A20756:190
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.
that filthy words draw many on to filthy actions, and that when once men have given way to unlawful courses for the getting of some small competency, they will much more continue in them for the obtaining of abundance. Neither in truth is any other thing reasonably to be expected; For do we think that we can drive away beggars from our doors by using every day to cast them scraps, or that they will be weary of craving till they see us to be weary of giving? Can we quench the fire of our concupiscence by casting oil upon it? Or satisfy our dropsy desires by giving them a little drink? Is it a safe way to let little thieves which are of the same company lodge in our houses, to keep out great one, and preserve our goods? Is it the best means to set fire on the Kitchen, that the rest of the house may be preserved from burning? And will it not rather creep from thence to the Hall, Parlour and the rest of the building. Finally is it held good policy to give our enemy leave, to make some small breaches in our walls, whereby he may enter and surprise us, to suffer him to have some competent allowance and quiet possession in some corners of our Cities, and not rather to keep him aloof, and utterly to starve and famish him, so as he may have no strength to assault and endanger us? Again let us know that there being no other argument to restrain us from sin, but Gods commandment, when we have broken our bounds, by giving way to lesser sins, we are ready to grow loose and dissolute, for he that in one thing neglecteth Gods commandment, hath as great reason to neglect it in another. That we quench the Spirit by these voluntary sins, and by polluting his lodging do make him weary of it, and (if we do not cleanse it by unfeigned repentance) utterly abandon it and so leave the full possession to Satan and our own lusts. Let us consider that we cannot satisfy our liquorous lusts by giving them a taste of sin, which is so sweet to ⟨p. 121⟩their pallet, but shall hereby make them much more greedy and eager; and that we may better stand firmly on the hill top, then when we have begun running to stay our selves till we come to the bottom.
that filthy words draw many on to filthy actions, and that when once men haue giuen way to vnlawfull courses for the getting of some small competency, they will much more continue in them for the obtaining of aboundance. Neither in truth is any other thing reasonably to be expected; For doe we thinke that we can driue away beggars from our doores by vsing euery day to cast them scraps, or that they will be weary of crauing till they see vs to be weary of giuing? Can we quench the fire of our concupiscence by casting oyle vpon it? Or satisfie our dropsie desires by giuing them a little drinke? Is it a safe way to let little theeues which are of the same company lodge in our houses, to keepe out great one, and preserue our goods? Is it the best meanes to set fire on the Kitchin, that the rest of the house may be preserued from burning? And will it not rather creepe from thence to the Hall, Parlour and the rest of the building. Finally is it held good policy to giue our enemy leaue, to make some small breaches in our wals, whereby he may enter and surprize vs, to suffer him to haue some competent allowance and quiet possession in some corners of our Cities, and not rather to keepe him aloofe, and vtterly to starue and famish him, so as he may haue no strength to assault and indanger vs? Againe let vs know that there being no other argument to restraine vs from sinne, but Gods commandement, when we haue broken our bounds, by giuing way to lesser sinnes, we are ready to grow loose and dissolute, for he that in one thing neglecteth Gods commandement, hath as great reason to neglect it in another. That wee quench the Spirit by these voluntary sinnes, and by polluting his lodging doe make him weary of it, and (if we doe not cleanse it by vnfained repentance) vtterly abandon it and so leaue the full possession to Sathan and our owne lusts. Let vs consider that we cannot satisfie our liquorous lusts by giuing them a taste of sinne, which is so sweet to