A20752:517
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.
Which words do minister unto every faithful man no small consolation, if they be rightly weighed; for first we use to seal those things which we would have most certain and out of all controversy; as when a man hath made a promise or covenant with another, for his better security he doth commit it to writing, and least yet there should any scruple or doubt rest in his mind, he doth confirm it by adding his seal, to put the matter out of all question; so the Lord hath added to the written covenant of his word, whereby he hath assured us of our election adoption and salvation, the outward seal of the sacraments, and the inward seal of his spirit, whereby he hath ratified it, not in it self, but in our hearts, that so all cause of doubting being taken away, we might certainly be assured of his promises, that they belong unto us not after a general manner as the Papists teach, but particularly even as this assurance is particularly sealed by Gods spirit in the heart of every true believer, ⟨p. 214⟩Rom. 4.11.1 The end therefore why we are sealed to salvation by Gods spirit, is not that we should doubt thereof, but that it might be out of all question fully ratified and confirmed unto us: for this is signified by this metaphor here used of sealing, as may appear not only by the ordinary custom amongst us, but also by the use thereof in former times. So when Ahashuerosh would have letters written in the Kings name, which no man might revoke, he commandeth that they should be sealed with the Kings ring.2 Hest. 8.8. And Joh. 6.27. it is said that God the father had sealed our Saviour Christ, that is, confirmed him in his office of mediation, by giving evident testimonies and manifest signs that the people might not doubt of his calling and anointing. Matth. 3. 17. and 17.5. and