A20756:350
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.
In these there is no conflict of conscience because like crafty and skilful Lawyers, they can with false colours and collusions blind the eyes of the Judge, making their evil cause seem just and good, or like cunning thieves, they do so subtly and secretly achieve their wicked designs, that when they come to be arraigned they shift off and elude the most pertinent accusations.
In these there is no conflict of conscience because like crafty and skilfull Lawyers, they can with false colours and collusions blinde the eyes of the Iudge, making their euill cause seeme iust and good, or like cunning theeues, they doe so subtilly and secretly atchieue their wicked designes, that when they come to be arraigned they shift off and elude the most pertinent accusations.
1Unto these we may adjoin proud justiciaries who taking away from the law of God the life and rigour of spiritual sense, do expound it after a gross and literal manner that so they may satisfy it with their gross obedience; & because their obedience cannot reach to the spiritual meaning, therefore they frame a meaning suitable to their carnal obedience. And so justifying them selves as though they had done all which the law requireth, their consciences sleep securely in all their sinful courses, & never accuse them for any sin; of which we have an example in the 2Pharisees, who justified themselves when our Saviour ⟨p. 245⟩most condemned them; in the young justiciary who boasted that he had done all which was required, when as he had done nothing; and in the vain-glorious Papists, who far outstrip them both, affirming that they can fulfil the Law and do more then it requireth; for which indeed they have special helps, seeing they give what sense they list to every Commandment, and if they can make no sense seem sensible and probable to their too dimsighted followers, then for more surety they will quite cancel and blot it out, as they deal with the second Commandment, condemning their imagery and idolatry, and having made none of one, they make of one two, by dividing of the tenth, and so filling up the number, that their theft and falsehood may not be discovered. Like unto these are our civill worldlings and ignorant Protestants, who placing all Religion in out ward abstaining from heinous faults as perjury, whoredom, drunkenness and such like, and in performing formal service to God, according to the Princes laws, and mortal duties of honesty and justice to one another. do think that God is throughly satisfied when they have attained to this period of perfection, which themselves have pitched. And therefore their consciences are quiet, and suffer them to enjoy a secure peace, though they live in ignorance and unbelief, in the neglect of spiritual service, swearers, Sabaoth breakers, and in all things follow those courses, which ambition covetousness, voluptuousness and self-love will prescribe unto them.