A20752:706
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. 5 But here the tempter will be ready to object,1 that though the word preached be thus necessary and profitable at sometimes when we are at leisure, yet this should be no reason to move us to neglect our business, or abandon our pleasures; for when once by the hearing thereof we are converted, enlightened with the knowledge of Gods true religion, and endued with faith, it is sufficient if we but seldom hear it; for what in substance can we learn, which we have not already learned, or what can the preacher teach us, which we do not know as well as he? Against which temptation, which is so common and pernicious, it behooveth every christian most carefully to arm himself; and to this end let us know, first that this neglect of Gods word is a manifest sign that such are not as yet truly converted, nor endued with any measure of saving knowledge and true faith;2 for whosoever are of God hear his word, Joh. 8.47; and all Christ sheep hear his voice and follow him, as it is Joh. 10.3.4.27. Whosoever have attained unto knowledge, faith, and the rest of the graces of Gods sanctifying spirit, they will be so ravished with the excellency of them, that it is not possible for them to content themselves with a small measure, but still they will labour to grow from knowledge to knowledge, ⟨p. 321⟩from faith to faith, from one grace to another, till they become perfect men in Christ. And as those who have but once tasted of some delicious meat, are not satisfied therewith, but again and again feed upon it if easily they may come by it, because their taste is exceedingly delighted therewith; so if ever we did but truly taste of this heavenly Manna, and spiritual food of our souls, the word of God, we would not rest so contented, but when opportunity is offered, we would often feed upon it, until our souls were fully satisfied, and nourished unto perfect strength;3 and forasmuch as so long as we continue here, our knowledge is but in part and our faith weak, and Gods graces but in small measure, therefore we would continually feed on this heavenly nourishment, to the end of our lives, that thereby our knowledge may be increased, our faith strengthened, and all other graces confirmed and multiplied in us.