A20756:128
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.
1Fourthly the flesh nourisheth perpetual enmity between God and the carnal man, for so the Apostle saith that the wisdom of the flesh, or the carnal mind, is enmity against God; for the flesh and carnal lusts are in great league and amity with the Devil and the world, and they all three ⟨p. 74⟩unite all their forces, to fight against God & all his friends; and howsoever they are often vanquished by his almighty power, yet like malicious enemies the stand continually against him in open rebellion, rather to testify their malice and hatred, then out of any hope of prevailing against him. And therefore they who will be friends unto these fleshly lusts, the wicked world and the arch-traitor Satan, must needs hereby make themselves enemies unto God, according to that of the Apostle, Know ye not that the amity of the world is enmity with God, and whosoever will be a friend of the 2world, is the enemy of God. And again, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; and the reason which he rendereth is this, because the world and the flesh with the sinful lusts thereof are combined together, for (saith he) all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father but is of the world. For this carnal lusting after earthly things, breeds 3a neglect and loathing of things spiritual and even of God himself: for their appetite being filled and glutted with the sweet poison of fleshly delights, they have no taste nor relish of those heavenly excellencies, and they who have their senses filled with the seeing of worldly pleasures, have their spiritual sense so dulled and deadened, that they cannot smell Gods odiferous sweetness in his Word and holy ordinances. But as the Beetle chooseth rather to be in the dung then among the sweetest flowers, and the filthy hog is more delighted with rooting in the dunghill, then to walk about in the most pleasant garden: so those who are carnally minded are best pleased, when as by any means they may satisfy their sensual and fleshly appetite, and take no pleasure in spiritual or heavenly things; yea so contrary and opposite are they unto God in all goodness, and such enmity there is between them, that nothing giveth unto them greater distaste and discontentment. And as these fleshly lusts enrage men against God;