A14992:222
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
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.
2. It is certain, that the Spirit of GOD doth rule in him, in whom sin hath ceased ⟨p. 181⟩to rule. Every man is under the command of the flesh, or of the Spirit: every man is subject to the Lord, ruling in him by Grace, or to the Devil ruling in him by lust. Satan is a very strong man, and our own lusts are his weapons, none can bind this man, and cast him out: but the Spirit of strength, of which Saint John saith, Stronger is he that is in us,1 then he that is in the world. Wherefore if any man that was once under the yoke of wrath, lust, revenge, covetousness, or any other vile affection, do find now, that by fervent prayers to God, by the power of the Word in holy meditations applied to him, and by virtue of the death of Christ, and other like spiritual means by him used, the Lord hath pleased to pull this yoke from off his neck, so as now, in stead of taking delight in the evil motions of sin, he is grieved in his soul, when such thoughts do stir in his soul, and ceaseth not to cry to Heaven, till he find them beaten back again, and doth not now yield up himself to follow these things with greediness, but is usually able to forbear the palpable practice of sin; and if he be overtaken in any gross manner, he is greatly humbled and abased, and recovers himself with speedy confession, and lamentation, and renewing of his resolutions: If any man, I say, do find the case to stand thus with him, he hath in some measure fought and prevailed; and now blessed be he of the Lord, let ⟨p. 182⟩him look upon the dead bodies of his lusts with much comfort, and let him triumph in God, that hath conquered for him; and let him encourage himself still to continue fighting, that still his soul may increase in strength, as the House of David is said to have done, and his sins may grow weaker and weaker, as it was said of the House of Saul.
2. It is certaine, that the Spirit of GOD doth rule in him, in whom sinne hath ceased ⟨p. 181⟩to rule. Euerie man is vnder the command of the flesh, or of the Spirit: euerie man is subiect to the Lord, ruling in him by Grace, or to the Deuill ruling in him by lust. Satan is a verie strong man, and our owne lusts are his weapons, none can bind this man, and cast him out: but the Spirit of strength, of which Saint Iohn saith, Stronger is he that is in vs,