A20752:978
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.
And this is a tentation wherewith even the dearest children of God are much vexed and troubled, and therefore it shall not be amiss to answer the several branches of this complaint. First therefore, where as they complain that they cannot pray at all, this is to be understood either generally of all times, or specially at sometimes. If they say they can never pray, it is very likely that either they forget or much deceive themselves, for few or none who are altogether destitute of the spirit of supplication have any understanding to discern their want, or any grace to bewail it, but content themselves with their lip-labour as though they had performed acceptable service unto God. And it is a work of one and the same spirit to make us see our infirmities with hatred and dislike of them, and to move us earnestly to desire of God that we may be freed from them, which earnest desire is hearty prayer. But if they further affirm that they are most sure they do never pray unto God, I answer that though this in it self be a most dangerous case, for it is a sign of a worker of iniquity, not to call upon God as the Psalmist speaketh,1 Psal. 53.4. yet they have no cause to despair, for the same spirit which hath revealed unto them this their sin and infirmity, and hath wrought in them a dislike thereof, will also remove it and supply their want in Gods good time, if they will labour for this good gift, and not quench the good motions of the spirit when God offereth them unto them.
And this is a tentation wherewith euen the dearest children of God are much vexed and troubled, and therefore it shall not be amisse to answere the seuerall branches of this complaint. First therfore, where as they complaine that they cannot pray at all, this is to bee vnderstood either generally of all times, or specially at sometimes. If they say they can neuer pray, it is very likely that either they forget or much deceiue themselues, for few or none who are altogether destitute of the spirit of supplication haue any vnderstanding to discerne their want, or any grace to bewaile it, but content themselues with their lip-labour as though they had perfourmed acceptable seruice vnto God. And it is a worke of one and the same spirit to make vs see our infirmities with hatred and dislike of them, and to moue vs earnestly to desire of God that we may be freed from them, which earnest desire is harty praier. But if they further affirme that they are most sure they doe neuer pray vnto God, I answere that though this in it selfe be a most daungerous case, for it is a signe of a worker of iniquitie, not to call vpon God as the Psalmist speaketh,