A20752:598
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 they further urge, that humble doubting is better than presumptuous assurance; I answer, first that their doubting is full of pride, which maketh them look for salvation in their own worthiness, rather than in Gods free mercy and Christs merits: secondly that our faith and certain assurance is full of humility; for we freely confess our own unworthiness, and dare not offer before the seat of Gods justice any righteousness that is in us, as desiring in whole or in part to be justified thereby; nay rather we pray with the Prophet Psal. 143.2. Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall none that liveth be justified; 2and though we know nothing by our selves yet do we plainly affirm with the Apostle, that we are not hereby justified. 31. Cor. 4.4. But this humility doth not abate our faith and certain assurance, nay rather it doth confirm and increase it, for it maketh us to go out of our selves, as finding no hope of salvation whereupon we may rest, and moveth us to seek for salvation in Christ, who is such a sure anchor-hold that whosoever pitch the anchor of their hope on him, shall find it sure and steadfast, and whosoever build their faith on this foundation and corner stone, the power of hell shall never prevail against them.
1But they further vrge, that humble doubting is better than presumptuous assurance; I answere, first that their doubting is full of pride, which maketh them looke for saluation in their owne worthinesse, rather than in Gods free mercie and Christs merits: secondly that our faith and certaine assurance is full of humilitie; for wee freely confesse our owne vnworthinesse, and dare not offer before the seate of Gods iustice any righteousnesse that is in vs, as desiring in whole or in part to be iustified thereby; nay rather we pray with the Prophet Psal. 143.2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for in thy sight shall none that liueth be iustified;