A20756:205
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.
And therefore pretend not custom, seeing it is not this, but our malicious wills, that embrace it and our hearts that affect it, which make us continue in our sin without repentance, neither can custom hold us unto any thing which is in our own power to alter, if our wills with any resolution do break away from it. For tell me thou who pretendest this excuse; if this custom should be punished in every particular act with some forfeiture, whereby thy estate would be impoverished, or some punishment inflicted on the body, which would bring unto thee more damage and smart, then thy sin doth pleasure and delight; wouldest thou not leave thy sin and hate it, if not for it self, yet for the penalty sake inflicted on thee for it? And wilt thou not regard thy precious soul as well as thy corruptible body; and be as careful to avoid eternal damnation, as well as some worldly loss? Finally know, that it will prove but a miserable excuse at the day of judgement, when God and our own consciences shall accuse us for our sins, to say that we committed and could not leave them, because we were accustomed unto them; and all one, as if the man-slayer should excuse his murder, by telling the judge that he could do no otherwise, because he had for a long time been accustomed thereto, by killing of many other: Or as if the thief should excuse his theft by saying, that he could not choose but do it, because ⟨p. 152⟩his hands for a long time have been inured to stealing. And therefore let us not continue in sin because we have sinned, thinking that we can be excused by pleading custom▪ but because we have long and often committed these sins, let us be so much more earnest in the exercise of repentance. For as the Apostle telleth us, Christ hath 1suffered in the flesh, that we should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us, to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess 2of wine, revellings, banquetings and abominable idolatries. So the Apostle Paul exhorteth us, that as we have yielded our members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, unto iniquity; so now we should yield our members servants to righteousness, unto holiness.