A20752:873
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 Seeing then, mercy is one of Gods attributes,1 therefore it is also of his essence, and being, for there is not in God's most perfect nature, any qualities or accidents, but whatsoever is in God, is God, so that God is mercy it self, and consequently, to show and exercise his mercy, is to show and exercise his own nature. Now we know that natural actions are not troublesome, nor irksome, neither is the sun troubled with giving light, nor the fire with giving heat, nor the tree with yielding fruit, nor the beast with nourishing his young, nor man with receiving nourishment, and sleep, because it is their nature to be exercised in these actions, and therefore seeing mercy is of Gods essence, it is not painful and troublesome to exercise it towards all repentant sinners, be their sins never so many, and heinous, no more, then it is troublesome to exercise his justice, in punishing of those who are obstinate and rebellious, nay it is not only not troublesome and painful, but also pleasant and delightful for God to show mercy unto all those who truly turn unto him, and contrariwise it should be troublesome and irksome, (if I may so speak,) for God not to show and exercise his nature, and mercy, towards repentant sinners; for as the eye is delighted with seeing, and to be restrained there from is grievous unto it, as the care is delighted with hearing, and is much molested if it be stopped, ⟨p. 428⟩and as every part, and faculty of the body, and soul, are delighted in exercising their several actions, and functions, and are much vexed, and cumbered, if by any means they should be hindered; so is the Lord delighted, and well pleased, in showing, and exercising his own nature, and attributes, as his power, and providence, in governing the world, his justice, in punishing wicked, obstinate, and rebellious sinners, and his mercy in pardoning, and remitting the sins of those, who are of an humble spirit and broken heart, and are weary of this intolerable burden, desiring nothing more, then to be eased and freed from it. And not to thus exercise his nature, and attributes, would rather (that I may speak after the manner of men) be unto the Lord tedious and troublesome.
§. Sect. 4 Seeing then, mercie is one of Gods attributes,1 therefore it is also of his essence, and being, for there is not in Godes most perfect nature, any qualities or accidentes, but whatsoeuer is in God, is God, so that God is mercie it selfe, and consequently, to shew and excercise his mercie, is to shew and exercise his owne nature. Now wee know that naturall actions are not troublesome, norirksome, neither is the sunne troubled with giuing lighte, nor the fire with giuing heate, nor the tree with yeelding fruite, nor the beast with nourishing his young, nor man with receiuing nourishment, and sleepe, because it is their nature to be excercised in these actions, and therefore seeing mercie is of Gods essence, it is not painefull and troublesome to excercise it towardes all repentant sinners, bee their sinnes neuer so many, and hanious, no more, then it is troublesome to exercise his iustice, in punishing of those who are obstinate and rebellious, nay it is not onely not troublesome and painefull, but also pleasant and delightfull for God to shewe mercie vnto all those who truely turne vnto him, and contrariwise it should bee troublesome and irksome, (if I may so speake,) for God not to shew and exercise his nature, and mercie, towardes repentant sinners; for as the eye is delighed with seeing, and to bee restrayned there from is grieuous vnto it, as the care is delighed with hearing, and is much molested if it be stoped,