A20752:942
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
Book 2 › Chapter 37: How we may know whether we be effectually called or no.
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. 2 The means whereby we are effectually called,1 are first the saving and fruitful hearing of Gods word, by the ministry whereof the Lord calleth and inviteth us to come unto him by unfeigned repentance, and to our saviour Christ by a lively faith even when we are dead in our sins, without any desire to will or ability to perform any thing that is good,2 whilst we are the bondslaves of Satan and mere worldlings,3 not desiring nor once thinking upon the means of our salvation. And this is done first by the preaching of the law, by which is revealed unto us our innumerable heinous sins, and the fearful punishments due unto them: as that we by our continual transgression are subject to the4 ⟨p. 472⟩curse of the law, unable to perform obedience unto any of the commandments or to make satisfaction to Gods justice for the least of our sins, and so consequently that we are obnoxious to Gods wrath, subject to those horrible torments provided for the wicked, and therefore in respect of our selves, our own righteousness, satisfaction, or any other means of our own whatsoever in a most damnable and desperate estate. Secondly, after the Law hath thus showed unto us our sins & the punishments due unto them, the Lord by the ministry of the gospel doth reveal unto us a plain way by which we may come out of this miserable estate, and attain unto everlasting salvation, namely by believing and applying unto our selves Christ Jesus and all his benefits. Thirdly with this outward ministry of the word the Lord joineth the inward cooperation of his holy spirit, whereby he openeth our deaf ears, and maketh us attentively to hear,5 and as with a precious eyesalve enlightens the blind eyes of our understandings, enabling us to conceive and understand those things which are delivered unto us, both out of the law, and out of the Gospel.
§. Sect. 2 The meanes whereby wee are effectually called,