A20752:743
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. 2 True it is, that by the former reasons they may be convinced,1 so that they have nothing to object, and perhaps they may be brought to have a good opinion of the Scriptures, & to a doubtful conceit that they are the word of God in deed; they may with the two Disciples which travailed to Emmaus, when they hear the Scriptures interpreted, have their harts burn and throb within them, imagining that which they hear, to be more than the word of mortal man; and as the blind man in the Gospel, when his eyes were a little illuminated by our Saviour, discerned men, not as men, but as moving trees, so they may in some confused manner know and acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God; but before Christ hath fully opened their eyes, and by the precious eye-salve of his spirit hath dispelled their natural blindness, they will never certainly be persuaded nor assuredly believe, that the Scriptures are not the word of man, but the infallible truth of God. For it is not in mans power to beget faith ⟨p. 344⟩in any, neither is it grounded upon any natural reasons or persuasions, but it is the supernatural gift of Gods spirit, who illuminates our understanding, and inclines our will, so that we see, and steadfastly believe that trueth which it delivereth, as appeareth Ephes. 2.8. 2. Thes. 1.11.2
§. Sect. 2 True it is, that by the former reasons they may be conuinced,1 so that they haue nothing to obiect, and perhaps they may bee brought to haue a good opinion of the Scriptures, & to a doubtfull conceite that they are the word of God in deede; they may with the two Disciples which trauailed to Emaus, when they heare the Scriptures interpreted, haue their harts burne and throb within thē, imagining that which they heare, to be more than the word of mortall man; and as the blind man in the Gospell, when his eyes were a little illuminated by our Sauiour, discerned men, not as men, but as moouing trees, so they may in some confused manner know and acknowledge the Scriptures to be the word of God; but before Christ hath fully opened their eyes, and by the precious eye-salue of his spirit hath dispelled their naturall blindnesse, they wil neuer certainely be perswaded nor assuredly beleeue, that the Scriptures are not the word of man, but the infallible truth of God. For it is not in mans power to beget faith