A20752:754
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 And thus doth Satan seek to keep men from hearing of Gods word,1 that so being weakened and hunger-starved for want of this heavenly Manna, he may vanquish them at the first onset, and lead them captive unto all sin; and being still hoodwinked with the thick veil of ignorance, he may lead them the direct way to hell and utter destruction: and therefore it behoveth every one to arm themselves, that so they may beat back the violence of this temptation. First therefore,2 whereas he saith that the ministers speak not as they think, because they do not as the speak; we are to know for the answering of this temptation, that ministers are subject to the same corruptions and infirmities which are incident unto other men, and though they are called in the scriptures Angels in respect that they are Gods messengers to bring and publish the glad tidings of the Gospel, yet are they not Angels in respect of their purity and perfection: but as they are flesh and blood, subject to all humane frailty; as they are borne in sin and defiled with original corruption, so are they as prone as others to fall into all actual transgressions, if the Lord restrain them not. Neither must we imagine that learning and knowledge do indue men with sanctification and the saving graces of Gods spirit, for then we might attain unto them by our study, labour and industry; whereas the Scriptures teach us that they are Gods free gifts which he bestoweth on whom ⟨p. 350⟩he will; then it would follow that he who is endued with most knowledge and learning, should also have most grace and sanctification, whereas our own experience teacheth us, that many of the greatest Doctors of the world spend their lives in all voluptuous pleasures and licentiousness. What then? do these men teach one thing and believe another. Surely it may be the case of many, for faith cometh not by variety of knowledge, neither is it tied to learning; but it is the free gift of God bestowed as well, yea and as often also, upon the simple fisherman as upon the learned Pharisee; and therefore though they have such great learning and knowledge, that they are able to instruct others and defend the truth against all opposers, yet may they be as hard hearted and full of infidelity, as the most ignorant and sottish in the world.