A Golden Chain

Euseb. I being one man in substance and two men in quality, flesh and spirit, which in me so fight perpetually the one against the other, that I must go either backward or forward, and cannot stand long in one estate. If the spirit overcome in tentations, then is she stronger and the flesh weaker. But if the flesh get a custom, then is the spirit none otherwise oppressed of the flesh, then as though she had a mountain on hi• back, and as we sometime in our dreams think we bear heavier then a millstone on our breasts: or when we dream now and then that we would run away for fear of some thing, our legs seem heavier then lead: even so is the spirit oppressed and overladen of the flesh through custom, that she struggleth and striveth to get up, and to break loose in vain, until the God of mercy which heareth my groan through Jesus Christ, come and loose her with his power, and put something on the back of the flesh to keep her down, to minish her strength, and to mortify her. So then no sinner I am if you regard the Spirit, the profession of my heart toward the Law of God, my repentance and sorrow that I have both because I have sinned, and am yet full of sin, and look unto the promises of mercy in our Saviour Christ, and unto my faith. A sinner am I if you look to the frailty of my flesh which is a remnant of the old Adam, and as it were the stock of the old olive tree, ever and anon when occasion is given, shooting forth his branches, leaves, bud, blossom, and fruit also: which also is as the weakness of one which is newly recovered of a great disease, by the reason whereof all my deeds are imperfect, and when occasions be great I fall into horrible deeds, and the fruit of the sin which remaineth in my members breaketh out. Notwithstanding, the Spirit leaveth me not, but rebuketh me, and bringeth me home again unto my profession, so that I never cast off the yoke of God from off my neck, neither yield up my self unto sin to serve it, but fight a fresh, and begin a new battle. And I had rather you should understand this forth of the Scriptures, by the example of Jonah and the Apostles. Jonah was the friend of God, and a chose• ⟨p. 628⟩servant of God, to testify his will unto the world.

Euseb. I beeing one man in substance and two men in qualitie, flesh and spirit, which in me so fight perpetually the one against the other, that I must goe either backward or forward, and cannot stand long in one estate. If the spirit ouercome in tentations, then is she stronger and the flesh weaker. But if the flesh get a custom, then is the spirit none otherwise oppressed of the flesh, then as though she had a mountaine on hi backe, and as we sometime in our dreames thinke we beare heauier then a milstone on our breasts: or when we dreame now and then that we would runne away for feare of some thing, our legges seeme heauier then lead: euen so is the spirit oppressed and ouerladen of the flesh through custome, that shee struggleth and striueth to get vp, and to breake loose in vaine, vntill the God of mercie which heareth my groane through Iesus Christ, come and loose her with his power, and put something on the backe of the flesh to keepe her downe, to minish her strength, and to mortifie her. So then no sinner I am if you regard the Spirit, the profession of my heart towarde the Lawe of God, my repentance and sorrow that I haue both because I haue sinned, and am yet full of sinne, and looke vnto the promises of mercie in our Sauiour Christ, and vnto my faith. A sinner am I if you looke to the frailtie of my flesh which is a remnant of the old Adam, and as it were the stocke of the olde oliue tree, euer and anon when occasion is giuen, shooting forth his braunches, leaues, budde, blossome, and fruit also: which also is as the weaknesse of one which is newly recouered of a great disease, by the reason whereof all my deedes are imperfect, and when occasions be great I fall into horrible deedes, and the fruit of the sin which remaineth in my members breaketh out. Notwithstanding, the Spirit leaueth me not, but rebuketh me, and bringeth me home againe vnto my profession, so that I neuer cast off the yoke of God from off my necke, neither yeelde vp my selfe vnto sinne to serue it, but fight a fresh, and beginne a newe battaile. And I had rather you should vnderstand this forth of the Scriptures, by the example of Ionas and the Apostles. Ionas was the friend of God, and a chose