A20752:821
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.
& the peace of conscience, when as we are sure that we are now friends, who before we were enemies and children of God and heirs of his everlasting kingdom of glory, who in time past were children of ⟨p. 396⟩wrath and fire brands of hell? what comfort in the world can be imagined like unto the consolation of Gods spirit, which is able to make all afflictions light; and even death it self sweet and pleasant unto us, but this joy, peace, & comfort do all company our true conversion unto God, and therefore who would defer it for one day, seeing it bringeth such inestimable benefits and such surpassing pleasures as none sufficiently understand them, but they who feel & enjoy them. Whereas on the other side if we defer our conversion, in the mean while we are continually subject to the checks and terrors of an evil conscience, in fear of Gods judgements and eternal damnation: and though in outward show we may be exceeding merry and pleasant, yet our mirth is full of sorrow, and our joy of bitterness, and of such laughter we may say, thou art mad, and of this joy what is that which thou doest? as the Wise man speaketh, Eccle. 2.2. for it is but Sardonicus risus laughter from the teeth outward, which is straight controlled with some inward pang or check of conscience. Fourthly, the sooner we turn unto the Lord; the longer time we shall spend in his service, which in truth is perfect liberty, now what can be more delightful unto any Christian heart, then to serve our creator from the days of our youth, & to show our thankfulness to God our redeemer for all the inestimable benefits which he hath bestowed upon us, by causing our lights to shine before men, and by glorifying his name in our godly & Christian lives? what can be more pleasing to a thankful mind then to take all occasions of expressing thankfulness to him unto whom we are so much bounden?
& the peace of conscience, when as we are sure that we are now friends, who before we were enemies and children of God and heires of his euerlasting kingdome of glory, who in time past were children of ⟨p. 396⟩wrath and fire brands of hell? what comfort in the world can be imagined like vnto the consolation of Gods spirit, which is able to make all afflictions light; and euen death it selfe sweet and pleasant vnto vs, but this ioy, peace, & comfort doe all companie our true conuersion vnto God, and therefore who would deferre it for one day, seeing it bringeth such inestimable benefits and such surpassing pleasures as none sufficiently vnderstand them, but they who feele & inioy them. Whereas on the other side if we deferre our cō uersion, in the meane while wee are continually subiect to the checkes and terrours of an euill conscience, in feare of Gods iudgements and eternall damnation: and though in outward shewe wee may bee exceeding merie and pleasant, yet our mirth is ful of sorrow, and our ioy of bitternes, and of such laughter wee may say, thou art madde, and of this ioy what is that which thou doest? as the Wise man speaketh,