A20752:876
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 5 But here satan will be ready to object unto the afflicted conscience, labouring under the burden of sin,1 that God indeed is merciful, but yet he will never extend his mercy towards such heinous offenders, whose sins are in number numberless, and in quality and nature most grievous and outrageous. For answering of which tentation, we are to know that though our sins be never so innumerable and heinous, yet this should not discourage us from coming to God by unfeigned repentance, with assured hope of forgiveness, for though our sins be great, his mercies are infinite, and consequently though it were imagined that ⟨p. 430⟩all the sins which were ever committed in the world were joined together, yet in comparison of Gods mercy they are without all comparison less then a mote in the Sun to all the world. Neither is God like unto man, whose bounty & mercy are limited in some straight bounds which they will not pass, and therefore they are soon weary both in giving to those who want, and forgiving those that offend, but his bounty is endless and his mercies infinite, and therefore he can and will as easily forgive us the debt of ten thousand millions of pounds as one penny, and as soon pardon the sins of a wicked Manasseh as of a righteous Abraham, if we come unto him by unfeigned repentance, and earnestly desire and implore his grace and mercy. And this our Saviour Christ showeth in the parable of the poor Publican, whose heinous sins the Lord presently forgave upon his true conversion.2 And in the parable of the two debtors, where the lender our bountiful God as easily forgave the 500. pence as the fifty, that is innumerable great sins, as well as few and less. And the Apostle Paul teacheth us, that where sin hath abounded, there grace hath much more abounded. Rom. 5.20.
§. Sect 5 But here sathan will be ready to obiect vnto the afflicted conscience, labouring vnder the burthen of sinne,1 that God indeede is mercifull, but yet he will neuer extend his mercy towards such haynous offenders, whose sinnes are in number numberlesse, and in qualitie and nature most grieuous and outragious. For answering of which tentation, we are to know that though our sinnes bee neuer so innumerable and hainous, yet this should not discourage vs from comming to God by vnfained repentance, with assured hope of forgiuenesse, for though our sinnes be great, his mercies are infinite, and consequently though it were imagined that