A20756:123
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 thus it appeareth how evil and malicious this wicked enemy the flesh is in it own nature; now let us consider how it standeth affected towards us: in which respect we are to know that it matcheth (if not exceedeth) the world, yea the Devil himself in mischief and maliciousness; for howsoever it disguiseth it self under the visor of friendship and (courtier like) maketh semblance of all love, yet is it in deadly hatred with the spiritual man, continually disturbeth his peace, undermineth his safety, and is still plotting his ruin and destruction. Neither is it possible to conceive a more bitter opposition in all things, then between the flesh and the spirit; for what the spirit undertaketh, the flesh crosseth, what that furthereth this hindereth, and at all times and upon all occasions the one nilleth what the other willeth. In which respect it may truly be said, that these two cannot reign and flourish in the same man at once, for the prosperity of the one, is the ruin of the other, the kindling of fleshly lusts is the quenching of the spiritual, the nourishing of carnal concupiscence after earthly things, is the choking of spiritual concupiscence after that which is divine and heavenly, and the feeding and fattening of the one, is the pinching and starving of the other, according to that of the Psalmist, he satisfied their canal 2desires, but with all he sent leanness into their souls; for the pampering of these lusts bring the soul into a desperate consumption; and the satisfying of them taketh away all appetite after spiritual nourishment From which mortal and malicious opposition, we may plainly gather, that there is no peace to be expected, no not any intermission or surceasing of this war, unless one of the combatants be killed and destroyed; for as fire and water being put together, never cease striving and fighting, till either the fire be extinguished, or the water consumed; so is it in this spiritual conflict between these unreconciliable enemies. The which should add much to our Christian resolution, and make us courageously to assault this enemy with careful diligence, renewed spirits and redoubled strength, seeing there ⟨p. 70⟩cannot be so much as as a truce, much less a secure peace between us, nor any means to preserve the life of the spiritual man, unless we kill and crucify this malicious enemy.