A20756:310
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.
1And thus we have seen the combat between the flesh and the spirit in the understanding and will severally; now let us come to that conflict which •s in them being jointly considered, between faith and the contrary extremes infidelity and vain presumption. The which I refer to both these faculties, because (as I take it) the first beginnings and least degrees of faith are chiefly in the will and heart, even as the perfection and highest degrees of it are in the mind and understanding. For after a man by humiliation and contrition is fitted and prepared to receive faith, and after that the law hath brought him to a true sight & sense •f his sins▪ of the punishments which by them he hath deserved, and that by himself his estate is desperate and remediless, being utterly unable to come out of this miserable and forlorn condition; and that the Gospel hath generally showed that Jesus Christ, sent into the world by his father to this end, is an all-sufficient Saviour who by his blood purgeth us from the guilt and punishment of all our sins, and by his righteousness and obedience justifieth sinners, then the spirit of God assisting the ministry of the word worketh thereby in his heart some earnest desires to be made partaker of Christ & these benefits, which we call hungering & thirsting after his righteousness, and this I affirm to be the first degree of justifying faith and not only a preparation unto it, because they are pronounced blessed who thus hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousness, and there is no blessedness to those who live in the state of infidelity.
1And thus we haue seene the combate betweene the flesh and the spirit in the vnderstanding and will seuerally; now let vs come to that conflict which •s in them being ioyntly considered, betweene faith and the contrary extreames infidelitie and vaine presumption. The which I referre to both these faculties, because (as I take it) the first beginnings and least degrees of faith are chiefely in the will and heart, euen as the perfection and highest degrees of it are in the minde and vnderstanding. For after a man by humiliation and contrition is fitted and prepared to receiue faith, and after that the lawe hath brought him to a true sight & sense •f his sins of the punishmēts which by them he hath deserued, and that by himselfe his estate is despeperate and remedilesse, being vtterly vnable to come out of this miserable and forlorne condition; and that the Gospell hath generally shewed that Iesus Christ, sent into the world by his father to this ende, is an al-sufficient Sauiour who by his blood purgeth vs from the guilt and punishment of all our sinnes, and by his righteousnesse and obedience iustifieth sinners, then the spirit of God assisting the ministery of the word worketh thereby in his heart some earnest desires to be made partaker of Christ & these benefits, which we call hungring & thirsting after his righteousnesse, and this I affirme to be the first degree of iustifying faith and not onely a preparation vnto it, because they are pronounced blessed who thus hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousnesse, and there is no blessednesse to those who liue in the state of infidelitie.