A20752:877
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.
1Seeing therefore Gods mercy is infinite and without all limits, let not us restrain it, neither let us so aggravate our sins as that in the mean time we derogate from Gods mercy. If a Prince should send his general pardon unto a number of offenders, without any exception or limitation, and one amongst the rest should say this pardon doth not appertain unto me, because I am so great an offender, and therefore I will still stand in doubt of my Princes mercy, and suspect his word, who would not accuse such an one both of folly in refusing his pardon, and of ungratefulness and diffidence in distrusting his gracious Prince, calling his great mercy and truth in his promise into question? Who would not think this offence greater then all the rest, but the Lord who is infinite in mercy, hath sent his general pardon to all repentant and believing sinners without all exception; why therefore should we make question of his mercy, because of our heinous sins, why should we unto our others sins ⟨p. 431⟩add this which is more heinous then all the rest, indoubting and distrusting his word and promise, and in extenuating his infinite and endless mercies. For if we think our debt so great that God will never forgive it, what do we else but detract from Gods rich bounty and liberality, if we suppose our sins may not be for given because of their greatness, what do we else but imagine that they surpass Gods infinite mercy, which is a most horrible blasphemy once to conceive.
1Seeing therfore Gods mercy is infinite and without al limites, let not vs restraine it, neither let vs so aggrauate our sinnes as that in the meane time wee derogate from Gods mercy. If a Prince should send his generall pardon vnto a number of offendors, without any exception or limitation, and one amongst the rest should say this pardon doth not appertaine vnto me, because I am so great an offender, and therefore I will still stand in doubt of my Princes mercy, and suspect his word, who would not accuse such an one both of folly in refusing his pardon, and of vngratefulnes and diffidence in distrusting his gratious Prince, calling his great mercy and truth in his promisse into question? Who would not thinke this offence greater then all the rest, but the Lord who is infinite in mercy, hath sent his generall pardon to all repentant and beleeuing sinners without all exception; why therefore should wee make question of his mercy, because of our hamous sinnes, why should we vnto our others sinnes