A20752:765
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.
But there it will be demanded how those who are simple and ignorant can judge which is the true religion,1 and which is the false, who teacheth the truth and who falsehood? to which I answer, that every one must labour to inform himself of the truth, by studying and meditating in Gods word: this must be his light to guide him, his counsellor to inform him, his touchstone whereby he may discern the stubble and straw of mens inventions, from the pure gold of Gods true religion. Neither are we to receive all doctrines hand over head, but as the Apostle ⟨p. 357⟩exhorteth us, we must try the spirits whether they be of God or no: and with the men of Berea, we must search the scriptures,2 to see if those things be so as they are delivered, and accordingly either receive them if they are consonant with Gods word, or reject them if they be dissonant thereunto. Yea (will some say) this were a direct course if those only who have the truth on their side had scripture to allege, but seeing every heretic is as ready to quote scripture, for the upholding and defending of his heresy, as the professors of Gods truth for the maintenance thereof; all the question is, whose interpretation is to be received as good, and whose to be rejected as false and erroneous? To this I answer, that though there be some places in the scripture hard and somewhat doubtful, and therefore the more easy to be wrested unto a wrong sense, yet are there others clear end evident, for the confuting of all sects, heresies, and errors whatsoever: and therefore we must expound those places which are dark and ambiguous, by those which are perspicuous and manifest. For example, if we would know whether Popery be the true religion or no, we must examine the doctrines thereof by Gods word, not making choice of those places which seem any way hard and doubtful, but of those which are clear and manifest; and so we shall find that their doctrines are as contrary to Gods truth, as light to darkness. For whereas they teach that we are able to fulfil the law, and to merit heaven, the scriptures affirm the clean contrary,3 namely that in many things we sin all, I am. 3.2. and whosoever shall keep the whole law yet faileth in one point is guilty of all, I am. 2.10. that there is no man who sinneth not,