A20756:155
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.
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 ⟨p. 92⟩in virtues colours; but we must look upon our selves in the glass of the law, and try our thoughts and words, our works and our ways by the rule of Gods word, and so shall we plainly discover our blemishes and defilements, yea our monstrous deformities and ugly corruptions, with the averseness of our wills to all good, and the perverseness and crookedness of our hearts affections. For there shall we see that our understandings are so blinded that though they be wise unto evil, yet to do good 2they have no knowledge; that our judgements are wholly 3corrupted, mistaking evil for good, and good for evil, right for wrong, and wrong for right, trueth for falsehood, and falsehood for trueth; that our imaginations are evil and that continually; that our consciences are either seared through security or affrighted with terrors and horrors through despair, and either accusing when they should excuse, or excusing when they should accuse; that our memories are slippery to retain any good thing, and retentive like brass or iron in keeping and preserving sinful and wicked impressions, that our wills stand in open rebellion against God nilling what he willeth, and willeth what he nilleth. That our hearts are averse to all goodness and cleave fast to all worldly and sinful vanities; that our affections are wholly corrupted and disordered and all the members of our bodies are the ready instruments of sin.