A20756:309
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.
So Augustine confesseth, that whilst he desired his sound conversion, be found himself bound, not with other mens chains, but by his own iron and obdurate will. The enemy (saith he) did hold my will, and thereof made a strong chain to bind me; for out of perverse will, sprung unlawful lust, and whilst I obeyed lust, it became a custom, and whilst custom was not infringed it became necessity, with which links infolded one in another a chain, as I said, was made, and held me bound in a miserable servitude. And my will renewed which begun to move me to worship and enjoy thee freely my God, and only sure joy, was not yet fit to overcome the other confirmed by age. And so my two wills, one old, the other new, that carnal and this spiritual, did fight between themselves renting my soul in sunder by this their discords And so I understood in mine own experience that which I had read, how that the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And I surely was in both, but yet more I in that which I approved in my self, then in that which I disallowed. For in this rather I was not I, because for the most part I did suffer that unwillingly which I did 1willing. And a little after. Do not divers wills distract the heart of man when he deliberateth what to prefer in his choice. And all appear good and strive with themselves, till at length one thing be chosen, unto which all the will is carried together ⟨p. 212⟩which before was divided in sunder. And so when eternity delighteth above, and the pleasure of temporal good detaineth below, the same soul doeth not with the whole will, will this or that, and therefore it is distracted with much grief, whilst it preferreth that in true judgement, and yet cannot part with this through long acquaintance.
So Austine confesseth, that whilest he desired his sound conuersion, be found himselfe bound, not with other mens chaines, but by his owne yron and obdurate will. The enemy (saith he) did hold my will, and thereof made a strong chaine to binde mee; for out of peruerse will, sprung vnlawfull lust, and whilest I obeyed lust, it became a custome, and whilest custome was not infringed it became necessitie, with which linkes infolded one in another a chaine, as I saide, was made, and held mee bound in a miserable seruitude. And my will renewed which begunne to moue mee to worshippe and enioy thee freely my God, and onely sure ioy, was not yet fit to ouercome the other confirmed by age. And so my two willes, one olde, the other new, that carnall and this spirituall, did fight betweene themselues renting my soule in sunder by this their discords And so I vnderstood in mine owne experience that which I had reade, how that the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And I surely was in both, but yet more I in that which I approued in my selfe, then in that which I disallowed. For in this rather I was not I, because for the most part I did suffer that vnwillingly which I did