A20752:755
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.
Shall then their hardness of heart and infidelity move us to call the truth of God which they deliver into question, as though it were a matter doubtful whether it is the word of God or no? God forbid. Nay, let God be true and every man a liar. For their own consciences are convinced of this truth though not persuaded, and the Lord hath given them eyes to see it, though not hearts to believe it; to the end that the praise of our salvation may wholly be ascribed to his own free grace, who calleth and justifieth, sanctifieth and saveth whom he will, and not unto humane learning or knowledge, which may be attained unto by mans industry and labour.
Shall then their hardnesse of heart and infidelitie moue vs to call the truth of God which they deliuer into question, as though it were a matter doubtfull whether it is the word of God or no? God forbid. Nay, let God be true and euerie man a liar. For their owne consciences are conuinced of this truth though not perswaded, and the Lord hath giuen them eies to see it, though not hearts to beleeue it; to the end that the praise of our saluation may wholy be ascribed to his owne free grace, who calleth and iustifieth, sanctifieth and saueth whom he will, and not vnto humane learning or knowledge, which may be attained vnto by mans industrie and labour.
It may be also that these who teach one thing and practise the clean contrary,1 do notwithstanding believe, that is, know and give their assent to that which they deliver; but this general faith is incident as well to the devils themselves as unto men, and therefore those who have it may nevertheless be as worldly, carnal, and profane as ever they were; for before we attain unto a true justifying faith, and be sanctified by Gods spirit, our knowledge and learning will not free us from our corruption of nature, wherein we are conceived borne and bred; and therefore though we see the truth, yea know and acknowledge it to be the word of God, which shall one day either justify or condemn us, yet if the Lord do not join with this knowledge the inward operation of his spirit, making it effectual for our sanctification, and for the purging of us from our corruptions, we are as ready to fall into all sin, being enticed