A20756:106
The conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The…The conflict betvveene the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The…
The conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The Christian warfare wherein is described the nature of these combatants, the malice and power of the flesh and fleshly lusts, with the means whereby we may subdue and overcome them. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods Word.The conflict betvveene the flesh and the spirit. Or the last part of The Christian warfare wherein is described the nature of these combatants, the malice and power of the flesh and fleshly lusts, with the meanes whereby we may subdue and ouercome them. By Iohn Dovvname Batchelar in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods Word.
London: printed by William Jones, 1618London: printed by William Iones, 1618
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.
1And unto these divers other reasons may be added. For first this corruption of nature is called the flesh, because the ⟨p. 57⟩body is the instrument of the soul to execute and put in practise the lusts and desires of sinful concupiscence, according to that Rom. 6. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. And the soul lusteth 2by the body; whereof it is, that the sin of evil concupiscence is attributed to the body as the instrument, though the mind be the chief egent, even as the eye is said to see, when as the soul rather seeth by the eye, and the sword is said to kill, when as it is the man rather that killeth with the sword. Secondly, because the sinful corruption of our natures doth discover and manifest it self rather by the outward actions of the body and concupiscence of the flesh, then by the secret cogitations and desires of the mind and will. For whilst this poison lurketh in the mind and will, it is secret and hidden always to others, and oftentimes even to our selves; but then it cometh to be known, when as it swelleth in our carnal concupiscence, and breaketh out in the sores of wicked actions. And as it fareth in the natural birth, so in this hellish brood of sin, after that the Devil or our corrupt flesh, have cast into the mind the cursed seed of sin, the concupiscence warmeth, fashioneth and nourisheth it, and so though in the first conception it was unknown even to the parents themselves that bred it, in the further growth thereof by lust, and in the birth by the outward action, it is made manifest, both to them and others. Whereof it is that the holy Ghost calleth this sin and corruption▪ concupiscence of the flesh, not because it gave unto it the first being in nature, but did only first discover it, and as it were brought it forth into the world. Thirdly, because the baits and allurements wherewith the Devil and the world entice us to sin, are offered most usually unto our minds and understandings by the mediation of the body and the outward senses, as riches, honours, and voluptuous pleasures; for these objects being tendered to the senses, they present them to the understanding & will, which approve and choose them, not caring to swallow the hook of sin, so they may feed on the bewitching bait. But what is