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…

¹Secondly, but this will better appear, if we further consider into what a base condition we are brought, if the flesh and the lusts thereof do get the dominion over us, for whereas there is no estate so vile and abject as the estate of a bondslave, because he is in all things subject to the command of his master, there being no place left unto expostulation, nor so much as any liberty to demand a reason; nor no bondage comparable to the bondage of Satan and our own sinful lusts, because there is no masters so unjust and cruel, the flesh subjecteth us to this miserable thraldom. For if Satan command these abject vassals, they must obey, though it directly tend to the dishonour of God, the hurt of their neighbours, and the utter destruction of their own bodies and souls. And in the like or greater slavery they are to their own sinful lusts. If unjust anger provoke them to revenge, they must kill and slay; if filthy lust impose upon them never so hard a task, they must undertake it, though it be to the ruin of their states, the staining of their fame, yea the hazard of their lives, and damnation of their souls. If covetousness command the compassing of some wealth, they must make no question of right not wrong; of hurting other men or their own persons. If ambition would have them to aspire to preferment, they must not stick to tread all under foot that stand in the way, they must lye and dissemble, swear and forswear, and climb up the craggy rock of honour with intolerable toil, though they are in danger by falling to break their necks, either when they are in the midway, or when they be come to the top of their hopes. If voluptuousness and sensuality ⟨p. 73⟩will have their appetite satisfied, they must toil and moil and endure many days labour for an hours delight; In a word, they who are in subjection to the sinful flesh▪ they are above all men in the world in the greatest slavery, being like unto Ham, who was a servant of servants, not so much in respect of outward subjection, as in that they are embondaged to their own carnal lusts; for as there is no servant or slave so base and vile, so there is no tyrant in the world so proud and cruel.

¹Secondly, but this will better appeare, if we further consider into what a base condition we are brought, if the flesh and the lusts thereof doe get the dominion ouer vs, for whereas there is no estate so vile and abiect as the estate of a bondslaue, because he is in all things subiect to the command of his maister, there being no place left vnto expostulation, nor so much as any liberty to demand a reason; nor no bondage comparable to the bondage of Sathan and our owne sinfull lusts, because there is no masters so vniust and cruell, the flesh subiecteth vs to this miserable thraldome. For if Sathan command these abiect vassals, they must obey, though it directly tend to the dishonour of God, the hurt of their neighbours, and the vtter destruction of their owne bodies and soules. And in the like or greater slauerie they are to their owne sinfull lusts. If vniust anger prouoke them to reuenge, they must kill and slay; if filthy lust impose vpon them neuer so hard a taske, they must vndertake it, though it be to the ruine of their states, the stayning of their fame, yea the hazard of their liues, and damnation of their soules. If couetousnesse command the compassing of some wealth, they must make no question of right not wrong; of hurting other men or their owne persons. If ambition would haue them to aspire to preferment, they must not sticke to tread all vnder foote that stand in the way, they must lye and dissemble, sweare and forsweare, and climbe vp the craggie rocke of honour with intollerable toyle, though they are in danger by falling to breake their neckes, either when they are in the midway, or when they be come to the top of their hopes. If voluptuousnesse and sensualitie