A20756:372
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.
Neither doeth it stir them up to any obedience, (unless it be for servile fear) but rather enableth them to rebel and disobey more securely, whilst by their great learning, their subtle shifts and nice distinctions, they can more cunningly untwist the cords of Gods Commandments which should bind them to their duty, and so wind themselves and slip their necks out of the yoke of Gods Law, that it cannot hold them, and whilst thereby they are enabled to defend their sins with their subtle sophistry, and to preserve themselves from just censures, their names from deserved shame, & to stop the cry of their consciences, that they may not check and accuse them for their sins. Finally the knowledge of the regenerate bringeth them to true humility, and the better and more clearly they conceive of Gods goodness, power and glorious majesty and of their own misery, sins and imperfections, the more they abase themselves and become vile in their own sight, as we see in the example of Abraham, who when he most nearly and familiarly conversed with God, had the meanest conceit of ⟨p. 261⟩himself, acknowledging that he was but dust and ashes; in David who having attained unto a greater measure of spiritual 1knowledge then his teachers, confesseth that he was but a worm and no man; in Job who having come unto 2a more clear knowledge of God by seeing him with 3his eyes, abhorred himself in dust and ashes; and in Hagar, who being enlightened with a large measure of heavenly 4wisdom, professeth that he was more brutish then any man, and had not the understanding of a man. But contrariwise the knowledge of the unregenerate puffeth them up with pride, according to that of the Apostle, knowledge puffeth 5up, love edifieth; and causeth them to vilify and contemn others in comparison of themselves, as we see in the example of the Pharisees, who despised all them who confessed the trueth concerning our Saviour Christ as ignorant and simple idiots. But this people who know not the law