A20752:892
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 But let us more particularly consider of some of the special promises of God,1 contained in the covenant of grace, that so we may gather unto our selves more full consolation and firm assurance of the pardon and forgiveness of our sins. The Prophet David who had in himself often experience of Gods mercy telleth us, Psal. 32.10. that whosoever trusteth in the Lords mercy shall compass him. The Prophet Isaiah exhorteth the wicked to forsake his ways, and the unrighteous his own imaginations, and to return unto the Lord, assuring them that he will have mercy upon them, for he is very ready to forgive. Isaiah. 55.7. The Lord himself also doth make this gracious promise Ezech. 18.21. But (saith he) if the wicked will return from all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live and not dye. 22. All his transgressions that he hath committed shall not be mentioned unto him, but in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23. Have I any desire that the wicked should dye saith the Lord God? or shall he not live if he return from his ways? vers. 32. For I desire not the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God; cause therefore one another to return and live ye, and cap. 33. ver. 11. As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. So Mal. 3.17. the Lord professeth that he will spare his people and children, as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him. Now we know that a loving father is ready to forgive, & to receive into his grace ⟨p. 441⟩and favour his repentant Son, though he hath very often offended him: & so surely the Lord who is infinitely rich in mercy, will much more forgive his children when they turn unto him; nay he is not only ready to receive them into his grace and favour, but it filleth him (as I may say) with exceeding joy and delight, when his repentant children forsake their sins and evil ways, and turn unto him by unfeigned repentance, as it appeareth most evidently in the parable of the prodigal Son, of the strayed sheep, and the lost groat. Moreover our Saviour Christ had his name Jesus given him of God by the minister of an Angel, because he saveth his people from their sins: as appeareth