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…

Not for that the senses and carnal concupiscence do first infect the superior faculties, but because being already corrupted they are ready to entertain all such wicked motions. And as inferior servants, do not, nor dare not, persuade their sovereigns to such sinful actions as are contrary to their liking and odious unto them, as those who are royally munificent and bountiful to base bribing and unconscionable pilling of their people, those who ate chaste and temperate to wantonness and excess; but only unto such vices as they are by nature somewhat inclinable unto: so is it in this little kingdom and common-wealth of man; for the understanding and reason are first corrupted and fallen from that integrity, spiritual wisdom and excellency in which they were created, wherewith they were enlightened with the knowledge of God and of spiritual and heavenly things in which originally they took all their delight and sweet contentment, and now being blinded with ignorance, and not able to discern or relish these divine delicates, they cease to live this spiritual life and can take no pleasure in heavenly things, and therefore give themselves over to all sensuality, and willingly entertain all corrupt motions of the flesh, which by the mediation of the body and carnal appetite may convey unto them any earthly delight. And thus the soul is said to lust by the flesh, when as it desireth those things which are delightful and pleasant according to the flesh; even as contrariwise the concupiscence of the soul, in it created purity, ¹was, when it delighted it self in those things which were spiritual and heavenly. To which the speech of Augustine fitteth well, What (saith he) is it to walk according to the flesh? Nothing else but when we consent to carnal lust. And what is it to walk according to the spirit? It is to be so assisted with Gods holy Spirit in our minds, as that we do not obey this fleshly concupiscence.

Not for that the senses and carnall concupiscence doe first infect the superiour faculties, but because being already corrupted they are ready to entertaine al such wicked motions. And as inferiour seruants, doe not, nor dare not, perswade their soueraignes to such sinfull actions as are contrarie to their liking and odious vnto them, as those who are royally munificent and bountifull to base bribing and vnconscionable pilling of their people, those who ate chaste and temperate to wantonnesse and excesse; but onely vnto such vices as they are by nature somewhat inclinable vnto: so is it in this little kingdome and common-wealth of man; for the vnderstanding and reason are first corrupted and fallen from that integritie, spirituall wisedome and excellencie in which they were created, wherewith they were inlightned with the knowledge of God and of spirituall and heauenly things in which originally they tooke all their delight and sweet contentment, and now being blinded with ignorance, and not able to discerne or rellish these diuine delicates, they cease to liue this spirituall life and can take no pleasure in heauenly things, and therefore giue themselues ouer to all sensuality, and willingly entertaine all corrupt motions of the flesh, which by the mediation of the body and carnall appetite may conueigh vnto them any earthly delight. And thus the soule is said to lust by the flesh, when as it desireth those things which are delightfull and pleasant according to the flesh; euen as contrariwise the concupiscence of the soule, in it created puritie,