A20752:872
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.
As therefore when we see carpenters pulling down a ruinous building our minds do not rest there, because we know that this they do is not their proper work, but we go further in our cogitation thinking of a new house which they will build in the place of the old, for as much as we know that it is not their proper work to race down but to build, or to race down that they may build; so when we see the Lord angry and inflicting corrections let us not rest here, but with the like foresight of mind, let us consider that he doth these his strange and improper works, that afterwards he may do ⟨p. 427⟩those which are proper and natural, that is that he afflicteth that he may bring the more true comfort, that he bringeth us to the gates of hell, to the end he may raise us up to be partakers of the joys of heaven. But let us consider of some more testimonies of Gods infinite mercies. As the Prophet David likewise saith Psalm. 103.8. that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and of great kindness. and Psal. 86.5 Thou Lord art good and merciful, and of great kindness unto all them that call upon thee. So the prophet Joel 2.13. testifieth of the Lord, that he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. And the apostle saith that he is rich in mercy. Eph. 2.4. and 2. Cor. 1.3. He calleth him, the father of mercies, and God of all comfort.
As therefore when we see carpenters pulling downe a ruinous building our minds do not rest there, because we know that this they doe is not their proper worke, but we goe further in our cogitation thinking of a new house which they will build in the place of the old, for as much as wee know that it is not their proper worke to race downe but to build, or to race downe that they may build; so when wee see the Lord angry and inflicting corrections let vs not rest here, but with the like foresight of mind, let vs consider that he doth these his strange and improper works, that afterwards he may do