A20756:417
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.
making them which were cold and dull, hot and zealously fervent in all ⟨p. 294⟩Christian and holy duties▪ Finally, whereas like iron he is naturally so lumpish and heavy, that he is wholly fixed and fastened to the earth, minding only worldly things, and can no more mount up aloft in holy & heavenly meditations, then iron of it self can ascend into the air, or if by some outward force his thoughts be raised up to mind those things which are above, no sooner is the strength of the outward agent spent, but presently like an iron bullet it falleth down again, and even presseth into the earth with more then wonted weight & violence; Contrariwise when as his earthy massiness is attenuated with the fire of Gods spirit, he not only becometh more light, but being throughly heated in this holy forge▪ he sendeth up the sparks of spiritual meditations, and now forgetting his old earthy nature, he doeth no longer lye grovelling on the ground, minding only earthly things, but being risen with Christ, he seeketh, not things beneath, but those things that are above, and even whilst his body is on earth, 1his conversation is in heaven, and though he cannot corporally ascend, yet he continually sendeth up the therward the sparkles of holy & heavenly thoughts, and even taketh his chief comfort and delight to spend his spirits in divine contemplation. Lastly, as fire by the warmth and heat thereof refresheth and cheereth those creatures which are frozen and benumbed with cold, and communicateth unto them the operations of life, strength and nimbleness. So this holy fire of the spirit giveth spiritual life and quickening unto us who are dead in trespasses and sins; and by the divine heat of Gods love, it warmeth, cheereth and refresheth, our icy and benumbed hearts, & inflameth them with a fervent zeal of his glory, and an ardent love towards him who hath so loved us, and also to our neighbours for his sake; whereby it cometh to pass, that we who were frozen in the dregs of our sins, and so weak and stiff, that we were not able to stir a limb for the doing of any good action; are now made by this vital heat, strong and active for all good duties. So our Saviour saith, ⟨p. 295⟩that it is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing; and the Apostle telleth us, that the spirit giveth life.