A20752:820
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. 3 The seventh motive may be drawn from the manifold benefits which will accompany our speedy conversion, for first virtue and goodness being sown in us in the time of youth, will take more deep root in us, so as it cannot easily be left or lost, for as the vessel doth longest retain the smell ⟨p. 395⟩and taste of that liquor which was put into it whilst it was new and unseasoned, so they will longest retain virtue and goodness who have it planted in them in their youth, according to that Pro. 22.6, teach a child in the trade of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Secondly if we turn to God betimes the exercises of religion, and works of sanctification, will be far more pleasant and easy then if we defer them till our old age, for often use will bring us to a custom, and long custom will work in us an habit of virtue, which will be easy and familiar, if children from their youth be brought up in trades and occupations which are exceeding hard and difficult, they do attain to the skill and practise of them with exceeding dexterity and quickness, but if the learning of them be deferred till old age they can never attain unto them, or at least perform them slowly and with great difficulty, and so if from our childhood we, accustom our selves to the learning and practise of the works of holiness and righteousness, they will grow exceeding easy and pleasant, whereas being deferred they will be difficult and tedious. If the ox whilst he is young be accustomed to the yoke he draweth in it quietly and with no great pain, but if he run long in the pasture unbroken and untamed, when he is brought to the yoke he struggleth and striveth, and therewith galling his neck draweth with exceeding pain and irksomeness; and so if in our youth we accustom ourselves to bear the yoke of obedience, it will be easy and pleasant, but if we use delays we shall grow stubborn and stifnecked like untamed oxen, and the bearing of Christs yoke through our impatience, and the rebellion of our nature will gall and vex us. Thirdly, the sooner we turn unto God, the more joy, peace and comfort shall we have in the whole course of our lives, for what joy may be compared with the joy in the holy Ghost,1 what peace is like the peace with God;
§. Sect. 3 The seuenth motiue may be drawne from the manifold benefits which will accompanie our speedie conuersion, for first vertue and goodnesse being sowne in vs in the time of youth, will take more deepe roote in vs, so as it cannot easily be left or lost, for as the vessell doth longest retaine the smell