A20752:870
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.
1The first argument, to assure all of the pardon and forgiveness of their sins, who will come unto him, may be drawn from his mercy, which is one of his properties and attributes, so often attributed unto him in the scriptures. Exod. 34.6.7. God thus describeth himself: The Lord, the Lord, strong, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness & truth. 2 reserving mercy for thousands, ⟨p. 425⟩forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. Out of which place that famous & godly learned man H. Zanchius hath observed matter fit for our purpose,2 & therefore it shall not be amiss to set down his own words: For besides (saith he) that the essence of God is only one, & that eternal most simple most perfect, living, immortal, invisible, incorruptible, infinite, omnipotent, most wise; he is also wholly most good in whom nothing is wanting; a lover of men, most meek, most gentle, slow to anger, most ready to forgive injuries, most patient, most true, most righteous, most just, most faithful in performing his promises, finally he is nothing else then the sovereign goodness, and the chief clemency as he hath described, and lively deciphered himself. Exod. 34. and elsewhere. And therefore we must note, although anger be attributed unto God, yet notwithstanding it is in God nothing else but the chief goodness and justice, whereby he abhorreth evil and according to his just judgement doth at length punish it, if it be not amended by his long suffering and patience. This herehence manifestly appeareth, because speaking of revenge or taking punishment which is an effect of anger, he doth not say that he doth presently inflict punishment, or that he is so ready to inflict it as to show mercy, but he saith that he is slow to anger. Sign fying by this manner of speech, that he is of his own nature always most ready, to show mercy, to grant pardon, to be beneficial; but not so ready to take punishment, but is forced here unto as of himself, unwilling through our impenitency. Hereunto also appertaineth that ancient form of prayer; O Lord whose property is always to have mercy and forgive.3