A20756:259
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.
Even as i• gives us more contentment having been poor to be made, then to be borne rich; to enjoy our liberty after thraldom, the• if we had never been embondaged; and makes us more thank full to our benefactors, when as by them we have been adopted, then when we have been borne to a goodly inheritance. And so in the like case we are more thankful unto God for freeing us from our sinful ⟨p. 175⟩corruptions, by little and little, then if at the first he had made us pure and perfect, and for giving us victory over the flesh after a painful and doubtful conflict, then if we had never been assaulted but had always enjoyed a secure peace. And this we may see in the example of the Apostle, who having through the violence of the flesh been led captive unto sin, and thereby forced lamentably to cry out, O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of 1this death? doeth presently in the sense of Gods mercy which had delivered him, burst forth into thankful praises; I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord. Lastly, hereby we more glorify God when we are assured by our growth in sanctification and in all saving graces of the spirit, by which we are enabled to resist the flesh and the lusts thereof, that they are the free gifts of God and that he beginneth, continueth and increaseth them in us, which if they were always from the beginning perfect in us, we would think them to be some natural faculties and abilities and not given us of God. And these are the reasons which do chiefly respect the glory of God.
Euen as i• giues vs more contentment hauing beene poore to be made, then to bee borne rich; to enioy our libertie after thraldome, the• if we had neuer beene embondaged; and makes vs more thank full to our benefactors, when as by them vve haue beene adopted, then vvhen vve haue beene borne to a goodly inheritāce. And so in the like case we are more thankefull vnto God for freeing vs from our sinfull ⟨p. 175⟩corruptions, by litle and litle, then if at the first he had made vs pure and perfect, and for giuing vs victory ouer the flesh after a painefull and doubtfull conflict, then if vvee had neuer beene assaulted but had alwayes enioyed a secure peace. And this vve may see in the example of the Apostle, who hauing through the violence of the flesh beene led captiue vnto sinne, and thereby forced lamentably to cry out, O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of