A20752:526
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.
CHAP. IX. Of the means whereby we may be assured of our election.
CHAP. IX. Of the meanes whereby we may be assured of our election.
§. Sect. 1 And thus have I proved that those who are converted unto God, justified,1 and in some measure sanctified, may ordinarily attain unto the assurance of their election: Now I will show the means and signs whereby we may be thus assured. The first and principal means which assureth us of our election, is the inward testimony of Gods spirit which crieth in our hearts Abba father, 2and witnesseth unto our spirits that we are the children of God, as it is Rom. 8.15, 16. Which testimony it doth not give by extraordinary revelation, but by a secret application of the promises of the Gospel unto us, and by an inward cooperation whereby it maketh the outward ministry of the word effectual for the begetting of faith in us, whereby as with an hand we do appropriate the general promises of the word unto our own selves. And when the Ministers use reasons to persuade us of Gods love in Christ, the holy ghost openeth our deaf cares, and enlighteneth our blind understandings, and powerfully inclineth our wills, so that we may attentively hear, truly understand, and be fully assured of that truth which is delivered, not only in respect of the whole Church, but also in respect of our selves particularly, so as we can say, I believe that these promises of God are true, and that they belong to all the faithful, and consequently unto me who do believe and am assured of them, seeing they are promised on no other condition.
§. Sect. 1 ANd thus haue I proued that those who are conuerted vnto God, iustified,1 and in some measure sanctified, may ordinarily attaine vnto the assurance of their election: Now I will shew the meanes and signes whereby wee may bee thus assured. The first and principall meanes which assureth vs of our election, is the inward testimonie of Gods spirit which crieth in our hearts Abba father,