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…

¹Secondly men excuse themselves for living impenitently in their sins, by pretending custom, which hath taken such fast hold upon them, that they can by no means shake it off. Thus the swearer pretendeth, that he would willingly leave vain and blasphemous oaths, but that he is so inured unto them, that he often sweareth at unawares. Thus the voluptuous man saith, that he would be content to leave his carnal delights, as drinking gaming, rioting, whoring, but that he hath so accustomed himself unto them, that he cannot forsake them nor give them ever. But let such know that it is high time for them to come out of their sins by repentance, seeing they have brought themselves into a most miserable and fearful condition; for sin is turned into another nature, and by pleading custom holdeth them in subjection (as it were) by virtue of a law. And Satan who through their natural corruption held them in the vilest and basest slavery, hath his possession confirmed by their customable service of him in their actual transgressions, and now the strong man holdeth the house with some show of right, having so long possessed it that he can plead prescript on. Of these men I would demand if ever they mean to come out of their sins by unfeigned repentance or no. If not▪ what appearance of hope is there but that they must be eternally miserable in the fire of hell. But if they do as all will pretend, why do they it not presently. For if custom be too strong for them already, how much more unresistable will it be, when it is more and more confirmed by much practise and ⟨p. 151⟩continuance? But I am so fettered in sin by an ill custom, that I cannot shake it off. Yet know that though it be hard, yet upon the necessity of thy salvation it must be done; and therefore in stead of breaking these cords with a Sampson like resolution, let not time and use double them and make them stronger. Yea rather untwist them by little and little, if thou canst not at once break them; and by a contrary custom of piety and righteousness, disuse thee from thy sins by degrees, endeavouring first to set thy heart at liberty. For if the heart being delivered out of the bondage of sin, begin now to hate it, then neither will the tongue delight to speak it, nor the hand to act it.

¹Secondly men excuse themselues for liuing impenitently in their sinnes, by pretending custome, which hath taken such fast hold vpon them, that they can by no meanes shake it off. Thus the swearer pretendeth, that he would willingly leaue vaine and blasphemous oathes, but that he is so inured vnto them, that he often sweareth at vnawares. Thus the voluptuous man saith, that he would be content to leaue his carnall delights, as drinking gaming, rioting, whoring, but that hee hath so accustomed himselfe vnto them, that he cannot forsake them nor giue them euer. But let such know that it is high time for them to come out of their sinnes by repentance, seeing they haue brought themselues into a most miserable and fearefull condition; for sinne is turned into another nature, and by pleading custome holdeth them in subiection (as it were) by vertue of a law. And Sathan who through their naturall corruption held them in the vilest and basest slauerie, hath his possession confirmed by their customable seruice of him in their actuall transgressions, and now the strong man holdeth the house with some shew of right, hauing so long possessed it that he can pleade prescript on. Of these men I would demaund if euer they meane to come out of their sinnes by vnfained repentance or no. If not what appearance of hope is there but that they must be eternally miserable in the fire of hell. But if they doe as all will pretend, why doe they it not presently. For if custome be too strong for them already, how much more vnresistable will it be, when it is more and more confirmed by much practise and