A20756:326
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.
1The next point to be considered in this conflict between the flesh and the spirit, is the subject of it where and in whom it is fought; The which is such persons as are regenerate, and the faithful only, whilst they live in the world: for in them only is the cause of this conflict, which is the cohabitation of these enemies which assault and resist one another. Neither can there be any such combat in the glorified Saints, because they are perfectly sanctified, and have no relics of the flesh or sinful corruption remaining in them, and consequently no enemy to oppose and resist the spirit. For whereas it may be objected that there was a conflict in our Saviour who was perfectly ⟨p. 223⟩holy, when being in his agony he prayed to have the cup pass from him and then submitted his will to his fathers, Not my will but thine be done; To this I answer, that this 2was not the conflict between the flesh and the spirit; but as the Schoolmen speak between two wills in Christ, the superior and the inferior, or the will of reason, and the will of sensuality, the one being the will of the flesh or natural appetite and concupiscence, the other the will 3of the man or the reasonable creature, as the Apostle John seemeth to distinguish them. Thus the Disciples having long watched, by their inferior will and sensual appetite desired sleep; But the will of reason should have overruled this, and therefore because it did not, our Saviour reproveth them, Could you not watch with me one hour. So 4a man may by his inferior will desire to eat and drink, and in his superior will may desire rather to abstain, that it may be conformable to Gods revealed will, requiring that we should humble our selves by fasting and prayer. So when death approacheth a man may in his inferior will and natural appetite, desire to live, and yet in his reasonable will submit himself to Gods good pleasure. Yea desire in many respects to be dissolved and to be with Christ. And thus our Saviour being man and in all things like unto us, sin only excepted, desired that the cup of his passion might pass from him in his inferior will and natural appetite, which shunneth death and seeketh the preservation of it self;