A20756:225
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.
CHAP. XVII. Of he policies which the flesh useth to interrupt us in the doing of good duties, and to alienate our hearts from them.
CHAP. XVII. Of he pollicies which the flesh vseth to inturrupt vs in the doing of good duties, and to alienate our hearts from them.
1And thus the flesh hindereth us from the performance of all good duties. In the performance of them it dealeth also no less deceitfully, and that either to interrupt and distract us, that we may do them only formally and to no purpose, or else so to corrupt and poison our best graces and most virtuous actions, that they may become unprofitable, yea hurtful unto us. For the former when we endeavour to seek the Lord in his holy ordinances, and set our selves to perform the pious duties of his service, if it cannot by the former deceits wholly hinder us from doing of them, it will (like Davids false friend) accompany us to the house of God, as though it likewise were delighted in these holy exercises; but to no other end, but that it may frustrate and defeat our holy desires. For when we labour to hear Gods word, to call upon his name, or singe his praises, this sin that hangeth on us and presseth us down, doeth either make us dull and drowsy, lumpish and heavy, so that we cannot attend these holy exercises with any cheerfulness and alacrity of spirit, but offer unto God dead and carrion-like sacrifices, which having no heart nor life in them are loathsome unto him: or else it worketh our minds to some carnal prejudice or dislike of our teachers, or of some passages in his Sermon, whereby we are affected with choler and spleen towards him; or to think meanly and basely of him in respect of some natural infirmities or defects; or else because of the mediocrity of his gifts; or it hangeth so heavily on us that it maketh us weary of these holy exercises before they be half ended. Or if non of