A20752:529
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.
1But the tempter will object, that many through carnal presumption do persuade themselves, that all the promises of the Gospel do belong unto them, and therefore we may easily be deceived, not being able to discern between the testimony of the spirit and presumptuous security. I answer, that those who are endued with Gods spirit, may easily discern the testimony of the spirit from the carnal language ⟨p. 222⟩of presumption, as is evident by that which before I have delivered, and also may more plainly appear by manifest differences, if the one be compared with the other. For presumption is a fruit of original corruption which accompanieth us from our mothers womb, till it be beaten down with Gods sanctifying spirit; but the testimony of the spirit is a thing supernatural, which no man ever feeleth before his conversion unto God, when as by the preaching of the word he is humbled under the burden of sin, sorrowing and grieving for his sins past, and detesting them from his hart, and purposing to leave and forsake them in the time to come. If therefore we have had always this testimony in our minds that we are in Gods favour and elected, and never felt our conversion, nor discerned any fruits thereof; then doth this testimony proceed from carnal presumption and not from Gods spirit. Secondly, those who have the testimony of the spirit, make conscience of the diligent and careful use of the outward means of salvation, as the hearing and reading of the word, the receiving of the Sacraments, and other holy duties of Gods service, because they know that the inward testimony of the spirit is not ordinarily severed from the outward testimony of the word; and the assurance of Gods love and our election is not wrought immediately in us by revelation of the spirit, but by the preaching of the word and use of the Sacraments, made effectual by the inward cooperation of the holy Ghost. But presumption as it ariseth not from the use of these means made thus effectual, but from carnal security, so is it not confirmed thereby: for the less that the presumptuous man heareth the word and performeth the duties of piety and Gods service, the more confidently doth he boast of his faith and full assurance, and therefore he maketh no conscience of using these means ordained of God;
1But the tempter will obiect, that many through carnall presumption doe perswade themselues, that al the promises of the Gospell doe belong vnto them, and therefore we may easily be deceiued, not being able to discerne betweene the testimonie of the spirit and presumptuous securitie. I answer, that those who are indued with Gods spirit, may easily discerne the testimonie of the spirit from the carnall language