A20756:409
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.
1But here let us take heed that we do not deceive our selves; for though those only in whom the spirit dwelleth are thus truly quickened, yet there may be a show of it in them that are unregenerate, as we may see in the example of the Angel of the Church of Sardis, who had a name that he lived, and yet was dead: and of the Church of Laodicea, who thought himself quick sighted and rich in ⟨p. 288⟩all spiritual grace, when as he was wretched and miserable, poor. blind, and naked. And though all new and true obedience 2is the fruit of the spirit, yet there is in the unregenerate some resemblance and shows of it, though it be not in them in truth; even as there are many things done by beasts, which a man would think did proceed from reason and understanding; where as in truth they are by instinct of nature, they propounding no ends unto themselves in all their actions, but are directed unto them by him that made them; and by fantasy and imagination, reasons Ape which enableth them to produce such strange effects, that divers being hereby deceived, have thought them reasonable. Now that we may not be thus deceived, let us remember, that he who is led by the spirit, performeth simple obedience unto the law of God because he requireth it, but the unregenerate in dissimulation for worldly and sinister respects he yieldeth total obedience unto the whole law of God, and with all the powers and faculties of his soul, and body; but the other only in the outward man and that unto some commandments alone, making no conscience of the rest. He is constant in his obedience, because the cause thereof Gods love towards him, and his love towards God is constant and permanent; and he walketh daily & continually in Gods law, as in his way; but the other is obedient by fits only, going forward and backward, as he is spurred on, or curbed and rained in, by worldly respects, which being mutable and unconstant do make his obedience like unto them. In which respect the motion of the unregenerate in the ways of godliness may be said to be dead and accidental, incited and stirred on by outward causes, as the horse which would not go unless he were compelled by the spur, or like the wheels in the clock, which no longer move then the weights and poises do hang upon it.