A20752:780
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. 4 Fourthly,1 before the hearing of the word we must search and examine our hearts both concerning our sins and corruptions, as also concerning our wants and imperfections; for the first we must consider to what sins we are most addicted, and with what temptations we are most easily subdued, to the end we may bring our sins to be slaughtered and mortified with the sword of Gods spirit, being otherwise unable to overcome them our selves; and that we may also thereby so strongly arm all parts, both of our bodies and fowls, so as they shall not in time to come, bring us again under their dominion. And as citizens being besieged with their enemies, do learn by their assaulting which part of the city is most weak, and so with more care and labour fortify it, with men and munition, trenches and bulwarks; so when we who are continually besieged by our spiritual enemies, do learn by their assaulting of us where we are weakest, and the enemy most like to enter, then we must go into Gods armoury and provide sufficient weapons and munition, whereby we may be ⟨p. 366⟩enabled to hold out and make resistance. So also we are to consider of our wants and imperfections, that so we may be stirred up with an earnest desire, to have them supplied, and hereby may be moved with more care to apply unto our selves such food as shall be most fit to supply these our wants, and amend our imperfections; for as men who hunger earnestly desire to be satisfied with wholesome food, neither will they willingly without any difference eat of all meats, especially if they have weak stomachs, but of that which is most fit and best agreeth with them; so those who find their spiritual wants earnestly desire to be satisfied, and to have their defects supplied: and for as much as all food contained in Gods word, is not fit for this purpose, nor agreeable to their stomachs, to the end that Gods graces may be nourished in them, therefore they will wisely make choice of that which best agreeth to their present state, and apply it unto themselves accordingly. For example, he who findeth his heart hard and secure, must feed upon the threatenings of the law, to the end he may be humbled, and his heart mollified, and resolved into tears of unfeigned repentance; he that is of a broken heart and contrite spirit, must feed upon the sweet and gracious promises of the Gospel;
§. Sect. 4 Fourthly,