A20752:874
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.
Of this pleasure and delight, which the Lord taketh in pardoning repentant sinners, the Prophet Micah speaketh, chap. 7.10.18. who (saith he) is a God like unto thee; that taketh away iniquity, and passeth by transgression of the remnant of his heritage: he retaineth not his wrath for ever, because mercy pleaseth him. So the prophet David Psal. 147.11. saith that the Lord is delighted in them that fear him and attend upon his mercy; even as though he rejoiced much, to have an occasion offered, of exercising his mercy and goodness towards those, who earnestly desiring it, wait upon him, that they may be made partakers of of it. For the object of Gods mercy, about which it is exercised, is mans misery, and the action thereof, is to pity, and help him, out of his wretched and miserable estate; and therefore, if there were no misery, and wretchedness, and no sin to be forgiven, there would be wanting that external object, about which Gods mercy should be exercised and manifested to all the world. And hence it is, that the Lord willingly permitted the fall of our first parents, to the end that he might make a way for the manifestation of his mercy, in pardoning repentant sinners, and his justice in punishing the contemners of his grace. And as the apostle saith, Rom. 11.32. God hath shut up all in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all, that ⟨p. 429⟩is to say, on all the elect, both Jews, and Gentiles.
Of this pleasure and delight, which the Lorde taketh in pardoning repentant sinners, the Prophet Micha speaketh, chap. 7.10.18. who (saith he) is a God like vnto thee; that taketh away iniquitie, and passeth by transgression of the remnant of his heritage: he retaineth not his wrath for euer, because mercie pleaseth him. So the prophet Dauid Psal. 147.11. saith that the Lord is delighted in them that feare him and attend vpon his mercy; euen as though he reioyced much, to haue an occasion offered, of excercising his mercy and goodnesse towardes those, who earnestly desiring it, wait vpon him, that they may bee made partakers of of it. For the obiect of Gods mercy, about which it is exercised, is mans miserie, and the action thereof, is to pittie, and helpe him, out of his wretched and miserable estate; and therefore, if there were no miserie, and wretchednesse, and no sinne to be forgiuen, there would be wanting that external obiect, about which Gods mercy should be exercised and manifested to all the world. And hence it is, that the Lorde willingly permitted the fall of our first parentes, to the ende that hee might make a way for the manifestation of his mercie, in pardoning repentant sinners, and his iustice in punishing the contemners of his grace. And as the apostle saith,