A20752:710
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.
CHAP. XIX. Satan's temptation, whereby he persuadeth men that the Scriptures are not Gods word, answered.
CHAP. XIX. Sathans temptation, whereby hee perswadeth men that the Scriptures are not Gods word, answered.
§. Sect. 1 The second temptation which Satan suggesteth into mens minds,1 to the end he may move them to neglect the hearing of Gods word, or though they do hear it, to reject it through unbelief, he thus frameth. What folly is it to take such pains in hearing the scripture, and what madness is it so steadfastly to believe it, seeing thou knowest not whether it be Gods word, or the subtle devise of mans brain, to keep the people in awe, and to restrain them from such secret faults, as other humane laws ratified and confirmed with temporal and outward punishments and rewards cannot keep them from; because the laws of princes cannot (no more than the lawgivers themselves) either fore see, prevent or punish any faults and offences, which are not open and manifest? why shouldest thou thereby be moved to forsake thy delightful sins, and to embrace unpleasant godliness, to abandon thy pleasures, and to undertake an austere and strict course of life, seeing thou knowest not whether the scriptures be true or false, the word of the everlasting God or the invention of mortal man.
§. Sect. 1 THe second temptation which Sathan suggesteth into mens mindes,1 to the end he may moue them to neglect the hearing of Gods word, or though they doe heare it, to reiect it through vnbeliefe, he thus frameth. What folly is it to take such paines in hearing the scripture, and what madnes is it so stedfastly to beleeue it, seeing thou knowest not whether it be Gods word, or the subtill deuise of mans braine, to keepe the people in awe, and to restraine them from such secret faults, as other humane lawes ratified and confirmed with temporall and outward punishments and rewards cannot keepe them from; because the lawes of princes cannot (no more than the lawgiuers themselues) either fore see, preuent or punish any faults and offences, which are not open and manifest? why shouldest thou thereby be moued to forsake thy delightfull sinnes, and to imbrace vnpleasant godlines, to abandon thy pleasures, and to vndertake an austere and strict course of life, seeing thou knowest not whether the scriptures be true or false, the word of the euerlasting God or the inuention of mortall man.