A20756:294
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.
1Now this conflict in the mind between the flesh and the spirit, may be diversly considered in respect of the divers faculties which belong unto it. And first the understanding being in part regenerate and sanctified, and in part unregenerate and corrupted, partly enlightened with spiritual and saving knowledge, and partly obscured with the relics of ignorance; and not only so, but also much defiled and depraved; there is a continual conflict maintained in it, between sanctified knowledge and spiritual wisdom on the one side, and carnal curiosity, palpable ignorance, and that wisdom of the flesh which is worldly and devilish on the other side. For first carnal curiosity neglecting those things which are profitable necessary and revealed to this end that we should know them, laboureth after nice and idle speculations and curious questions, which as they are useless and vain, so also abstruse and secrete; or else diveth into Gods hidden counsels which he hath forbidden us to search and pry into. But saving knowledge not only leaveth secrete things as belonging to the 2Lord our God, but also represseth and mortifieth, as much ⟨p. 200⟩as may be, that vain curiosity, and restraining us from going about to understand above that which is meet to understand, it understandeth in sobriety, according as God hath 3dealt to every man the measure of faith. It apprehendeth things revealed as belonging unto us, and aimeth more at the use and fruit in practise, then at the theory and speculation, and to have feeling and experience of a little rather then a bare conceit and ability to discourse of much. And yet it resteth not in a small measure, yea in trueth not in the greatest proportion, but still it laboureth after spiritual growth and increaseth daily more and more until it come to perfection in Jesus Christ. Secondly, this saving knowledge continually combatteth with the contrary extreme palpable ignorance, for our understandings are but partly enlightened with the knowledge of Gods trueth, and the relics of ignorance do in part remain So the Apostle saith that we know but in part and see but as through a glass 4darkly; and yet we stand not at a stay, but labour to attain unto that perfection of knowledge whereby we shall know as we are known.