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…

¹And thus the flesh deceiveth the grosser kind of hypocrites: But when men have received such a measure of enlightening, that these dark fogs and mists of ignorance are somewhat dispelled, and have their sleepy consciences somewhat awakened, so that they are able and ready to tell them that all which is formerly spoken of, will be to little purpose, if they make no further progress in the ways of God; Then the flesh useth more refined and subtle policies, and condemning as much as any others carnal Gospellers, civill justiciaries and gross hypocrites, it persuadeth them to be like Agrippa almost, (and but almost) Christians; and to rest in some shadows and mere counterfeits of saving graces and Christian obedience, which are so like unto them, that unless they be brought to the all discovering light of Gods word, and diligently examined by this touch stone of trueth, they can hardly be discerned, I will not say by others (which is merely impossible) but even by those that have them. And this is the estate of temporary believers in whom there is almost nothing wanting which is in sound Christians but sincerity and trueth. For they are allowed by their sinful flesh to be as like Christians as possibly may be, so they be not so indeed and to run before many true believers in outward duties, and even to knock at heaven gates, so that they will there rest but for a time and never enter. They have knowledge often times in far greater measure then many of Gods dear children; faith, repentance, obedience, and that in such a degree, that ⟨p. 107⟩in outward appearance many true Christians come far short of them. And therefore seeing above all deceits this is most deceitful, we are to bend all our care and study that we may discover and defeat it.

¹ANd thus the flesh deceiueth the grosser kinde of hypocrites: But when men haue receiued such a measure of illightening, that these darke fogges and mistes of ignorance are somewhat dispelled, and haue their sleepie consciences somwhat awakened, so that they are able and ready to tell them that all which is formerly spoken of, will be to little purpose, if they make no further progresse in the wayes of God; Then the flesh vseth more refined and subtill pollicies, and condemning as much as any others carnall Gospellers, ciuill iusticiaries and grosse hypocrites, it perswadeth them to be like Agryppa almost, (and but almost) Christians; and to rest in some shadowes and meere counterfaits of sauing graces and Christian obedience, which are so like vnto them, that vnlesse they bee brought to the all discouering light of Gods word, and diligently examined by this touch stone of trueth, they can hardly be discerned, I will not say by others (which is meerely impossible) but euen by those that haue them. And this is the estate of temporarie beleeuers in whom there is almost nothing wanting which is in sound Christians but sinceritie and trueth. For they are allowed by their sinnefull flesh to bee as like Christians as possibly may be, so they be not so indeed and to runne before many true beleeuers in outward duties, and euen to knocke at heauen gates, so that they will there rest but for a time and neuer enter. They haue knowledge often times in farre greater measure then many of Gods deare children; faith, repentance, obedience, and that in such a degree, that