A20752:952
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.
1But here Satan will object that those who are given unto Christ have kept his word, as himself also affirmeth Joh. 17.6. How therefore will he say, canst thou be assured that thou art one of those who are given unto him, seeing thou keepest it not but continually transgressest his commandments? To which we must answer that the word of Christ is his gospel, wherein he promiseth everlasting life to all that believe in him, and bring forth the fruits of their faith in unfeigned repentance. as it appeareth Joh. 5.38. where he thus speaketh to the unbelieving Jews: And his word (saith he) have ye not abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not; whereby it is manifest if Christs reasoning be of sound consequence, that those have his word abiding in them who believe in him, whom God hath sent even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So that we keep the word of our Saviour when we believe in him, resting and relying upon him alone for our salvation, and truly repent us of our sins, sorrowing and grieving that by them we have offended and ⟨p. 479⟩displeased our loving God and merciful father, hating our sins because they are sins, purposing and labouring to forsake them, and endeavouring according to the measure of strength and grace received, to serve the Lord in holiness and newness of life. And therefore if we can find in our selves this faith and this repentance, we may undoubtedly be assured notwithstanding our manifold falls and great corruptions that we have kept the word of Christ, and therefore are given unto him of the father; and consequently that we are effectually called and shall be eternally glorified. For it is the will of the father that whosoever believeth in his son Jesus Christ should have everlasting life, as our Saviour testifieth Joh. 6.40. As for our corruptions they shall be washed away with the blood of Christ, and our imperfections shall be covered with the rich robe of his perfect righteousness, so that in him we shall appear perfect before Gods judgment seat, and there be accepted as just and righteous.