A20756:154
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.
But let us take heed of this policy as being most dangerous & pernicious, seeing it maketh men rest in themselves and upon the weak reed of their own righteousness to their utter perdition, and keepeth them from flying unto Christ, and from hungering after his righteousness by which alone we are justified and saved. And as it keepeth us from embracing Christ by faith, so also it hindereth our repentance, and nourisheth in us carnal security and hardness of heart: for we must first see our sins before we can ever bewail or turn from them, and whilst we have any opinion of our own good natures, or our legal righteousness, we can never as we should bewail our sinful corruptions, nor carefully use any means to be purged from them.
But let vs take heede of this policie as beeing most dangerous & pernicious, seeing it maketh men rest in themselues and vpon the weake reede of their owne righteousnesse to their vtter perdition, and keepeth them from flying vnto Christ, and from hungring after his righteousnes by which alone we are iustified and saued. And as it keepeth vs from imbracing Christ by faith, so also it hindreth our repentance, and nourisheth in vs carnall securitie and hardnesse of heart: for we must first see our sinnes before we can euer bewaile or turne from them, and whilest we haue any opinion of our owne good natures, or our legall righteousnesse, wee can neuer as wee should bewaile our sinfull corruptions, nor carefully vse any meanes to bee purged from them.
1Whereby it appeareth that no policy is more pernicious if it prevail against us, seeing it spoileth us of our Saviour Christ, and of all the gracious promises of life and salvation contained in the Gospel, which are all made on the condition of faith approved to be lively and justifying by the fruits thereof in unfeigned repentance. The which should move us to use all our care and endeavour that we may defeat it: to which purpose we must not look upon our selves as we appear in the twilight, or rather in the dark night of natural knowledge, nor yet through the false spectacles of pride and self-love, which will hide and disguise our vices and corruptions and make them to show themselves