A20756:260
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.
1Secondly, the Lord suffereth the flesh still to dwell in us and daily to assault us, because it is profitable for our own good, and the furthering and assuring of our heavenly happiness. First because it is a notable means to train us up in humility, which is a grace most acceptable unto God, and to subdue our pride and all vain-glorious conceit, which above all other vices is most odious and hateful, when as we see and consider what a miserable vastation and spoil of all those graces and excellent endowments which we had by creation sin hath made in us; how it hath poisoned, corrupted and disabled all the powers and faculties of our souls and bodies, how it hath made us unfit for any good thing, and prone unto all evil; and that these stains and blots of sinful corruption do in a great part remain in us after our regeneration, so assaulting us with all malice and fury, darkening our understandings, wounding our consciences, perverting our wills, hardening ⟨p. 176⟩our hearts, and corrupting and disordering all our affections, that were we not continually assisted and upheld by the spiritual grace of the Almighty God, we should sink and fall in the conflict, and be made an easy pray to our malicious enemies: this may well subdue our lofty and proud conceits, and make us pull down with shame our peacocks plumes, when as we look to the foul feet of our filthy corruptions, see the ruins remaining of Gods goodly building, and how all our natural forces do quite fail us and forsake us, when as we most rely on them; yea when as we see even after regeneration such relics of corruption and rebellion remaining in us, that did not the Lord continually send unto us fresh aides of renewed graces we were not able to stand nor maintain the fight against ou• carnal corruptions. In consideration whereof we are justly moved to humble our selves and to give all glory unto God, who worketh in us the will and the deed, and not only beginneth, but continueth and perfecteth the work of our salvation; and finally to acknowledge, that what grace or spiritual strength we have more then others, we 2have it from God and not from our selves, and therefore that we have no cause to boast of it seeing it is received, but must return God the glory of his own gifts.