A20756:375
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.
Which effects who so find thus wrought in them, they may be assured that they have the spirit which is the cause and author by which they are wrought; even as the light bringeth us the Sun, the streams to the fountain, and the branches and fruit unto the root from which they flow and spring.
Which effects who so finde thus wrought in them, they may be assured that they haue the spirit which is the cause and authour by which they are wrought; euen as the light bringeth vs the Sunne, the streames to the fountaine, and the branches and fruite vnto the roote from which they flow and spring.
1Yea but hypocrites and unregenerate men do boast most of their faith and assurance of salvation, and therefore they also may have the spirit, or else this faith is no infallible sign of it. To which I answer that they have no true faith, but (as it were) in a dream and dotage, they delude themselves by mistaking their carnal and secure presumption for a lively and justifying faith. But how shall ⟨p. 264⟩we discern the one from the other, seeing they seem to have oftentimes as strong confidence & assurance of their salvation as the best Christians? I answer that though there be between them some seeming similitude, yet there is as great difference as between pure gold & a rotten post gilded over. For first true faith is grounded on the Scriptures & the word of God, but presumption hath no ground but an idle conceit arising cut of pride and self-love; True faith always followeth unfeigned humiliation in the sight and sense of our sin and misery; whereas the presumptuous man was never humbled, but hath a proud conceit of his own righteousness and worthiness. Faith followeth illumination and knowledge, and first we must know God and his Christ, before we can truly believe in them; but presumption riseth commonly out of ignorance, and the more destitute the worldly man is of the knowledge of God and his ways, the more bold and confident he is in his persuasion. True faith is joined with all other graces, as love zeal of Gods glory, humility, patience and obedience, manifesting it self by the fruits that it bringeth forth in good works. But presumption is severed from them all, and goeth alone without any such company and attendants. True faith is not discerned before sound conversion, and then it beginneth in some small and weak degrees; but presumption is borne and bred with us, and in an instant cometh to its full strength; which maketh the secure worldling to brag, that he hath always believed, and is so strong in faith, that he never doubted of his salvation. True faith is not attained unto without great difficulty, it being no less a work to believe the Gospel then to fulfil the Law; but presumption voluntarily creepeth into our hearts, and the less pains we take in the use of Gods holy ordinances, the more easily it entereth, and the stronger it waxeth.