A20752:905
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.
Seeing therefore he came into the world to save and redeem grievous and heinous sinners, and to give life unto those who were even stark dead in their sins, seeing also he calleth and inviteth such unto him as are heavily laden with an intolerable weight of wickedness, and promiseth to ease them; let us not excuse our selves from coming because our sins are heinous and grievous, but therefore let us the rather go unto Christ because we had need of his help. If a man being loaded with a weighty burden, should refuse the help of a friend, both able and willing to ease him because his burden is very heavy, who would not laugh at such ridiculous folly, for therefore he should more ⟨p. 448⟩earnestly desire, and more thankfully accept of his friends offered courtesy, because himself is tired, pressed down, and altogether unable to bear this intolerable weight: but such and greater folly do they commit, who being pinched and oppressed with the heavy burden of their sins, do through their infidelity refuse the help of Christ, offering himself to release and ease them under this pretence, because their burden is over heavy; for because to them it is intolerable, therefore they should rather go unto Christ and earnestly desire to be eased and released, seeing he is not only able, for his power is omnipotent, but also most willing, for he hath most graciously promised and freely offered his help.
Seeing therefore hee came into the world to saue and redeeme grieuous and hainous sinners, and to giue life vnto those who were euen starke dead in their sinnes, seeing also hee calleth and inuiteth such vnto him as are heauily laden with an intollerable waight of wickednesse, and promiseth to ease them; let vs not excuse our selues from comming because our sinnes are hainous and grieuous, but therefore let vs the rather goe vnto Christ because wee had need of his helpe. If a man being loded with a waightie burthen, should refuse the helpe of a friend, both able and willing to ease him because his burthen is very heauie, who would not laugh at such ridiculous follie, for therefore he should more ⟨p. 448⟩earnestly desire, and more thankfully accept of his friendes offred courtesie, because himselfe is tyred, pressed downe, and altogether vnable to beare this intollerable waight: but such and greater follie doe they commit, who being pinched and oppressed with the heauie burthen of their sinnes, doe through their infidelitie refuse the healpe of Christ, offering himselfe to release and ease them vnder this pretēce, because their burthen is ouer heauie; for because to them it is intollerable, therefore they should rather goe vnto Christ and ernestly desire to be eased and released, seeing hee is not onely able, for his power is omnipotent, but also most willing, for he hath most gratiously promised and freely offred his helpe.