A20752:561
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. 8 But yet that we may not deceive our selves with a counterfeit show,1 we are to know that this evangelical obedience hath these properties; first, it must be total, and that both in respect of the subject and of the object; that is, we must not share our selves between God and the world, giving one the tongue, the other the heart; one our outward actions, and the other our inward affections; but we must perform our obedience with our whole hearts, yea with the whole man body soul and spirit: for though we be regenerated and sanctified but in part, yet is there no part of the whole man unregenerate and unsanctified, howsoever the flesh and the corruption of nature be spread likewise and mixed therewith throughout the whole body & soul. And therefore though all our obedience savour of the flesh, and is mingled with manifold imperfections, yet it doth proceed from the whole man body and soul, because regeneration from which it proceedeth is not of any part alone, but of the whole man. So also it must be total in respect of the object; for it is not sufficient that with Herod we observe many things, if we nourish willingly any one sin taking therein pleasure and delight, but we must desire and endeavour to forsake all our sins, and to perform obedience unto all Gods commandments; for if we nourish one sin in our hearts, it will open a door to let in more when we are ⟨p. 242⟩tempted unto them; as we may see in the example of Herod and Judas, the one harbouring incest, the other covetousness; if we neglect willingly, obedience to one precept of Gods law, it will so harden our harts and sear our consciences, that soon after we shall neglect all. If therefore we would have our obedience acceptable unto God, we must with the Prophet David Psal. 119.6. have respect unto all Gods commandments; 2for, he that faileth in one, is guilty of all, as it is Jam. 2.10.
§. Sect. 8 But yet that we may not deceiue our selues with a counterfeite shew,1