A20756:185
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.
Secondly, we must not take nor embrace any thing suddenly, and rashly which Satan or our own corrupt flesh commendeth unto us, but examine and try all things by the light of Gods Word, and the touchstone of truth, which will plainly discover unto us what is to be embraced, and what avoided, what to be treasured up in our hearts as pure gold and good treasure, and what to be rejected as dross and base metal. Finally we must labour to purge our hearts from pride and self-love, which above all other things corrupt our judgements, making those things to seem lovely which we love, and worthy our choice because we have chosen them. And contrariwise we must adorn our selves with humility denying our own wills and carnal lusts, make the will of God revealed in the Scriptures to be the rule of our wills and the guide of our affections.
Secondly, we must not take nor imbrace any thing suddenly, and rashly which Sathan or our owne corrupt flesh commendeth vnto vs, but examine and try all things by the light of Gods Word, and the touchstone of truth, which will plainely discouer vnto vs what is to be imbraced, and what auoided, what to bee treasured vp in our hearts as pure gold and good treasure, and what to be reiected as drosse and base metall. Finally wee must labour to purge our hearts from pride and selfe-loue, which aboue all other things corrupt our iudgements, making those things to seeme louely which wee loue, and worthy our choise because we haue chosen them. And contrariwise we must adorne our selues with humilitie denying our owne wils and carnall lusts, make the will of God reuealed in the Scriptures to be the rule of our wils and the guide of our affections.
1In the second place, if the flesh cannot persuade us that our sins are no sins, but rather virtues, then it will entice us to commit them under this colour, that they are but small sins: telling us, that we cannot be Saints on earth and pure from all sin, but must of necessity be subject to many infirmities and frailties, that in many things we sin all, and that there is no man so just on earth that sinneth not, that the righteous fall seven times a day, and therefore that it is too much preciseness to stand so strictly on every trifle; and finally that the best of Gods children which ever lived have had their imperfections, as Abraham his lie, Joseph his vain oath, Moses his unbelief, Peter his