A20752:859
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. 8 The last thing required in those whom Christ calleth, is, that they come unto him.1 for to whom should we come for ease, but unto Christ himself, seeing their is neither saint nor Angel, that can ease us, for the weight of one sin would press them down into hell; whereas our Saviour Christ is able to bear the burden of our sins, nay he hath already borne them, that we might be delivered from them. As it is, 1. Pet. 2.24. neither it is likely, that either saint or Angel, ⟨p. 419⟩would so willingly help us as our Saviour Christ Jesus, who so tenderly loved us that he came into the world, to lay down his own most precious life as a price for our redemption; and though they were willing, yet they have not the like ability unto him, who hath all power in heaven, and earth committed unto him,2 for working the work of our redemption. And therefore, seeing he wanteth neither love, nor power, let us go unto him, and him only. Otherwise we shall commit a double folly, that is, we shall leave Christ, who is the fountain of living water, & dig unto our selves broken cisterns, which will hold no water.3 For there is not salvation in any other, neither is their among men any other name given under heaven, whereby we must be saved. as it is, Acts 4.12. He is the way which leadeth unto everlasting happiness, he is the truth, to instruct us in all the counsels of God, he is the life to revive us, who were dead in our sins, yea the life of everlasting life, and the perfection of our heavenly happiness. John 14.6. He hath taken upon him our infirmities, and borne our pains, he was wounded for our offences, and smitten for our iniquities, the pain of our punishment was laid upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Esa. 53.4.5.6. To whom therefore should we go in our sickness, but to this our heavenly physician? whose help should we seek for the curing of our wounds, but the help of this our blessed surgeon who will easily cure them all, with the precious balm of his blood? whether should we return after our long wandering, but unto the shepherd of our souls? to whom should we seek to be preserved from death, and damnation, but to him, who is the Lord of life, and salvation?