he which had promised was able to perform it; and therefore it was imputed unto him for righteousness; as the Apostle setteth it down, Rom. 4.18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Now, Abraham was not only a bare believer, but the father of the faithful; neither was his faith propounded unto us as a wonder to admire at, but as an example for all his sons to imitate. And therefore it is said, vers. 23. That this is not written for him only that his faith was imputed to him for righteousness. 24. But also for us to whom it shall be imputed for righteousness, which believe in him, who hath raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. But it may be objected, that Abraham is not said here to believe thus certainly his own election or salvation, but that he should have a son, and become a father of many nations: I answer, though this were the next and immediate object of his faith, yet this was not the chief and principal; but the promise of blessedness and happiness, which was made to him and all the nations of the earth, ⟨p. 204⟩in his seed Christ. For Abraham could not be justified by believing that he should have a son, but by believing in the Messiah which should come out of his loins, by whose righteousness and obedience he should be saved. And therefore the Apostle Gal. 3.16. doth appropriate that promise made unto Abraham, 3Gen. 22.18. In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, unto the promised seed Jesus Christ.