A20756:239
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.
1From whence it may plainly appear, how exceeding dangerous the flesh with the lusts thereof are unto us, seeing they are enemies not only strong and subtle, but always hard at hand, not only besieging and besetting us, but even dwelling with and in us. Whereby they have no small advantage against us, for never leaving but adhering and cleaving unto us in all places and at all times, they are ready to watch all occasions and to take all opportunities of doing us mischief, laying traps and snares for us in all our enterprises. For do we undertake the performance of holy and religious duties? Why then they dog and follow us to the exercises, and distract us with worldly cogitations and wandering thoughts, and oppress our minds with dullness, drowsiness and carnal weariness. Are we employed in the duties of our callings? They vvill make us negligent and lazy, and carry us away with carnal pleasures, or so wholly and earnestly intent on them, that we shall spare no time for Gods service nor for the enriching of our souls with spiritual treasures. Do we eat and drink to relieve and sustain our bodies? They are ready to make our tables snares, turning sufficiency into superfluity, and necessary food into excess and belly-cheer, surfeiting and drunkenness, where the soul and spirits are so oppressed, that they are utterly unfit for any Christian duties. Do we intend to refresh our selves with honest recreations? They do attend and wait on us, moving us to consume a great part of our time in them, which should be allotted to better exercises, and even to spend our strength and spirits in the immoderate use of them, whereby instead of being refreshed and cheered, we are disabled and made utterly unfit for the duties of Christianity and of our callings, and are so wholly taken up in the means, that we neglect the main ends for which we use ⟨p. 160⟩them. Yea do we after our labours betake our selves to our rest? When we lock our chamber doors, we cannot shut out these enemies, but whether we vvill or no, they vvill be our bedfellows, and are always ready at our lying down to distract us from any good meditations or serious examination of what we have done or omitted the day past, to fill our minds with vain dreams and wicked imaginations, and to oppress nature, in stead of refreshing it;
1From whence it may plainely appeare, how exceeding dangerous the flesh with the lusts thereof are vnto vs, seeing they are enemies not onely strong and subtle, but alwayes hard at hand, not onely besieging and besetting vs, but euen dwelling with and in vs. Whereby they haue no small aduantage against vs, for neuer leauing but adhering and cleauing vnto vs in all places and at all times, they are ready to vvatch all occasions and to take all opportunities of doing vs mischiefe, laying traps and snares for vs in all our enterprises. For doe vve vndertake the performance of holy and religious duties? Why then they dogge and follow vs to the exercises, and distract vs with vvorldly cogitations and wandring thoughts, and oppresse our mindes with dulnesse, drowsinesse and carnall wearinesse. Are vve imployed in the duties of our callings? They vvill make vs negligent and lazie, and carrie vs away vvith carnall pleasures, or so wholly and earnestly intent on them, that vve shall spare no time for Gods seruice nor for the inriching of our soules vvith spirituall treasures. Doe vve eate and drink to relieue and sustaine our bodies? They are ready to make our tables snares, turning sufficiencie into superfluitie, and necessary foode into excesse and bellycheare, surfetting and drunkennesse, where the soule and spirits are so oppressed, that they are vtterly vnfit for any Christian duties. Doe we intend to refresh our selues vvith honest recreations? They doe attend and waite on vs, mouing vs to consume a great part of our time in them, which should be allotted to better exercises, and euen to spend our strength and spirits in the immoderate vse of them, whereby instead of being refreshed and cheared, vve are disabled and made vtterly vnfit for the duties of Christianitie and of our callings, and are so vvholly taken vp in the meanes, that vve neglect the maine ends for vvhich we vse