A20756:275
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.
1But this (as I have before showed) is only begun and not perfected and accomplished in this life, not for want of sufficient virtue in Christs death and resurrection, but through the weakness of our faith we being but partly regenerate and partly unregenerate, in part spiritual and in part carnal. And that I may follow the similitude, though the great tyrant Satan be thrust from his throne, so as he cannot any longer rule us as a King, yet he is not quite expelled out of our quarters, but still he molesteth us as an enemy and though the legions of his lusts are beaten from the strong holds, and driven out of the market place and chief gate of the City, yet they lye lurking in the suburbs and secret corners; and no sooner give we them through our recklessness the least advantage, but they steal through our sleepy watch and guard, or cunningly thrust in at some postern gate, and so assault us with all violence and malice. So that there may be two main and essential causes given of this conflict between the spirit accompanied with Gods graces, and the flesh attended with many sinful lusts; the one is the antipathy and contrariety which is between them, which is exceeding hostile and full of all emnity and opposition, as it may appear if we consider the contrariety of their natures for what is the spirit, I mean the created spirit infused into us, but the quality of holiness and righteousness renewed according to Gods image? And what is the flesh, but the defacing of this image, the deprivation of this original righteousness, and the stain of natural corruption which hath overspread and defiled all the powers and parts of our souls and body? so that the flesh resisteth the spirit in a double opposition, both as it is a privation ⟨p. 187⟩and want of righteousness, and as it is a corruption making us prone to all unrighteousness. And therefore the contrariety which is between them is as great and unreconcilable as between light and darkness, health and sickness, heat and cold, good & evil, so that the prospering of the one is the ruin of the other; the increasing of the one is the decreasing of the other, and the ones prevailing and victory, is the others weakening and utter overthrow.
1But this (as I haue before shewed) is onely begunne and not perfected and accomplished in this life, not for want of sufficient vertue in Christs death and resurrection, but through the weakenesse of our faith we being but partly regenerate and partly vnregenerate, in part spirituall and in part carnall. And that I may follow the similitude, though the great tyrant Sathan be thrust from his throne, so as hee cannot any longer rule vs as a King, yet hee is not quite expelled out of our quarters, but still he molesteth vs as an enemy and though the legions of his lustes are beaten from the strong holds, and driuen out of the market place and chiefe gate of the City, yet they lye lurking in the suburbs and secret corners; and no sooner giue wee them through our retchlesnes the least aduantage, but they steale through our sleepy watch and guard, or cunningly thrust in at some posterne gate, and so assault vs with all violence and malice. So that there may be two maine and essentiall causes giuen of this conflict betweene the spirit accompanied with Gods graces, and the flesh attended with many sinnefull lustes; the one is the antipathy and contrarietie which is betweene them, which is exceeding hostile and full of al emnity and opposition, as it may appeare if we consider the contrariety of their natures for what is the spirit, I meane the created spirit infused into vs, but the qualitie of holines and righteousnes renewed according to Gods image? And what is the flesh, but the defacing of this image, the depriuation of this originall righteousnesse, and the staine of naturall corruption which hath ouerspread and defiled all the powers and parts of our soules and body? so that the flesh resisteth the spirit in a double opposition, both as it is a priuation