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…

¹But it is far otherwise in the conflict between the spirit and the flesh, which is not between divers faculties all still remaining and agreeing in their natural corruption, and only differing one with another, like Soldiers in the same Camp, and fighting under the same General, upon their divers reasons and grounds in the managing of the War, the one being more willing in running into dangers, the other more wary to avoid and escape them: but it is between the same faculties, fighting against themselves, reason against reason, and will against will, not arising from a syllogistical discourse upon outward grounds of ensuing mischiefs, but from a real change of their nature wrought by Gods spirit, the which because it is but begun and imperfect, the relics of sinful corruption remaining and dwelling in the same house and heart with spiritual and renewed graces, these being even in their own nature as contrary one to another as fire to water, light to darkness, good to evil, there necessarily followeth a continual conflict between them, in which, as unreconcilable enemies, they seek to destroy one another; not moved hereunto by discourse of reason, no more then in the ⟨p. 233⟩fight between the Lyon and the Dragon, the Dog and the Beat, the fire and water, but by the antipathy and contrariety which is in their natures. Whereof it is that a new borne babe in Christ who hath little learning, and a small degree of knowledge and spiritual understanding, doeth with as great resolution withstand the encounters and motions of sin, and endeavours to please God though he be scarce able to render a reason of his doings, as those who are grown unto a riper age, and have attained unto an higher degree of learning and wisdom. An example whereof we have in many poor, simple & illiterate men, who as conscionably avoid all sin, and practise the holy duties of a Christian life, as other Christ ans who are learned and have a greater measure of knowledge and wisdom; and also in many martyrs, who being unlearned and not able to maintain the trueth of their cause by syllogistical disputes, did yet as resolutely oppose themselves against idolatry and popish heresies, and as willingly and courageously seal the trueth with their blood, as others who had attained to the greatest learning.

¹But it is farre otherwise in the conflict betweene the spirit and the flesh, which is not betweene diuers faculties all still remaining and agreeing in their naturall corruption, and onely differing one with another, like Souldiars in the same Campe, and fighting vnder the same Generall, vpon their diuers reasons and grounds in the managing of the War, the one being more willing in running into dangers, the other more wary to auoide and escape them: but it is betweene the same faculties, fighting against themselues, reason against reason, and will against will, not arysing from a syllogisticall discourse vpon outward grounds of ensuing mischiefes, but from a reall change of their nature wrought by Gods spirit, the which because it is but begun and imperfect, the reliques of sinnefull corruption remaining and dwelling in the same house and heart with spirituall and renewed graces, these being euen in their owne nature as contrary one to another as fire to water, light to darknesse, good to euill, there necessarily followeth a continuall conflict betweene them, in which, as vnreconciable enemies, they seeke to destroy one another; not moued hereunto by discourse of reason, no more then in the