A20752:998
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. 4 The fourth sign of true repentance is if it be continual from the first day of our conversion unto the end of our lives,1 for it is not sufficient to serve God by fits, or that our religion should take us like a tertian ague but every other day; it is not that which God requireth, that we should divide our time between him and the world, or having begun ⟨p. 509⟩in the spirit we should end in the flesh, but after we are gone out of this Sodom of sin, we must go forward in our journey of holy obedience, and never like Lots wife look back with a desire to enjoy the pleasures thereof again. We must so run this spiritual race that we may obtain, now we know that runners of a race, as they do not stand still after the watchword is given, but labour with all speed to set forth with the first, so they do not sit down in the mid way, much less run one while backward and another while forward, but they still hasten on till they come to the goal and obtain the garland, and so it behooveth us to run speedily to the Lord by unfeigned repentance, and not to desist in this our race till the end of our lives, if we purpose to receive that crown of glory which the Lord hath promised us. Our life therefore must be a continual repentance, and so long as we live so long must we grieve for our sins past and present, and strive after newness of life and a greater measure of sanctification.
§. Sect. 4 The fourth signe of true repentance is if it be continuall from the first day of our conuersion vnto the end of our liues,1 for it is not sufficient to serue God by fitts, or that our religion should take vs like a tertian ague but euery other day; it is not that which God requireth, that wee should deuide our time betweene him and the world, or hauing begun ⟨p. 509⟩in the spirit we should end in the flesh, but after wee are gone out of this Sodome of sinne, wee must goe forward in our iourney of holy obediēce, and neuer like Lots wife looke backe with a desire to inioy the pleasures thereof againe. We must so runne this spirituall race that we may obtaine, now we know that rūners of a race, as they do not stand stil after the watchword is giuen, but labour with all speed to set forth with the first, so they doe not sit downe in the midde way, much lesse run one while backward and another while forward, but they still hasten on till they come to the goale and obtaine the garland, and so it behooueth vs to runne speedily to the Lord by vnfained repentance, and not to desist in this our race till the end of our liues, if wee purpose to receaue that crowne of glory which the Lord hath promised vs. Our life therefore must be a continuall repentance, and so long as we liue so long must we greeue for our sinnes past and present, and striue after newnesse of life and a greater measure of sanctification.