A20752:521
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 And thus it is manifest that we may be assured that we have Gods spirit, by the ordinary fruits thereof in every faithful man. Now let us consider how we may know the testimony of Gods spirit, witnessing in our hearts that we are ⟨p. 217⟩elected adopted and shall be saved,1 from our own phantasies caused through carnal security and vain presumption. And to this end we are to know, that the preaching of the Gospel is the ministry of the spirit, whereby we are sealed and confirmed in the assurance of our salvation, as appeareth 2. Cor. 3.6. And hence it is that the preachers of the Gospel are called the ministers by whom the people believe, 1. Cor. 3.5. And the words of the Gospel are called by our Saviour Christ spirit and life, because it is the ministry of the spirit which quickeneth us, as it is Joh. 6.63. And Gal. 3.2.2 the Apostle saith that we have received the spirit by the hearing of faith, that is, the doctrine of faith preached in the ministry of the Gospel. If therefore the testimony of salvation in the minds of the faithful, be conceived by the preaching of the Gospel applied unto them by faith, then is it most certainly the testimony of Gods spirit; for the inward testimony of Gods spirit is not different from the outward testimony of the word: but if this persuasion be not grounded upon Gods word, as theirs is not who persuade themselves that they are elected, adopted, and shall be saved, notwithstanding that they live in their sins without repentance, making no conscience of their ways, nor endeavouring to serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness of life; then is it not the testimony of Gods spirit, but a presumptuous fantasy, and a secure and carnal imagination: for the testimony of Gods spirit in the conscience, is the same with the testimony of the word, and therefore it doth not bear witness nor give any assurance that they are saved, which Gods word pronounceth to be in the state of damnation. When therefore this testimony is given in a faithful man and, agreeable to Gods word; it is the testimony of the spirit which sealeth us in the full assurance of that we believe: according to that