A20752:546
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. 11 Now that we may not deceive our selves with a counterfeit holiness,1 in stead of true sanctification, we are to know that this assurance of salvation, doth not proceed from every kind of holiness, but from that which is true and unfeigned: for there is an holiness of the tongue, severed from the holiness of the heart, in show but not in deed, in profession but not in practise; there is an holiness in performing outward duties of Gods service, severed from righteousness towards our brethren; there is an holiness in leaving some or the most sins, without any desire or purpose to forsake some one or two sins by which we receive greatest pleasure or profit; there is an holiness in tithing mint and cummin, which neglecteth the weighty things of the law, and which maketh clean the outside of the platter & cup, leaving the inside full of rapine and excess; and outwardly maketh a glorious golden show, when as within there is nothing but putrefaction and rottenness: there is an holiness which consisteth in the pharisaical censuring of poor publicans, and ⟨p. 233⟩in extolling our own virtues. The first kind is of those whom the prophet reproveth Esa. 29.13.2 who drew near unto God with their lips when as their hearts were far from him: and of those whom the Apostle brandeth 2. Tim. 3.5.3 who make a show of godliness, but in their lives deny the power thereof: in which rank many professors also in these days may fitly march. The second kind is of those who are content to serve God in the outward duties of his worship, because they find them good cheap, yea often gainful; but cannot away with righteousness, because that is sometimes painful and sometimes requireth cost. And these men in stead of making godliness their gain, make a gain of godliness. The third kind is Herod's holiness, who heard John gladly and did many things, yet could not abide to leave his incest: and such holiness is in some now adays, who will be content to leave all gross outward sins, so they may continue in their covetousness or voluptuousness. The fourth is the holiness of those pharisees which are most zealous in ceremonies and their own traditions, but key cold in those duties which most concern Gods glory and their neighbours good.