A20752:578
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. 3 So that these admonitions are not given to make us doubtful of our election,1 but partly to take away the presumption and security of hypocrites and carnal worldlings, and partly to bridle and restrain the flesh from running headlong into ⟨p. 251⟩sin, and from growing insolent over the spirit even in Gods children, whereby in deed their assurance of salvation would be abated and languish. The truth whereof appeareth if we examine the several places. For first, whereas the Apostle, 1. Cor. 10.12. saith, Let him that thinketh he standeth, 2take heed least he fall; he doth not move those that are faithful, to doubt of their perseverance, but those that want true faith, not to deceive themselves with vain presumption, and with an opinion of faith in stead of true faith in deed: and therefore he saith not simply, let him that standeth, but let him that thinketh he standeth, that is, he that doth not stand in deed but in his own found opinion. Neither can it necessarily be proved, that this falling is to be understood of final falling away from God; but rather as the coherence of the text showeth, of falling into those sins which the Israelites fell into: and though it were, yet is it but an admonition to take away carnal security, not given to make us doubt of our standing, but to preserve us from falling.
§. Sect. 3 So that these admonitions are not giuen to make vs doubtfull of our election,1 but partly to take away the presumption and securitie of hypocrites and carnall worldlings, and partly to bridle and restraine the flesh from running headlong into ⟨p. 251⟩sinne, and from growing insolent ouer the spirit euen in Gods children, whereby in deede their assurance of saluation would be abated and languish. The truth whereof appeareth if wee examine the seuerall places. For first, whereas the Apostle,