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…

¹Now there was not in either of these estates this combat and conflict in us between the flesh and the spirit whereof we entreat; not in the state of innocency, for then was there in us a sweet harmony and consent between all our powers and parts of soul and body, and there being no sinful lust or unruly passion in us, but a great multitude of well-agreeing graces we enjoyed a blessed peace. Nor in the state of corruption was there any such conflict, because the strong man Satan possessing all, all that he possessed was in peace; only (as it happeneth often among soldiers of the same band, who strive one with another about the booty and prey) there was some contention between the will and the conscience, and between one unruly passion and another, but it was only like those hot contentions between the Jesuits and the Priests, who much disagreeing about profit and sovereignty one with another, yet all agreed and joined together, as one man, like true vassals, to do all service to their Lord God the Pope, yea (as it may probably be suspected) even their quarrels and contentions, were part of his service, and in their disagreeing they yielded obedience to their holy father; for so in like manner in the hottest contention between our sinful lusts▪ they yielded their obedience to the devil as their chief sovereign, who if he saw by this strife any disadvantage arising to his hellish kingdom through this hot contention, was both able and ready to accord their differences (as the Pope ⟨p. 184⟩did those between the Priests and Jesuits) and so to join them together like friends in doing him service.

¹Now there was not in eitheir of these estates this combate and conflict in vs betweene the flesh and the spirit whereof we intreate; not in the state of innocency, for then was there in vs a sweete harmony and consent betweene all our powers and parts of soule and body, and there being no sinfull lust or vnruly passion in vs, but a great multitude of well-agreeing graces wee enioyed a blessed peace. Nor in the state of corruption was there any such conflict, because the strong man Sathan possessing all, all that hee possessed was in peace; onely (as it happeneth often among soldiars of the same band, who striue one with another about the booty and prey) there was some contention betweene the will and the conscience, and betweene one vnruly passion and another, but it was onely like those hot contentions betweene the Iesuits and the Priests, who much disagreeing about profit and soueraigntie one with another, yet all agreed and ioyned together, as one man, like true vassals, to doe all seruice to their Lord God the Pope, yea (as it may probably be suspected) euen their quarrels and contentions, were part of his seruice, and in their disagreeing they yeelded obedience to their holy father; for so in like manner in the hottest contention betweene our sinnefull lusts they yeelded their obedience to the diuell as their chiefe soueraigne, who if he sawe by this strife any disaduantage arising to his hellish kingdome through this hot contention, was both able and ready to accord their differences (as the Pope