A20752:968
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.
Of this hardness of heart which very often befalleth the dearest of Gods children we have many examples.1 The prophet David thus complaineth Psal. 77.2. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord, my sore ran and ceased not in the night, my soul refused comfort. 3. I did think upon God and as troubled, I prayed and my spirit was full of anguish. 4. thou keepest mine eyes waking; I was astonied and could not speak. So the church complaineth thus Cant. 3.1.2 In my bed I sought him by night whom my soul loved. I sought him but I found him not. and chap. 5. ver. 6. I opened to my well-beloved but my well-beloved was gone and past: mine heart was gone when he did speak I sought him but I could not find him, I called him but he answered me not. Whereby it is manifest that even the dear saints of God are often times destitute of all comfort and void of all feeling of Gods favour, and of the powerful working of the graces of Gods spirit which they have received, though they use the means appointed of God for the stirring up and increasing of grace in them, which cometh to pass by reason of their hardness of heart, and drowsy dullness of spirit in these spiritual exercises.
Of this hardnesse of heart which verie often befalleth the dearest of Gods children wee haue many examples.1 The prophet Dauid thus complaineth Psal. 77.2. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lorde, my sore ranne and ceased not in the night, my soule refused comfort. 3. I did thinke vppon God and as troubled, I prayed and my spirit was full of anguish. 4. thou keepest mine eyes waking; I was astonied and could not speake. So the church complaineth thus Cant. 3.1.2 In my bed I sought him by night whom my soule loued. I sought him but I found him not. and chap. 5. ver. 6. I opened to my welbeloued but my welbeloued was gone and past: mine heart was gone when hee did speake I sought him but I could not find him, I called him but hee answered me not. Whereby it is manifest that euen the deare saints of God are often times destitute of all comfort and voyde of all feeling of Gods fauour, and of the powerfull working of the graces of Gods spirit which they haue receiued, though they vse the meanes appointed of God for the stirring vp and increasing of grace in them, which commeth to passe by reason of their hardnesse of heart, and drowsie dulnesse of spirit in these spirituall excercises.