A20752:823
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 The eight motive to persuade us to speedy conversion,1 is that our turning unto God being deferred to our old age, or till the time we lie sick on our deathbeds, is not so excellent in it one nature, nor so acceptable unto God, as if it were performed in the time of our youth; for what great matter is it if we leave our sins, when they, are ready to leave us, to renounce the world with the riches ⟨p. 398⟩honours, and pleasures thereof, when they are ready to abandon us; to embrace mortification, when as our bodies are mortified with sickness, and brought to the gates of death; to give to the pore when we can keep our goods no longer, to forgive our enemies, when as we can not offer them any further wrong, or violence, to commend our wives, and children, into the hands of God, when as we our selves can no longer defend and provide for them? to cease to swear and blaspheme God's name, when as soon after we shall cease to speak? moreover how can we think that this will be acceptable unto God when as we do not come unto him before all the world forsakes us, nor crave his help till we are abandoned of all other succour, nor offer to come into his service before we are ready to go out of the world, and that rather for fear of punishment; and hope of reward, then for any love we bear to our Lord and master. But let it be granted (as in trueth it cannot be denied) that whensoever we truly repent us of our sins and turn unto God he will receive us to mercy, should we take occasion hereof to defer our conversion and to continue in our sins? should his love and mercy towards us move us to rebellion, and impiety, towards him, and because he is gracious and long suffering shall we therefore the more offend him, and as it were whet the edge of his wrath against us? be it far from us. Nay rather if God be gracious and merciful, let us be ashamed to offend so gracious and merciful a God, and though we should be so hard hearted as not to fear his justice, and fearful judgements, yet even in common humanity let us blush for shame to offend him in consideration of his infinite love, and mercy. If we had a friend who by reason of the love he beareth us, would hardly be displeased, or moved to anger against us, would we make this use of his love and patience, still to provoke him with new injuries?
§ Sect. 4 The eight motiue to perswade vs to speedy conuersion,