A20752:504
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.
Secondly, as the Lord doth offer unto us his gracious promises ⟨p. 206⟩of life and salvation, so do we receive them by faith; but the Lord doth not only generally in the word offer these his gracious promises to all that will receive them, but also particularly in the right use of the Sacraments to every faithful receiver: for in the Sacraments we must consider a relation and correspondency between the outward signs and things signified: as therefore the Minister doth offer and give, and I receive and eat the outward signs of bread and wine; so am I as certainly to believe that God doth offer and give, and that I do receive and feed upon Christ Jesus and all his benefits, with the hand and mouth of faith, unto the nourishing of my particular soul to everlasting life, as my body is nourished with these outward elements of bread and wine.
Secondly, as the Lord doth offer vnto vs his gracious promises ⟨p. 206⟩of life and saluation, so doe we receiue them by faith; but the Lord doth not only generally in the word offer these his gratious promises to all that will receiue them, but also particularly in the right vse of the Sacraments to euery faithfull receiuer: for in the Sacraments wee must consider a relation and correspondencie betweene the outward signes and things signified: as therfore the Minister doth offer and giue, and I receiue and eate the outward signes of bread and wine; so am I as certainly to beleeue that God doth offer and giue, and that I doe receiue and feede vpon Christ Iesus and all his benefits, with the hand and mouth of faith, vnto the nourishing of my particular soule to euerlasting life, as my bodie is nourished with these outward elements of bread and wine.
Lastly, the Apostle saith, that through faith we have entrance unto God with boldness and confidence, 1and therefore by faith the believer is particularly persuaded of the remission of his sins and of his reconciliation with God: for with what boldness or confidence can the poor sinner come before God, who is terrified with the threatenings of the Law, with the temptations of Satan, and with the consideration of his own unworthiness and self-guiltiness; if he be not particularly assured that his curse is borne by Christ, that he is forgiven the whole debt of his sins, and reconciled unto God? What assured comfort can he receive, if he believe that God hath elected Peter and Paul and all his Church, if he be not also assured that he is in this number? If a whole City should rebel and commit high treason against a Prince, and the Prince should send out a proclamation, declaring that upon some conditions he would receive them to mercy; with what boldness or confidence can any in this city come before him, if he be not assured that he hath performed these conditions? But this is our case, we have rebelled against God, and he hath proclaimed in his Gospel the pardon of our sins, so we lay hold upon Christ by a true and lively faith, and repent us of our sins: If therefore we could not be assured that we have a lively faith and true repentance, and consequently that Gods merciful promises belong particularly unto us; with what boldness or confidence can we come