A20752:931
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 Lastly those who are heavy laden with the burden of their sins,1 may gather unto themselves assurance of the forgiveness of them, by the consideration of Gods mercy extended unto other repentant sinners; for there was never any from the beginning of the world to this day, were their sins never so heinous or innumerable who have not been received to mercy, and pardoned of our gracious God whensoever they did unfeignedly turn unto him. And this may appear whether we consider whole cities or nations, or else particular men. Of the first we have a notable example in the Israelites which lived in the time of the judges, who though they did many times negligently forget the great mercies and inestimable benefits of God showed to their forefathers, of which also themselves had been partakers, though they forsook the Lord not once or twice but very often, even then when he most bound them unto him with multiplying upon them the benefits of peace and plenty, and though they let the reins loose unto all wickedness, yea (which was most abominable and odious in the sight of God,) though they worshipped and served Baal and Asteroth ⟨p. 465⟩and other idols of the cursed nations, for which horrible idolatry God had cast out the nations before them; yet whensoever they turned unto the Lord he pardoned their sins, receiving them into his former love and favour, and delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies.
§. Sect. 4 Lastly those who are heauie laden with the burthen of their sinnes,1 may gather vnto themselues assurance of the forgiuenesse of them, by the consideration of Gods mercie extended vnto other repentant sinners; for there was neuer any from the beginning of the world to this day, were their sinnes neuer so hainous or innumerable who haue not beene receiued to mercie, and pardoned of our gratious God whensoeuer they did vnfainedly turne vnto him. And this may appeare whether wee consider whole cities or nations, or else particular men. Of the first wee haue a notable example in the Israelites which liued in the time of the iudges, who though they did many times negligently forget the greate mercies and inestimable benefites of God shewed to their forefathers, of which also themselues had beene partakers, though they forsooke the Lorde not once or twise but very often, euen then when he most bound them vnto him with multiplying vpon them the benefitts of peace and plentie, and though they let the raines loose vnto all wickednesse, yea (which was most abhominable and odious in the sight of God,) though they worshiped and serued Baal and Asteroth