A20752:727
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.
Moreover, we may observe in the stile of the Scriptures, a majestical authority above all other writings, which only beseemeth ⟨p. 333⟩the glorious King and sovereign commander of heaven and earth: for they speak in the same manner, and enjoin the like obedience, to prince and people, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, without any difference or respect of person; not using any arguments, reasons, or persuasions, but absolutely commanding that duty which is to be done, and forbidding that sin which should be left undone, and that under the promise of everlasting life and blessedness, and the pain not of the gallows, rack, or wheel, but of eternal death and damnation; and whom beseemeth it to promise everlasting life, or to threaten everlasting death, but him only who is himself eternal and everlasting? and who hath this absolute authority of commanding all without any difference, but he who is Lord, Creator and governor of the prince as well as the people? Lastly, this word of God doth not only extend it self to the outward actions and conversation, requiring only the external obedience which is in fact and outward behaviour, which is the uttermost that humane laws respect, because the lawgivers can see no further; but the law of God requireth especially the obedience of the heart, and forbiddeth not only consent to any evil, but even concupiscence and lust? now who can make laws for the heart and conscience, or though he should be so fond to make them, who could either reward the obedient, or punish the disobedient, but God alone who searcheth the heart and reins? The stile therefore of the scriptures being peculiar unto themselves, showing majesty in lowliness & meanness, an overruling power in persuading, without rendering reason or bringing any argument besides absolute authority, and an universal jurisdiction over all without difference or respect, and that as well in regard of the secret thoughts as the outward actions, doth manifestly show that they are not the invention of man, but the word of God indited by his holy spirit.
Moreouer, wee may obserue in the stile of the Scriptures, a maiesticall authoritie aboue all other witings, which onely beseemeth ⟨p. 333⟩the glorious King and soueraigne commander of heauen and earth: for they speake in the same manner, and inioyne the like obedience, to prince and people, rich and poore, learned and vnlearned, without any difference or respect of person; not vsing any arguments, reasons, or perswasions, but absolutely commanding that dutie which is to be done, and forbidding that sinne which should be left vndone, and that vnder the promise of euerlasting life and blessednesse, and the paine not of the gallowes, racke, or wheele, but of eternall death and damnation; and whom beseemeth it to promise euerlasting life, or to threaten euelrasting death, but him only who is himselfe eternall and euerlasting? and who hath this absolute authoritie of commanding all without any difference, but he who is Lord, Creator and gouernour of the prince as well as the people? Lastly, this word of God doth not only extend it selfe to the outward actions and conuersation, requiring onely the externall obedience which is in fact and outward behauiour, which is the vttermost that humane lawes respect, because the lawgiuers can see no further; but the law of God requireth especially the obedience of the heart, and forbiddeth not only consent to any euill, but euen concupiscence and lust? now who can make lawes for the heart and conscience, or though he should be so fond to make them, who could either reward the obedient, or punish the disobedient, but God alone who searcheth the heart and reines? The stile therefore of the scriptures being peculiar vnto themselues, shewing maiestie in lowlinesse & meanesse, an ouerruling power in perswading, without rendring reason or bringing any argument besides absolute authoritie, and an vniuersall iurisdiction ouer all without difference or respect, and that as well in regard of the secret thoughts as the outward actions, doth manifestly shew that they are not the inuention of man, but the word of God indited by his holy spirit.