A20752:818
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 this is all the treasure which sinners, by deferring their repentance heap up unto themselves for the last days; as James speaketh. Jame. 5.3. The longer therefore we defer our repentance the more we increase the bills of accounts, of which we shall never be able to give a reckoning, at the great, and general audit, the more we heap up our sins, the more we heap up Gods wrath; and increase the measure of our condemnation, and hellish torments every day, (as it were) piling up wood, in which we shall eternally be burned.
And this is all the treasure which sinners, by deferring their repentance heape vp vnto themselues for the last daies; as Iames speaketh. Iame. 5.3. The longer therefore wee deferre our repentance the more wee increase the bills of accoumpts, of which wee shall neuer bee able to giue a reckoning, at the great, and generall audit, the more wee heape vp our sinnes, the more wee heape vp Gods wrath; and increase the measure of our condemnation, and hellish tormentes euery day, (as it were) pyling vp wood, in which we shall eternally be burned.
§. Sect. 2 The sixth motive to persuade us to hasten our conversion unto God with all speed,1 is the consideration of the dangerousness of our estate before our conversion; for we are dead in our sins, the children of wrath and enemies unto God, who every minute lye open to his judgements and punishments. And this the Lord implieth in his speech to Cain, Gen. 4.7. If thou doest not well (saith he) sin lieth at the door, that is the punishment due to thy sin, like a cruel wild beast still watcheth and waiteth for thee, so as thou canst nor stir any way but it is ready to seize upon and destroy thee. Now in what a fearful state are those who every minute live in this danger, of which if they be surprised what can remain unto them but everlasting death and destruction; For as the tree falleth so shall it lie, as it is Eccl. 11.3. that is; as the day of death leaveth us, so shall the day of judgment find us, and therefore if we be taken away in our impenitency whilst we are dead in our sins, children of wrath, and enemies unto God, such shall we be presented before the tribunal seat of judgement in the presence of the great judge of heaven and earth.