A20756:400
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.
1A sixth effect of the spirit dwelling in us is like unto the former, namely unfeigned repentance and amendment of life; unto which it maketh the same preparation, that it doth for faith. For first by the ministry of the law, the spirit (as our Saviour speaketh) convinceth us of sin, showing unto us both the heinousness of our sins, together with their multitude, and also the grievous and endless punishments 2which they have deserved. And this it doth commonly at the first in a more general and confused manner, amazing and astonishing us with terrors and fears, horrors of mind, and pangs of conscience when as we see the huge mass or mountain of our manifold and grievous sins, as it were in the whole lump; and the wrath of God, the curse of the Law, the plagues and punishments of this life and the life to come, which we have by them deservedly, and (in respect of our own means) inevitably drawn upon us; and afterwards more particularly and distinctly it setteth our sins in order before us; and especially presenteth to our view those sins which we are most guilty off, and by which we have most dishonoured God and wounded our own consciences By all which it worketh in us that which we call penitence, contrition, and humiliation, whereby we are cast down under the heavy weight of our sins and lye grieving and groaning under them; as it were under an intolerable burden, finding no rest or comfort in our selves, or in any worldly things besides. ⟨p. 282⟩And thus the spirit by the law (as it were) with an iron hammer, battereth and bruiseth our hard and stony hearts in pieces, that he may mix with them, being made contrite, 3the oil of his spiritual graces; and useth it like a plough to break up (as it were) these clung, stiff, and fallow grounds, that being thus prepared he may sow in them these holy seeds. For when he hath thus cast us down and throughly humbled us, then he raiseth us up again, by revealing unto us the mystery of salvation, the mercies of God, and merits of Christ, offered unto all who will receive them by saith. And then (as hath been showed) it worketh in us an hungering desire after Christ and his righteousness, and a careful, earnest and constant endeavour in the use of all good means, as the hearing of the word, prayer, and the rest, whereby we may be made partakers of them.