A20752:607
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.
And thus it appeareth, that though the flesh and the spirit be mixed together, yet they retain their own natures, properties and effects; and though faith which is a grace of the spirit, be mingled with doubting, yet this doubting is not of the nature of faith, which in it self is certain and assured, nay, it is not an infirmity of faith, as lameness is an infirmity of the joints, and dimness of the sight, for it is not any way incident to the nature thereof: and therefore much less is it a commendable virtue of faith, as the Papists teach, but it is a fruit of unbelief, which is in the part unregenerate, and is opposed unto faith, as appeareth Rom. 4.20. and consequently,1 though faith be assaulted with doubting, yet in it own nature it may and doth remain certain and assured.
And thus it appeareth, that though the flesh and the spirit be mixt together, yet they retaine their owne natures, properties and effects; and though faith which is a grace of the spirit, be mingled with doubting, yet this doubting is not of the nature of faith, which in it selfe is certaine and assured, nay, it is not an infirmity of faith, as lamenesse is an infirmity of the ioynts, and dimnesse of the sight, for it is not any way incident to the nature thereof: and therefore much lesse is it a commendable virtue of faith, as the Papists teach, but it is a fruite of vnbeleefe, which is in the part vnregenerate, and is opposed vnto faith, as appeareth Rom. 4.20. and consequently,1 though faith be assaulted with doubting, yet in it owne nature it may and doth remaine certaine and assured.