A20752:788
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. 7 And thus are we to stir up our selves to the diligent and attentive hearing of Gods word that so it may be fruitful in our hearts and effectual for our conversion and calling unto God;1 but when we have gone thus far we must not here rest, for if our enemy satan can no hinder the seed of Gods word from falling into our hearts then he will labour to steal it away as soon as it is sowed that it may never take root nor bring forth any fruit, as appeareth by lamentable experience; for how many are there who receive the word of God with their approbation, and are somewhat affected with that which is spoken and yet soon after it vanisheth away; and nothing remaineth but their old corruptions? and whence doth this proceed but from the malice ⟨p. 374⟩of Satan who when he findeth the seed of the word not throughly entered into the ground of the heart and therein covered like a ravinous bird devoureth it, or if it have a little rooting, yet he choketh it with the thorny cares of the world so as it never springeth up no not so much as into a blade of profession, or if it be so far grown up, yet he endeavoureth to keep it from ever thriving further, by causing the hot sun of persecution to arise and with the heat thereof to make it wither, and perish, though for a time it have made a flourishing show; as our Saviour Christ hath taught us in the parable of the Sower. Mat, 13. And therefore it behooveth every one of us to take no less pains after the hearing of the word to keep it from devouring and to preserve and nourish it, that it may take deep root and bring forth much fruit, then we did in the time of preparation, and in the time when we received it; for as the careful husbandman taketh great pains in stirring up his fallow grounds; and preparing it for the seed, as also in the seed time in sowing it in the ground thus prepared, and yet all this were to no purpose if he did not afterwards harrow it and cover it in the ground; so though we take great pains in breaking up and preparing the fallow grounds of our hearts, and also in receiving the seed of Gods word yet if we be not as careful after all this to cover and hide this seed in the furrows of our hearts that it may take deep rooting it will never bring forth any fruit of true godliness.
§ Sect. 7 And thus are wee to stirre vp our selues to the diligent and attentiue hearing of Gods word that so it may bee fruitful in our heartes and effectual for our conuersion and calling vnto God;