A20752:948
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.
Neither will religion make us to lay aside all humanity and transform us into some brutish, or ⟨p. 476⟩rather devilish Timon who was a hater of men. For even our saviour Christ himself who was wholly exempted from sin, notwithstanding loved the worldly young man for some good things he saw in him though he were not religious, yea though he were so carnal that he preferred his vain and uncertain riches before the salvation of his soul, as appeareth Mark. 10.21.22. So also he used all humanity and civill conversation even amongst the Publicans and sinners, that he might have the better opportunity of converting all those who belonged to Gods election. And therefore we need not fear to follow Christs example so it be with the same holy affection. For we also must endeavour to gain those unto Christ who are without, and by our holy conversation give them occasion of glorifying God in the day of their visitation as the apostle exhorteth us, 1. Pet. 2.12. which we can never do by hatred, rough severity, and cynical inhumanity, but with loving courtesy, upright behaviour, gentle admonitions and charitable reprehensions. But if through our corruption we give satan occasion further to object, that under these pretences we set our harts too much upon the world loving worldings more then those who are of the household of faith and more delighting in their vain conversation for outward respects then in the company of the faithful if not always yet oftentimes, we are to answer that though these be sins in us, and notable signs of our great corruption, yet are they no strong arguments that we are not yet effectually called, or truly severed from the world, for as much as we are not wholly separated from the world, but only so much of us as is spiritual and regenerate; so that it is no marvel if the the flesh and unregenerate part still love the world, because it is still worldly; but if in the inner man we hate this love, and strive to bridle yea to mortify it, if we are truly sorry and displeased with our selves for this as for other sins and labour to reform it, we may be assured that the spirit of God is in us, which hath severed us from the world, & joined us to the body of Jesus Christ.
Neither will religion make vs to lay aside all humanitie and transforme vs into some brutish, or