A20752:580
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.
Thirdly, whereas the Apostle, Rom. 11.20,1 exhorteth, us not to be high minded but fear; he doth not mean that we should doubt of our election and salvation, but doth hereby beat down our spiritual pride, and opinion of our own righteousness and holiness, whereby we are ready to insult over the Jews, as though we were chosen and preferred before ⟨p. 252⟩them, for some excellency or worthiness in our selves, and so derogate from the free grace and goodness of God, whereby he hath chosen us without any respect of our deserts. And that this is the meaning of these words, appeareth in the eighteenth verse, where he willeth the Gentiles not to boast themselves against the Jews who were the natural branches. Neither doth the Apostle write this to the faithful only, but to the whole Church of the Gentiles, in which were many hypocrites and carnal men, who contenting themselves with a bare name of Christians, would insult over the Jews, whom God had cast off from being his Church and people; whom he warneth, not to be puffed up in pride, as though in this respect their state were most secure and out of all danger; for as (saith he) they were cast off for their infidelity, even when they were natural branches, so shall you much more be rejected, who being wild branches were grafted in their places (that is, called to be the members of the visible Church) if you continue in the like infidelity, contenting your selves with vain confidence and fond presumption, in stead of a lively faith.
Thirdly, whereas the Apostle, Rom. 11.20,1 exhorteth, vs not to bee high minded but feare; hee doth not meane that wee should doubt of our election and saluation, but doth hereby beate downe our spirituall pride, and opinion of our owne righteousnesse and holinesse, whereby we are ready to insult ouer the Iewes, as though we were chosen and preferred before ⟨p. 252⟩them, for some excellencie or worthinesse in our selues, and so derogate from the free grace and goodnesse of God, whereby he hath chosen vs without any respect of our deserts. And that this is the meaning of these words, appeareth in the eighteenth verse, where he willeth the Gentiles not to boast themselues against the Iewes who were the naturall branches. Neither doth the Apostle write this to the faithfull onely, but to the whole Church of the Gentiles, in which were many hypocrites and carnall men, who contenting themselues with a bare name of Christians, would insult ouer the Iewes, whom God had cast off from being his Church and people; whom he warneth, not to be puft vp in pride, as though in this respect their state were most secure and out of all danger; for as (saith he) they were cast off for their infidelitie, euen when they were naturall branches, so shall you much more be reiected, who being wilde branches were grafted in their places (that is, called to be the members of the visible Church) if you continue in the like infidelity, contenting your selues with vame confidence and fond presumption, in stead of a liuely faith.