A20752:762
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.
And thus Satan may be answered,1 when he taketh occasion of discrediting the Gospel and hindering the course thereof, by objecting the wickedness and worldly profaneness, or the infirmities and frail weakness of the Ministers thereof. But if he cannot thus prevail, he leaveth their lives and cometh to their doctrine. Doest thou not see (will he say) that there are innumerable sects and contrary factions amongst those who profess Christianity? some Papists, some Protestants, some Arians, some Anabaptists, some Pelagians, some Libertines, some Familists, some Donatists, & many other who all cite and allege Scriptures for the defending of their contrary opinions, ⟨p. 355⟩& confidently affirm that they only have the truth amongst them? how therefore canst thou know which is truth and which is falsehood; who interpret the scriptures aright, and who wrest and misconstrue them? or if thou wert disposed to be religious, what religion wilt thou profess in this great confusion? to what Church wilt thou adjoin thy self seeing one is contrary to another, and thou knowest not which is in the truth? If thou beest wise therefore keep thy self quiet and let all alone, hearken not to any of them, or if thou dost, believe them not over hastily, be of that religion which will best stand with thine advantage; or if thou wilt needs serve God, follow thine own conscience, have a good intention in that thou doest, and it is enough; but profess not one religion more than another, till thou seest those who are learned agree amongst themselves, for until then thou canst have no assurance that thou professest the truth. For the answering of which temptation we are to know, that the scriptures have foretold unto us that there should be sects, divisions, 2heresies & false teachers, even unto the end of the world; as appeareth 1. Cor. 11.19. 1. Tim. 4.1. 2. Pet. 2.1. And the experience of all times both under the law, & under the Gospel, may sufficiently teach us that wheresoever the truth of God is published and preached, there it is opposed by innumerable sectaries and heretics, which by the malice and subtlety of Satan, are stirred up to impugn and discredit the true religion: