A20752:672
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.
had it not bin for sin, death had never entered into the world, and were it not for death, sin would never go out of the world. Moreover, by death we obtain a full and perfect victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil; for whereas in this life we are in a continual fight, and sometimes Ameleck, sometime Israel hath the upper hand: death puts an end to this battle, and giveth us full victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil; so ⟨p. 306⟩as they shall never afterwards not only not prevail, but not so much as assault or trouble us: and thus doth every Christian, with David cut off Goliaths head with his own sword; for death was the weapon which Satan used to destroy us, and with this weapon we give Satan a final overthrow. Lastly, death which heretofore was the high way to hell and destruction, is now become the ready entrance into Gods kingdom, and like a foul gate whereby we enter into a fair palace; heretofore it was a fiery serpent which by stinging killed & destroyed us, but, now our Saviour hath pulled out the sting, it is become so harmless that we may safely put it into our bosoms, without receiving any hurt: and in this respect it may not unfitly be compared to the brazen Serpent, which looked like other Serpents, but in steed of wounding it presently cured, in stead of killing it preserved life; so though death retain his former shape, so that we are afraid and ready to flee from it, yet it is but in outward appearance; for in steed of an ever dying life, it giveth us possession of a never dying life and endless happiness. Heretofore it was the devils sergeant to arrest and carry us without bail, into the perpetual prison of utter darkness, but now it is the Lords gentleman-usher to conduct and place us in the kingdom of heaven. Heretofore it was like the devils cart wherein we were carried to execution, now it is like Elijah fiery chariot whereby we mount up into heaven. And this Paul showeth 2. Cor. 5.1. We know (saith he) that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, 1we have a building given us of God, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens. Why therefore should we fear, nay why should we not desire death, seeing now it is unto us advantage?2 as it is