A20756:187
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.
as we see in the example of him, who would needs gather sticks on the Sabbath, because he presumed that this was a small and tolerable breach of 1Gods commandment. To this purpose tendeth the speech of our Saviour, that he who neglecteth and breaketh the least of Gods commandments, and teacheth men so, he shall be the least (that is none at all) in the kingdom of heaven. 2Thirdly, even our least sins, if God should let us feel the weight of them, would be an intolerable burden, and ⟨p. 117⟩so sting our conscience that we should never rest, as the experience of many afflicted in mind doth plainly manifest; and therefore let us think no sin light which with the weight thereof, if it should lye upon us, would crush and press us into hell. Fourthly let us know that there is no less danger in small sins then in those which are great and heinous, first because as these exceed them in their quality or quantity, so they exceed these in number, as being common and ordinary. Now as the ship will be sunk as well by many small holes, if they be not stopped, as at a great leak, and may be overburdened and perish as well by a multitude o• small pebbles, as by a few millstones: so may our souls sink and perish if they be surcharged with a multitude of lesser sins, as well as with heinous sins being rarely committed. Secondly because small sins are commonly accompanied with impenitency, security and hardness of hart; and men not regarding them, do like and live in them without desire of amendment; whereas those which are heinous, making deep wounds and gashes in the heart and conscience, do cause men to be more sensible of them, and more earnest in looking after the core; as we may see in the example of the Pharisees and publicans: now our other sins though never so damnable, yet will not condemn us, if they be not joined with impenitency, and contrariwise the most venial sin will prove unpardonable, if we live and dye in it without repentance. Whereof it is that our Saviour telleth the Pharisees, that Publicans and sinners should go to heaven before them. For as small sparks of fire lighting in combustible matter, will if they be not quenched burn a whole City, and contrariwise a great flame doth little hurt if it be speedily put out;