A20752:959
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. 2 Against which tentation of Satan if we would arm our selves,1 it behoveth us to be very careful that we do not run into two dangerous extremes; the one whereof is securely to flatter our selves with an opinion of our good estate when as in truth it is most dangerous and damnable, the other that we do not too much suffer our selves to be dejected and cast down, though we have not as yet attained to so great perfection as our heart desireth.2 And to this purpose we are to know that hardness of heart is of two sorts, the first is of them who being most hard hearted, notwithstanding do not feel nor perceive it; the other of those who feeling their hardness of heart are grieved therewith, and desire to have it mollified, softened, and ⟨p. 484⟩even resolved into tears of unfeigned repentance. The first sort is damnable or at least most dangerous, for it lulleth us asleep in carnal security, it taketh away all sense of sin, and consequently all sorrow whereby we should bewail it; it scareth and brawneth the conscience, covering it as it were on all sides with a thick hard skin, which will never or most hardly be pierced, either by Gods justice and threatenings to cause us to fear least we incur his wrathful displeasure, or by his mercies and gracious promises to move us to love him, and to bring forth the fruits of our love in acceptable obedience, it repelleth all the good motions of Gods spirit & filleth the soul with such drowsy dullness and blockish deadness, that it is altogether unfit to perform any service unto God, and most apt to entertain any of Satan's tentations. And this insensible hardness of heart which is the spiritual lethargy of the soul is of two kinds;3 the first is joined with wilful obstinacy and affected rebellion, whereby men advisedly and contemptuously withstand the outward ministry of the word, and the inward motions of Gods spirit, with all other means which might move and muite them to serious repentance; an example whereof we have in Pharaoh who hardened his heart against the Lord, opposing himself against his embassy delivered unto him by Moses, and confirmed by so many miracles, and also obstinately and with an high hand of rebellion checked, and quenchen the good motions of Gods spirit, whereby he was sometimes moved to confess his sin, and to acknowledge the Lord righteous.