A20756:177
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.
1So also hypocrites and temporaries have faith whereby they not only know and believe the whole word of God and the promises of the Gospel to be true, but also give their assent unto them, yea make some kind of application of them unto themselves; And yet there are divers essential differences between this faith of hypocrites and of true believers. For first they differ in their causes, the one being wrought by the ministry of the Gospel made effectual by the inward cooperation of Gods Spirit; the other by Satan & carnal corruption, abusing and misapplying of these promises in Christ. Secondly in their grounds; for a lively faith is grounded upon Gods revealed trueth, but the faith of hypocrites upon no other ground then the false suggestions of Satan, unwarranted conceits, carnal security and fond presumption, which cause the hypocrite to apply unto himself the mercies of God, & merits of Christ, and the sweet promises of the Gospel when as he is in no sort qualified and fitted according to the word to receive or have any interest in them. For before we can believe with a true faith, we must be humbled in the sight and sense of our sins, we must deny our selves and become vile in our own eyes and have an hungering and thirsting after Christ and his righteousness, and an high valuation and esteem of them above all things in the world, all which are wanting in the saith of hypocrites. Thirdly true faith is joined with unfeigned love of God, for he that is assured that much is forgiven him, he loveth much, not only God himself but his neighbours, yea even his enemies for Gods sake, and those above all the rest in whom he discerneth the image of God m•st clearly shining: But the faith of hypocrites being always accompanied with self-love maketh a man to value himself above all things, yea God himself the chief goodness. Fourthly where there is true faith there is always a sore combat and conflict between the flesh and the spirit, between faith purifying ⟨p. 109⟩the heart, and unbelief labouring to retain the pleasures of sin and all our inbred corruptions which are pleasing or profitable: but the faith of hypocrites is still quiet and peaceable because it is nothing but carnal presumption, which being corrupt and sinful agreeth well with other corruptions;
1So also hypocrites and temporaries haue faith whereby they not onely know and beleeue the whole word of God and the promises of the Gospell to be true, but also giue their assent vnto them, yea make some kind of application of them vnto themselues; And yet there are diuers essentiall differences betweene this faith of hypocrites and of true beleeuers. For first they differ in their causes, the one being wrought by the ministery of the Gospell made effectuall by the inward cooperation of Gods Spirit; the other by Sathan & carnal corruption, abusing and misapplying of these promises in Christ. Secondly in their grounds; for a liuely faith is grounded vpon Gods reuealed trueth, but the faith of hypocrites vpon no other ground then the false suggestions of Sathan, vnwarranted conceipts, carnall securitie and fond presumption, which cause the hypocrite to apply vnto himselfe the mercies of God, & merits of Christ, and the sweete promises of the Gospell when as he is in no sort qualified and fitted according to the word to receiue or haue any interest in them. For before we can beleeue with a true faith, we must be humbled in the sight and sense of our sinnes, wee must deny our selues and become vile in our own eyes and haue an hungring and thirsting after Christ and his righteousnesse, and an high valuation and esteeme of them aboue all things in the world, all which are wanting in the saith of hypocrites. Thirdly true faith is ioyned with vnfained loue of God, for he that is assured that much is forgiuen him, he loueth much, not only God himselfe but his neighbours, yea euen his enemies for Gods sake, and those aboue all the rest in whom he discerneth the image of God mst clearely shining: But the faith of hypocrites being alwayes accompanied with selfe-loue maketh a man to value himselfe aboue all things, yea God himselfe the chiefe goodnesse. Fourthly where there is true faith there is alwayes a sore combate and conflict betweene the flesh and the spirit, betweene faith purifying