A20752:723
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. XX. Other reasons to prove that the Scriptures were indited by Gods spirit, taken from the Scriptures themselves.
CHAP. XX. Other reasons to proue that the Scriptures were indited by Gods spirit, taken from the Scriptures themselues.
§ Sect. 1 The eight reason to prove that the scriptures are the word of God,1 is the argument which they handle, and the end whereunto they tend. For the subject whereof they entreat are the great works of the everliving God, how he exerciseth his mercy towards his children in sustaining, defending, and saving them from all their enemies, and his justice towards the wicked in turning their counsels to foolishness, in overthrowing their designs and purposes, curbing in their rage and violence, and in punishing and destroying them. Now if you consider and peruse all other writings in the world besides, you shall find no such matter contained in them; for some labour in polishing humane ⟨p. 331⟩Arts; some set out large histories of the actions, counsels, success, policies, enterprises and perturbations of men like themselves: so that at the first sight we may know that they are indited by the spirit of man, seeing they are wholly spent in humane affairs, never intermeddling with any spiritual matter appertaining unto God. Moreover, the scriptures attribute the governing and wise disposing of all things to Gods all-ruling providence, that he may have the whole praise of his own works; as when they speak of some famous victory, they do ascribe it neither to the wisdom of the Captain, nor to the valour of the common soldier, but unto the Lord of hosts alone; neither do they make poems in the praise of Moses, Joshua, David, Hezekiah, or any other of the Kings and Leaders, but in the praise of the Lord, who by his own strong arm hath given his children victory over their enemies. Now whence can this proceed but from the spirit of God inditing them, who contrary to the nature of man which desireth rather all praise himself, doth move him to refuse all glory attributed to himself, that all the praise may be ascribed unto God? So when they speak of any benefit received by the Church, they do not attribute it to worldly friends, their good fortune, or their own industry and labour, but to the blessing of God proceeding of his mere mercy & goodness towards them.