A20756:339
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.
and some promise, or it may be purposes, of leaving and forsaking their wicked courses, as we see in the example of Pharaoh, who whilst the hand of God was upon himself and his people, confessed his sin and promised amendment. And finally they may out of this servile fear, leave the most of their sins and outwardly reform themselves and conform their practise in many things to 1such obedience, and to the performance of so many good duties, that they may think themselves and persuade others that they are notable converts, as we may see in the example of Herod; and yet for all this, there is in them no sound repentance, no change of nature, no purging and removing, but only a temporary restraining of their corruptions, wrought in them not by grace and the spirit, but by other corruptions of a different nature, namely servile fear and terror of conscience. As hereby it plainly appeareth, in that when as they are taken from the rack, and secured •n their conceit from the feeling of further punishment they return again to their wicked courses, and become more obdurate and rebellious then they were before, or if there is any show of some amendment, yet it is not a through reformation, or a purging of the heart from all the filth of sin, such as followeth the conflict of the spirit and the flesh, but a reducing of the unregenerate man from extremity to some mediocrity, from being a Publican and notorious sinner, to be a Pharisee, Hypocrite, or at the best a mere civill man, conformable to the politic laws in the state, and no opposer to outward discipline and order in the Church. And this also is the work of natural ⟨p. 236⟩reason which persuadeth them to this information for worldly respects: whereas the other is the work of the spirit, which in love and obedience to God beginneth and continueth this amendment in them; the fruit and benefit whereof redoundeth chiefly to the preservation of human society, the good of common wealths, in the maintaining of external discipline, which could not stand against the rage and fury of tumultuous passions and affections, were it not that their strength is abated & their violence restrained by the conflict of conscience; whereas the fruits of the combat between the spirit & the flesh are much better;
and some promise, or it may be purposes, of leauing and forsaking their wicked courses, as wee see in the example of Pharaob, who whilest the hand of God was vpon himselfe and his people, confessed his sinne and promised amendment. And finally they may out of this serude feare, leaue the most of their sinnes and outwardly reforme themselues and conforme their practise in many things to