A20752:971
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.
but as this should increase their diligence, so it should not decrease their hope and comfort, for most assuredly when the Lord hath a while whetted their stomach, and by pulling back his hand moved them more earnestly to desire, and more highly to esteem this precious food of their souls, he will fully satisfy their hungering desire, nourish them in all spiritual graces, and make them who are but babes strong men in Christ. In the mean time let them not faint, but wait upon the Lord, be strong and trust in him and he will surely comfort their hearts as the psalmist speaketh Psal. 27.16.
but as this should increase their diligence, so it should not decrease their hope and comfort, for most assuredly when the Lorde hath a while whetted their stomacke, and by pulling backe his hande mooued them more earnestly to desire, and more highly to esteeme this precious foode of their soules, he will fully satisfie their hungring desire, nourish them in all spirituall graces, and make them who are but babes strong men in Christ. In the mean time let them not faint, but wait vpon the Lorde, bee strong and trust in him and hee will surely comfort their heartes as the psalmist speaketh Psal. 27.16.
§. Sect. 4 Secondly whereas they complain that they do not after the hearing of the word,1 perceive in themselves any increase of knowledge, faith or any saving grace, they are to know that howsoever no man ought to rest contented in this estate but are to labour more and more, not only to have but also to discern an increase of grace in them, and a progress in all virtue and godliness, for otherwise though they may be the children of god who for a time live in such a case yet they can not attain unto the assurance thereof nor feel the comfort of it in there own consciences, nevertheless there is no reason why they should despair or be utterly discouraged, for though they find no fruits of their hearing, yet if in obedience ⟨p. 493⟩to Gods commandment, they will with care and diligence continue still hearers of the word, they shall undoubtedly in the end attain unto their desire and discern in themselves a great increase of grace and godliness. We know that the seed doth not presently bring forth fruit when it is cast into the ground, but first it seemeth to rot and perish and then it sprouteth up in a green blade, and then it beareth an ear and a great increase and much fruit; and so it fareth oftentimes in hearing the word of God, for at first it seemeth quite lost and perished being sown in some grounds, and yet afterwards it bringeth forth not only a fair green blade of an outward profession, but also a great increase of the ripe fruits of true godliness. So also the sick patient taking sovereign physic is not presently cured, nay in stead of feeling any ease thereby he is made much more sick in his own sense and feeling, and yet after the physic hath a while wrought with him and purged him of some superfluous and hurtful humours he findeth some amendment, and so by little and little he is restored to his former health; and so it is also with the spiritual sick patient, he doth not always presently find ease and quiet peace of conscience, nay many times he is tormented and vexed after he hath received the spiritual physic of the soul the word of God, more then ever in former times, but yet notwithstanding in process of time when this physic hath effectually wrought with him, it purgeth him from his filthy corruptions and strengtheneth him in all grace and godliness.