A20752:611
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.
1Sixthly, they object that we cannot be assured of the sufficiency of our faith and repentance, and therefore we can have no certain assurance of our election and salvation. I answer; this reason were good if our election and salvation depended upon the worthiness or measure of our faith and repentance; but seeing that they depend not thereupon, but upon Gods free mercy, and the worthiness and sufficiency of Christs merits and obedience, therefore though our faith be never so weak, and our repentance but in small measure, yet so they be true and unfeigned, not dissembled and hypocritical, we may certainly be assured of our election and salvation, for a weak faith doth apply Christ & all his benefits unto us as well as a strong, though not in so strong and perfect a manner, as shall appear hereafter. But yet we must not content our selves with a small and ⟨p. 272⟩weak measure, but labour to grow up from faith to faith, till we become perfect men in Christ.
1Sixtly, they obiect that we cannot be assured of the sufficiencie of our faith and repentance, and therefore we can haue no certaine assurance of our election and saluation. I answere; this reason were good if our election and saluation depended vpon the worthines or measure of our faith and repentance; but seeing that they depend not thereupon, but vpon Gods free mercy, and the worthinesse and sufficiency of Christs merits and obedience, therfore though our faith be neuer so weake, and our repentance but in small measure, yet so they be true and vnfained, not dissembled and hypocritical, we may certainely be assured of our election and saluation, for a weake faith doth apply Christ & all his benefits vnto vs as well as a strong, though not in so strong and perfect a manner, as shal appeare hereafter. But yet we must not content our selues with a small and ⟨p. 272⟩weake measure, but labour to growe vp from faith to faith, till we become perfect men in Christ.
- 1§. Sect. 8. That our assurance of election dependeth not upon the sufficiency of our faith and repentance.