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…

¹Fourthly when a• the flesh cannot entice to use mere dela, es, and do just nothing; then it will persuade us to rest in that which is as good as nothing, namely fair promises and faint and false purposes and resolutions, that we will become new men out of hand: Especially if we have our desire in some things which we presently hope for, as deliverance from some affliction, freedom from some danger, or recovery from some sickness. But when we have gone thus far there it maketh us to stay, by offering unto us, if we will continue in our old courses some access of worldly wealth, or the fruition of sinful pleasures; and having prevailed so much with us, it stayeth not here, but maketh us soon after more carnal and wicked, more slothful and negligent in the performance of all good duties then ever we were before. With which deceit if we would not be overtaken; let us know, that it were better not to promise at all, then having promised not to perform and pay, for what is this to mock God who will not be mocked? What is it but to dally and to play child's play with him, seeking to please him with complementall promises and fair words? That the Lord is not pleased by our making vows and promises if we do not also pay them seeing we do hereby but multiply our sins adding to our former evil courses covenant-breaking and falsifying of our promises, even with God himself. Finally that we do but quench the good motions of the Spirit, when as we do not nourish and cherish those good purposes and resolutions which he suggesteth unto us; but suffer our selves to be carried away by the contrary motions of our sinful corruption. And therefore the Psalmist biddeth us vow and pay unto the Lord our God; the which the Prophet Isaiah maketh a note of the ²faithful, and the contrary by the wise man is said to be ⟨p. 147⟩a property of a fool. When (saith he) thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools, ³pay that which thou hast vowed.

¹Fourthly when a• the flesh cannot intice to vse meere dela, es, and doe iust nothing; then it will perswade vs to rest in that which is as good as nothing, namely fayre promises and faint and false purposes and resolutions, that we will become new men out of hand: Especially if we haue our desire in some things which we presently hope for, as deliuerance from some affliction, freedome from some danger, or recouery from some sicknes. But when we haue gone thus farre there it maketh vs to stay, by offering vnto vs, if we will continue in our old courses some accesse of worldly wealth, or the fruition of sinfull pleasures; and hauing preuailed so much with vs, it stayeth not here, but maketh vs soone after more carnall and wicked, more slothfull and negligent in the performance of all good duties then euer we were before. With which deceipt if we would not be ouertaken; let vs know, that it were better not to promise at all, then hauing promised not to performe and pay, for what is this to mocke God who will not be mocked? What is it but to dally and to play childes play with him, seeking to please him with complementall promises and fayre words? That the Lord is not pleased by our making vowes and promises if wee doe not also pay them seeing we doe hereby but multiply our sinnes adding to our former euill courses couenantbreaking and falsifying of our promises, euen with God himselfe. Finally that we doe but quench the good motions of the Spirit, when as we doe not nourish and cherish those good purposes and resolutions which he suggesteth vnto vs; but suffer our selues to be carried away by the contrary motions of our sinfull corruption. And therefore the Psalmist biddeth vs vow and pay vnto the Lord our God; the which the Prophet Esay maketh a note of the