A20752:605
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. 5 And as it is with all other graces,1 so also with faith, which is often assaulted with doubting and infidelity, and sometimes also so foiled that we can hardly discern any breath or life in it; but yet even then it retaineth it own nature and properties, and doth not receive the nature and properties of doubting; but as the tree which is shaken with boisterous blasts of wind and is not overthrown, doth in the middest of the tempest live and suck nourishment out of the earth, and still retains his own nature and properties; so when our faith is shaken with the boisterous blasts of Satan's temptations, and with our own natural doubting and infidelity, yet it still liveth and sucketh nourishment out of Gods gracious promises, and still it retaineth his own property of certain persuasion, though then it do not exercise it in action, so manifestly as before and after the conflict of temptations, and as ⟨p. 268⟩the shaking of the tree is not of the nature thereof, for of it self it standeth firm and steady, but by outward accident, namely the wind blowing upon it: so is not uncertain wavering and unconstant doubting of the nature of faith, for of it self it is firm and certain; but it cometh by outward accident from the boisterous blasts of infidelity, and the temptations of Satan which (as it were) violently blow upon it, which being past, it remaineth like the tree firm and constant. And as the graces of Gods spirit, and the flesh and the corruptions thereof do still retain in themselves their own nature and properties, so also do they most commonly show themselves in their divers fruits and effects, and that oftentimes in the conflict and time of temptation, so that the regenerate man may at the same time feel in himself contrary affections and actions; for the spirit acknowledging Gods goodness mercy and truth in his promises, is replenished with joy, being in hope to enjoy them, on the other side the flesh feeling present misery, and the sharpness of afflictions, sorroweth and grieveth. The spirit apprehending and applying unto it the sweet promises of the Gospel, doth quietly rest upon them; the flesh seeing it own corruption, and the huge weight of sin that presseth it down, feareth and doubteth:
§. Sect. 5 And as it is with all other graces,1