A20752:704
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. 4 Fourthly,1 the manifold benefits which by the word of God are derived unto us, may serve as a strong argument to stir us up to the diligent and careful hearing thereof; for first thereby we become true members of the Church, out of which there is no salvation, and being ingrafted into the body of Christ, are made partakers of all his benefits. And this appeareth Eph. 4.11.12,2 where the Apostle showeth that the end of the ministry is for the gathering together of the saints, and for the edification of the body of Christ. A notable example whereof we have Act. 2.41. where,3 by one sermon three thousand souls were added to the Church. Secondly, hereby we are regenerated and begotten unto God, and therefore in this respect Paul professeth himself, the father of the Corinthians 1. Cor. 4.15.4 and without this regeneration and new birth, none shall ever enter into the kingdom of God, as our Saviour showeth us, Joh. 3.5. Thirdly,5 unless the blind eyes of our understandings be illuminated, we shall fall into a labyrinth of errors, and never find the hard way which leadeth to Gods kingdom; but the word of God is that heavenly light, which shineth unto us who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, guiding our feet into the way of peace, as it is Luk. 1.79. and in this respect,6 Gods ministers are called the light of the world,