A20752:698
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.
Seeing therefore this our effectual calling is so necessary, let not Satan persuade us to neglect it, neither let us when the Lord inviteth us to this royal feast pretend excuses, one that he must go see his farm,1 another that he must go try his oxen, a third that he must go about his merchandise, and a fourth that he is hindered by a carnal marriage: for if we will not come when the Lord inviteth us, like unworthy guests we shall be shut out of the doors, and not suffered to be partakers of this banquet of eternal blessedness.2 Whilst today we hear his voice let us not harden our hearts, for he hath not promised that he will call again to morrow, whilst now he standeth at the door and knocketh and calleth for entrance, let us hearing his voice open the door of our hearts, that he may come in and sup with us and we with him;3 for if unkindly we deny him entertainment, we can have no assurance that he will return again to such churlish and ungrateful hosts. In a word, seeing the Lord passing by many other in the world maketh choice of us, calling and inviting us to the participation and fruition of eternal blessedness and happiness, let no worldly ⟨p. 316⟩business, though it seem as necessary as the burying of our dear father,4 hinder us from hearkening, and obeying this heavenly call; let no transitory trifle stay us from coming to God, when he offereth to make us good assurance of his royal kingdom: for though many things be convenient, yet one thing is necessary, and thrice happy are they which make choice of the better part.
Seeing therefore this our effectuall calling is so necessarie, let not Sathan perswade vs to neglect it, neither let vs when the Lord inuiteth vs to this royall feast pretend excuses, one that he must goe see his farme,1 another that hee must goe trie his oxen, a third that he must goe about his merchandize, and a fourth that he is hindred by a carnall mariage: for if we will not come when the Lord inuiteth vs, like vnworthie guests we shall be shut out of the doores, and not suffred to be partakers of this banquet of eternall blessednesse.