The Christian Warfare Part 3, Book 2 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of the meanes for the comforting, choaring and ſtrengthening of the ſpirit vntounto the Conflict.
§ Sect. 1. Earneſt and longing deſires after ſpirituall ſtrēgth.THE ſecond thing required is, that wee vſe all meanes for the comforting and cheering, the ſtrengthening and inabling of the ſpirit vntounto this ſpirituall Conflict. And firſt wee muſt earneſtly deſire to hauehave the ſpirit more ſtrengthened, and the gifts and graces thereof inlarged and and multiplyed in vsus; For as we hauehave Gods promiſe, that if wanting the ſpitit, we doe deſire and pray for it, he will giuegive him vntounto vsus, ſo alſo when hauing it, we deſire to hauehave it, and Luk. 11. 13.the graces thereof increaſed in vsus, the Lord will ſatisfie our pſal. 145. 19.deſires, and bring this worke of grace begun to accompliſhment Phil. 1. 6.and perfection. For therefore doth the Lord inlarge our hearts with theſe longing deſires, that hee may ſatisfie them, therefore doth he make vsus to hunger after grace, and to finde and feele our owne emptineſſe, that hee may fill and repleniſh vsus with them. Wee muſt not therefore reſt contented and ſatisfied with that meaſure of grace vvhichwhich wee hauehave receiued, or that portion of the ſpirit wherewith wee are already indued, but wee muſt hunger after more perfection, and growe from grace to grace, from ſtrength to ſtrength, and from one degree of ſpirituall ſtature vntounto another, vntill wee come vntounto a perfect age in Chriſt. And this is an inſeparable and infallible ſigne and property of the faithfull & regenerate, who are ſaid to bee Pſal. 92. 14.trees of righteouſnes of Gods owne planting, which bring forth more plenty of fruit in their old age, and are not doted Pro. 4. 18.and rotten with yeeres, but when they are at the eldeſt, they are moſt fat and flouriſhing. They are like vntounto the morning Eph. 2. 20.light, which ſhineth more and more vntounto the perfect day. They are Gods building, which is ſtill in framing and ſetting vp vntill it bee fully finiſhed. They are Gods children who grow from ſtrength to ſtrength, vntill they come to perfect ſtature, neither hauehave they any time of olde age, but are in a continuall ſpring of youth. They are branches ingrafted into the true Vine Ieſus Chriſt, which bearing fruit in him, …e purgeth & pruneth them, that they may bring forth more fruit. That therefore wee may approue our ſelues to bee in this number▪ let vsus not content our ſelues that we hauehave receiued ſome meaſure of the ſpirit, but (as the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus) let vsus deſire to grow in grace, and in the knowledge Eph. 4. 12. 13. Ioh. 15. 2. 2 Pet. 3. 19.of our Lord IESVS CHRIST: For they who hauehave once taſted of theſe ſpirituall excellencies, are not ſatisfied vvith a ſmall pittance, but rather thereby their deſire is inlarged, their appetite ſharpened, and their hunger increaſed after a more full and perfect allowance.
§ Sect. 2 The 2 meanes a carefull indeauour in the vſe of all good meāes for the ſtrengthening of it.Now as we are thus to deſire more and more an acceſſe of all ſpirituall grace vntounto perfection; ſo in the ſecond place, we are to endeauour in the vſe of all good meanes appointed by God for the ſtrengthening and increaſing of Gal. 3. 2.them. And firſt we muſt bee carefull and diligent in hearing▪ reading and meditating in the word of God, which is the miniſtery of grace and ſaluation, and not onelyonly the ſeede whereby wee are regenerate and made new borne babes in Chriſt, but alſo the foode whereby we are nouriſhed 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2.and increaſed in grace and ſpirituall ſtrength, vntill we come vntounto a full age in Chriſt. Milke for our tender infancy, and more ſtrong and perfect nouriſhment for our riper age. Now becauſe there may come a deare yeere, when as this ſpirituall food will be very ſcarce, ſo as wee may wander Amos. 8. 12.from ſea to ſea, and runne to and fro, from the North euen vntounto the Eaſt, to ſeeke the word of the Lord, and ſhall not finde it as he threatneth by the Prophet; therefore we muſt with Ioſeph foreſeeing this daunger in our yeeres of plentie lay vp ſtore againſt the time of ſcarcitie and penury, that our ſpirit doe not looſe it ſtrength, nor our ſoules be famiſhed with this ſpirituall famine; and not like the fooliſh Egyptians for want of prouidence be driuen to ſeeke our foode with much inconueniency, when as we ſhould feede vponupon it. Yea wee are not onelyonly to lay vp ſufficient ſtore for our owne prouiſion, but as Ioſeph did, for the reliefe and comfort of all that ſue and ſeeke vntounto vsus, that their ſoules may bleſſe vsus when as they finde themſelues refreſhed and comforted with this ſpirituall nouriſhment. And this meanes of comforting and ſtrengthening the ſpirit, Cyrill commendeth vntounto vsus. If (ſaith hee) comming often vntounto the Church thou giueſt eare to the holy Scriptures, and conceiueſt Cyril. in Leuit. lib. 9. Col. 129.the meaning of theſe diuine precepts; then as the fleſh is pampred with exceſſe of meates and daintie diſhes, ſo the ſpirit will grow ſtrong, by feeding on this heauenly Manna, and becomming more powerfull then our ſenſuall deſires and carnall luſtes, it will bring the fleſh into ſubiection, and make it to ſubmit it ſelfe to be ruled by its lawes. Whereas contrariwiſe if wee withdrawe this foode from the ſpirit it will growe ſo faint and languiſh in ſtrength that it will not bee able to ſtand againſt the aſſaults of the fleſh in the day of battell. And vntounto the miniſtery of the word we muſt adioyne the frequent vſe of the Lords Supper, which is a ſpirituall feaſt, purpoſely ordained by our Sauiour Chriſt, for the confirming and ſtrengthening of our communion with him by his ſpirit; and for the filling and repleniſhing of all thoſe with his ſanctifying and ſauing graces who come with a good ſtomack and an hungring appetite to this holy table; for the ſtrengthening of thoſe that are weake and faint, the reſtoring of them who are entred into a ſpiritual conſumption, and for the confirming of ſuch in their vigour and ſtrength, who already enioy deſired health. Finally we muſt vſe the helpe of holy conferences, inſtructing, exhorting, admoniſhing, counſelling and comforting one another, Iud. 20.that wee may bee further edified in our holy faith; for as ſtickes ſcattered aſunder will hardly keepe fire, but if they be laide together will quickly growe to a great flame; ſo if we ſingle our ſelues from one another, and admit no communion by religious conferences, wee ſhall quickly coole and quench the fire of the ſpirit: but if wee meete together and exerciſe our ſelues in holy conferences, wee ſhall hereby ſtirre vp Gods graces in vsus, wee ſhall like vntounto kniues whetted one vponupon another, ſharpen our gifts, and ſet an edge on our deſires to the performance of all good dutie; we ſhall pile vp our graces one on another, and with theſe bellowes of conference, blowe vponupon them vntill they grow to a great flame.
§ Sect. 3. The 3 meanes is to nouriſh the good motions of the ſpirit.The third meanes of cheriſhing and ſtrengthening the ſpirit is to nouriſh the good motions thereof, neither vtterly quenching them, nor delaying to put them in practiſe, but preſently harkning vntounto them and labouring after the firſt and beſt opportunitie of performing thoſe duties which it requireth. For it is a great comfort and encouragement to this ſpirituall Vice-roy, whom God hath ſet vp in his ſtead to raigne and rule in vsus, when as wee yeelde obedience vntounto him, and ſuffer our ſelues willingly to bee gouerned by his direction. It much cheareth and delighteth this heauenly counſellour, when as wee hearken to his counſels and be aduiſed by him in all our courſes: whereas there can be no comfort to any Prince in his gouernment, when as his ſubiects vponupon eueryevery occaſion ſtand out in open rebellion, and continually reſiſt him in all his lawfull Commaundements, and who would not refuſe it, as an irkſome office to be ſtill aduiſing a man of ſuch a refractory ſpirit, as will either neuer followe his counſaile, or make it vnſeaſonable and vnprofitable by vnneceſſary delayes? If therefore we would comfort and cheriſh the ſpirit, let vsus willingly entertaine the good motions which it putteth into our minds, and ſpeedily put them in practiſe and execution. As for example, when as fit oportunitie being offered, it moueth vsus to call vponupon God by prayer, either to begge the graces which wee want, or to giuegive him thankes for benefits receiued, we are not to tread this motion vnderunder foote by vtter neglect, nor yet to coole or quench it by caſting vponupon it the cold water of delaies, but wee muſt preſently nouriſh the motion and not deferre to put it in execution, when it moueth vsus to attend vntounto the hearing of the word, either on the Lords day when as we are bound to meete in the holy aſſemblies, or on the weeke day, when as our neceſſary imployments in the workes of our callings will giuegive vsus reaſonable opportunitie, we are to take hold of the occaſion offred, and not deferre it by cauſeleſſe delaies. And when God preſenteth vsus with an obiect of miſery, and his ſpirit moueth vsus to take the preſent occaſion of doing a worke of mercy, as by giuing an almes to the needy, viſiting the ſicke and ſuch as are in priſon▪ helping the impotent and comforting the comfor…les and afflicted, wee muſt not neglect theſe workes of charitie, nor put them off to another time, but as willingly and chearefully apprehend the preſent opportunitie, as the husbandman doeth the ſeaſon of ſowing, the Merchant of trading, and the Marriner of hoyſing vp ſayles, when as hee hath gotten a good gale of winde; ſeeing otherwiſe God may iuſtly puniſh our negligence by neuer granting vsus againe ſuch ſeaſonable occaſions.
§. Sect 4. The fourth meanes is ſerious care to maintaine our peace with God and the peace of conſcience.The fourth meanes of cheriſhing and ſtrengthening of the ſpirit is to bee carefull of maintaining our peace with God, and our aſſurance of his louelove and fauour; the which is beſt done by preſeruing peace in our owne conſciences, and by keeping them cleare of knowne & voluntary ſinnes, whereby the anger of our heauenly Father is prouoked againſt vsus, and we expoſed to his heauy iudgements. For if God bee offended how ſhall his ſpirit bee well pleaſed with vsus, how ſhall hee be willing to renewe our ſtrength, and to ſend vntounto vsus freſh ſupplies of his graces, to aide and aſſiſt vsus againſt our ſpirituall enemies? or how ſhall the created ſpirit dwelling in vsus with courage and comfort fight againſt the diuell, the world and the fleſh, when as it is depriued of the light of Gods countenance, and hath its peace interrupted with him; yea when it apprehendeth his wrathfull diſpleaſure, and (as it was with Iob and Dauid) conceiueth that God hath not onelyonly forſaken him, but is alſo become his enemie? how ſhall the ſtreames of Gods graces continue running, when as they are ſtopped and cut off from the ſpring and fountaine? or how ſhould our ſtrength hold out, when the God of our ſtrength doeth withdrawe himſelfe from vsus? If therefore we would hauehave the ſpirit in vsus ſtrong and uigorous, let vsus preſerue, as much as in vsus lieth, our intercourſe with God, and vſe all good meanes to ſtrengthen our faith in the aſſurance of his louelove, and our reconciliation and peace with him; for if God be with it, the ſpirit will be ſo couragious and magnanimous, that it will not care who oppoſeth againſt it. Yea our care muſt bee not onelyonly to ſtrengthen our faith in this aſſurance, that God who hath choſen vsus will neuer leaue vsus, and that hauing begun the good worke of regeneration, he will neuer giuegive it ouer, till he hath fully finiſhed it, becauſe hee is vnchangeable in his louelove, and his gifts and calling are without repentance; but if wee would hauehave the ſpirit ſtrong and vigorous, wee moſt not neglect the feelings of faith, nor the ſenſible comforts of Gods louelove, warming and comforting our hearts, but wee muſt labour to finde the vertue and efficacy of his grace working in vsus, and hauehave the experimentall apprehenſion of the comforts of his ſpirit. Wee muſt endeauour to hauehave not onelyonly Gods graces habitually, but to feele their ſeuerall actions and operations working our hearts to all good duties. For though the ſunſhine of Gods fauour, once ſhining vponupon vsus, can neuer vtterly faile, yet the beames thereof may by the interpoſition of our ſins bee ecclypſed from vsus for a time; though the fountaine of his grace towards vsus can neuer be dried vp, yet the ſtreames thereof may bee ſo ſtopped that wee can by preſent apprehenſion feele little comfort by it. And though our faith which is the life of our ſpirit, cannot be loſt of thoſe who euer had it, yet when the life of our life, the comfortable ſeelings of faith, our communion with God, peace of conſcience & ioy in the holy Ghoſt, are taken away, or for a time ſuſpended and hid from vsus, we are exceedingly weakened in the ſpirituall part, and hauehave litle comfort or courage in maintaining the fight againſt our ſpirituall enemies. Now theſe feelings of faith and comforts of the ſpirit are beſt obtained and kept, when as wee preſerue our Communion, fellowſhip and familiar acquaintance with God in the conſcionable and frequent vſe of his holy ordinances, the hearing of his word▪ Prayer, the vſe of the Sacraments, keeping company with him in his holy aſſemblies, where he is preſent by his ſpirit; when as with the ſpouſe in the Canticles we reioice in his cōpany and with Dauid bee rauiſhed with ioy and delight when as wee meete him in his holy Temple; and when as with them Pſal. 84. 1. pſal. 42. 1. 2.wee mourne and grieue for his abſence, and when he with draweth himſelfe doe ſeeke his face and fauour, and aboue all things deſire and long after his comfortable preſence. When as wee labour daily in the mortification of our ſins, which doe make a ſeperation betweene our God and vsus, and doe exerciſe our ſelues in all holy duties of his ſeruice, thereby glorifying his holy name, and edifying our neighbours by our good example. Which if wee doe, then ſhall the beames of Gods fauour, and the ſtreames of his graces, hauehave a cleare paſſage vntounto vsus, with which our ſpirituall part ſhall be ſo cheared, cheriſhed and encreaſed in ſtrength, that we ſhall eaſily withſtand all the malice and fury of our ſpirituall enemies, and obtaine an happy victory in our Chriſtian warfare.
§ Sect 5. The 5 meanes is to preſerue our ſelues pure and cleane from all pellution.The fifth meanes to nouriſh and cheriſh the ſpirit in vsus, is to preſerue our bodies and ſoules, which are his temples, in their cleanneſſe and puritie from all pollution of ſinne and wickedneſſe; for as a good ayre and ſweete habitation doeth much refreſh and ſtrengthen our naturall and vitall ſpirits, and preſerue our bodies in health; ſo no leſſe doeth it comfort our comforter, and cheare and cheriſh the ſpirit of God in vsus, if wee prouide for him a holeſome and pleaſant lodging, cleanſed and purged from all noiſome filth of ſinfull impuritie, and ſweetned and adorned with the incenſe and odours of our prayers▪ and the flowers and fruits of our good workes and holy obedience.
§ Sect. 6 The 6 meanes is to keepe the ſpirit and the graces thereof in continuall exerciſe.The ſixth meanes to preſerue and ſtrenthen the ſpirit, and to increaſe in vsus the graces and giftes thereof, is to keepe them in continuall exerciſe; and to cauſe theſe habits to ſhew themſelues in their functions and operations. For no more neceſſary is breathing and mouing for the preſeruing the life of our bodies, then fruitfull working and holy walking in all Chriſtian duties, is for the preſeruing and cheriſhing the life of the ſpirit; according to that of the Apoſtle; If wee liue in the ſpirit, let vsus alſo walke in the Gal. 5. 25.ſpirit. And as in naturall things, the cauſes are preſerued by producing their effects, and habits and qualities confirmed and ſtrengthened by their functions and operations; ſo is it alſo in the ſpirit and ſpirituall graces. We finde by experience that the ſight is bettred by ſeeing, and much weakened when it is depriued of fit obiects. The habituall memory is much ſtrengthened by the practical, and made feeble and vnfaithfull, when as it hath no exerciſe or imployment; the vnderſtanding becommeth more intelligent by minding and conceiuing, and i… much impaired when it is not vſed; the ſtrength of the arme, hand, legge and the whole body is much ſtrengthened and increaſed by action and exerciſe, and decaieth and is greatly enfeebled by ſloth and idleneſſe. And thus it is alſo with the ſpirit and ſpirituall graces, let vsus vſe them and we ſhall hauehave them; let theſe rootes of holineſſe bring forth their boughes and branches, their leaues of profeſſion and their fruits of practiſe, and they will liue and proſper, ſpread inwardly and ſpring and ſproute outwardly, but if wee hinder them from bearing their leaues and rootes, and bee ſtill cutting and lopping of their boughes and branches, they will in a while dye and periſh. Let this fire of the ſpirit hauehave fit vent to ſend out its flames of holy and righteous actions, and it will ſtill liue, burne and blaze, but if once wee beginne to ſtop this vent, it will preſently dye and turne to cold embers. Let faith exerciſe it ſelfe in apprehending the promiſes, in waiting for the performance, in fighting againſt doubting, and in bearing the fruits of good workes, and from a graine of muſtardſeede it will growe to a great tree, from ſmoking flaxe to a burning flame, and from a feeble aſſent to a firme and full perſwaſion. So let louelove be exerciſed in doing and ſuffring for Gods ſake, in performing vntounto him all holy ſeruice and Chriſtian duties; and in the workes of mercy and charitie towards our neighbours, and of a litle ſparke it will increaſe to a great fire, let the ſhoulders of patience be inured to bearing of the Croſſe, and ſuffering afflictions, in putting vp wrongs and ouercomming euill with good, though they bee weake and tender at the firſt, they will in a litle while become hard & ſtrong, and ſo it is in all other graces, by exerciſe they are increaſed, by ſloth and eaſe they are weakned and waſted. And therefore Dauid no ſooner thinketh of receiuing grace and ſtrength from God, then he reſolueth to exerciſe them to the vttermoſt; I will runne (ſaith he) the way of thy Commaundements when thou ſhalt inlarge my heart. And againe; teach me O Lord the way of thy Pſal. 119. 32. 33. 34.ſtatutes and I will keepe them vntounto the end. GiueGive mee vnderſtanding and I ſhall keepe thy lawe, yea I ſhall obſerue it with my whole heart.
§ Sect. 7 The laſt meanes is frequent and feruent prayer.The laſt & principall meanes of ſtrengthening and cheriſhing the ſpirit, is earneſt and effectual prayer vntounto God, that he will ſtrengthen our weakneſſe, and quicken our dulneſſe, and ſupport our faintneſſe, by continuall renewing his ſpirit in vsus and ſending freſh ſupplies of his ſauing graces, to re-enforce and refreſh our decaied bands, that by theſe new aides wee may be enabled to ſtand in the day of battell, and to get the victory ouer all our ſpirituall enemies, for it is this holy fire deſcended from heauen, which kindleth this ſpirituall fire in vsus, whereby wee offer incenſe, ſacrifices and oblations acceptable vntounto God, the ſmoake whereof driueth away the enemies of our ſaluation. His eternall ſpirit is the liuing fountaine of theſe cleare & criſtalline waters, whereby our thirſty ſoules are refreſhed in the ſpirituall conflict, and our hands, and eyes, & all other parts when they are wearied and tired doe receiue renewed Pſal. 144. 1.ſtrength; It is he that teacheth our hands to warre, and our fingers to fight, and giueth vntounto vsus full and finall victory ouer all our enemies, and the crowne of victory euerlaſting glory. And therfore when we ſee the battell hot againſt vsus, 1 King. 22.and ourſelues weary and weake to make reſiſtance, let vsus imitate the good King Iehoſaphat, and crie aloude vntounto the Lord to ſuccour and ſtrengthen vsus; when wee ſee our graces ſpent and our ſpirituall ſtrength waſted and weakened in making reſiſtance, let vsus call vntounto him for freſh aides and renewed ſtrength, whereby wee may bee enabled to hold o…t and ouercome.
§ Sect. 8. The concluſion of the booke.And thus hauehave I, through Gods mighty and moſt mercifull aſſiſtance, finiſhed alſo this laſt part of the Chriſtian Warfare, a worke ſo much the more difficult, becauſe the fleſh which is the enemy againſt whom I intend it, holdeth a ſtrong party in my ſelfe, darkening my vnderſtanding, that I might not diſcouer its ſlights and ſubtilties, malice and might, nor diſcerne the beſt meanes for the defeating of its pollicies and ſubduing of it power. The Lord make me euer truely thankefull vntounto his holy Maieſty for this merciemercy, and giuegive me grace alwayes to eſteeme it as one of his his chiefeſt benefits in this life, that hee hath vſed mee the weakeſt and vnworthieſt of many hundreds of my brethren as his poore inſtrument in ſo good an imployment, and ſtirre vp in his good time ſome other of his choyſeſt and chiefeſt Worthies, for the further perfecting of that which I in my mediocritie hauehave begun, hitting the marke at which I hauehave but aymed, and training exactly the Chriſtian Souldiour in the feates of ſpirituall armes whom I (as I was able) hauehave but in ſome little meaſure acquainted with the knowledge of the Chriſtian Warfare. And the Lord giuegive his grace vntounto vsus all both ſtrongeſt & weakeſt, that we may not onelyonly inſtruct others in this ſpirituall art of fighting againſt the enemies of our ſaluation, but that wee our ſelues muy put on the ſpirituall armour, and fight continually with courage and reſolution vnderunder the ſtandard of the Lord of Hoaſts; and becauſe we are vnskilfull and knowe not how to fight, and exceeding weake and feeble in our ſtrength, and vnable to ſtand in the incounter and beare the brunt of the battell, that hee will teach our hands, or rather our hearts, to warre, and our fingers, or rather our affections, to fight; and that hee will continually renew our ſtrength and ſend vsus dayly freſh ſupplyes of his ſpirituall and ſauing graces, whereby wee may be enabled vvith conſtancy and perſeuerance to maintaine the fight, vntill hauing gotten a full and finall victory, wee be like conquerours crowned with glory and immortalitie; the which he vouchſafe vntounto vsus euen for his Chriſts ſake, the Sonne of his louelove, and the author, continuer, and finiſher of our ſaluation, to whom with the bleſſed Father, and holy Spirit, be aſcribed of vsus, and his whole Church, all praiſe and glory, power and dominion, from this time forth and for euermore. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Downame, The Christian Warfare Part 3 (1618)