A20752:514
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 the testimony of Gods spirit witnessing to our spirits that we are the sons of God, is so much more certain and without exception than the testimony of Angels, as the spirit of God better knoweth the counsels of God than Angels, as it excelleth them in truth and faith, as the testimony which is imprinted in the heart is more firm then that which is spoken in the ear, which may easily be forgotten. And therefore if by their doctrine we might be assured of our election by the extraordinary revelation of an Angel; then much more certainly may we be assured hereof by the ordinary testimony of Gods spirit which he witnesseth in the hearts and consciences of the faithful.
but the testimonie of Gods spirit witnessing to our spirits that we are the sonnes of God, is so much more certaine and without exception than the testimonie of Angels, as the spirit of God better knoweth the counsels of God than Angels, as it excelleth them in truth and faith, as the testimonie which is imprinted in the heart is more firme then that which is spoken in the eare, which may easily be forgotten. And therefore if by their doctrine we might be assured of our election by the extraordinarie reuelation of an Angell; then much more certainely may wee be assured hereof by the ordinarie testimonie of Gods spirit which he witnesseth in the hearts and consciences of the faithfull.
§. Sect. 2 The proposition being manifest,1 let us prove the assumption; which containeth two branches, first that the spirit of God testifieth to our spirits, that we are the sons of God; and secondly doth fully assure us of this testimony that it is most undoubted true; both which are manifest by Gods word. First that Gods spirit giveth this testimony in the hearts of the faithful,2 it is evident Rom. 8.15.16. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again; but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry abba father: the same spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.