A16314:78
The carnal professor Discovering the woeful slavery of a man guidedThe carnall professor Discovering the wofull slavery of a man guided
The carnal professor Discovering the woeful slavery of a man guided by the flesh. Distinguishing a true spiritual Christian that walks close with God, from all formalists in religion, rotten hearted hypocrites, and empty powerless professors whatsoever. By that faithful servant of Christ, Robert Bolton B.D. late preacher in Northampton Shire.The carnall professor Discovering the wofull slavery of a man guided by the flesh. Distinguishing a true spirituall Christian that walkes close with God, from all formalists in religion, rotten hearted hypocrites, and empty powerlesse professors whatsoever. By that faithfull servant of Christ, Robert Bolton B.D. late preacher in Northampton Shire.
London: printed by Miles Flesher for R. Dawlman, 1634
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Lastly, to prevent surprisals by this cruel enemy, study his policies before hand; for howsoever the strength of the flesh be very great, yet the policy thereof doth far exceed it: for being not a professed enemy, but a secret traitor, it is more exercised in cunning undermining of our safety, with subtle slights, and politic stratagems, then in assaulting us after an open and hostile manner. Satan cannot deceive us unless our own flesh assisting him, do first deceive us. The danger whereof is so much the greater, because it is so ⟨p. 77⟩deep and disguised, that it can hardly be discovered and found out: it displays not its colours in open field, but lies hid in secret ambushments, mingling it self with our own forces, and making a show of simplicity, and sincerity, when there is nothing but craft and, deceit in it, persuading us that we are nothing so evil and corrupt as indeed we are, and that those good things which we seem to have are of far more excellency then in truth they be, that our little mite is a great treasury, that we are in an happy and blessed condition, whereas we were never ⟨p. 78⟩nearer unto death and destruction; that surely God loves us because we prosper in the world, and live civilly and quietly amongst our neighbours, wronging no man, that so much zeal and strictness is more then need, that the best have their failings, that great sins are very small ones, and little sins are none at all, &c.
Lastly, to prevent surprisalls by this cruell enemy, study his policies before hand; for howsoever the strength of the flesh be very great, yet the policy thereof doth farre exceed it: for being not a professed enemy, but a secret traitor, it is more exercised in cunning undermining of our safety, with subtle slights, and politique stratagems, then in assaulting us after an open and hostile manner. Sathan cannot deceive us unlesse our owne flesh assisting him, doe first deceive us. The danger whereof is so much the greater, because it is so ⟨p. 77⟩deep and disguised, that it can hardly be discovered and found out: it displayes not its colours in open field, but lyes hid in secret ambushments, mingling it selfe with our owne forces, and making a shew of simplicity, and sincerity, when there is nothing but craft and, deceit in it, perswading us that we are nothing so evill and corrupt as indeed wee are, and that those good things which wee seeme to have are of farre more excellency then in truth they bee, that our little mite is a great treasury, that we are in an happy and blessed condition, whereas wee were never