A20756:428
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.
the other being held under a forcible and tyrannical subjection, do bewail their thraldom, and are never at rest till they have found out some means to be delivered out of it.
the other being held vnder a forcible and tyrannicall subiection, doe bewayle their thraldome, and are neuer at rest till they haue found out some meanes to be deliuered out of it.
1And from hence arise vehement and earnest desires to be freed from the slavery of sin, (like that of the holy Apostles;) O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? And to serve the Lord in the duties of holiness and righteousness: For as the needle in the dial which is touched with a lodestone may by a forcible motion turn & wind too and fro, but will never stand fixed and steadfast till it bend unto it own proper point; so the heart of the regenerate touched with Gods holy spirit, howsoever ⟨p. 303⟩through the violence of the flesh, and strength of Satan's tentations, it may be averted from God, and turn this way and that way, after the vanities of the world, and the deceitful pleasures of sin, yet it never resteth till it be again returned and inclined towards him from whom it had first motion and being. It may be whilst the storm of tentation lasteth, the spirit may be hid like the sun under a thick cloud, or a ship covered over with the waves, but afterwards the beams and beauty of it will burst through and dispel these foggy mists, and like a goodly ship it will again advance it self and appear under full sails, speedily hasting towards the holy land. And finally though these carnal lusts (like those cursed Amalekites) may on a sudden make inroads, waste, spoil, sack, burn, lead captive and carry away a great booty for some small way, yet the spirit (like David) being excited by Gods Oracle, will rise up, pursue these enemies, obtain victory, and vindicate and recover all out of their hands. Where again we have a notable difference between the regenerate and the unregenerate; For whereas they being ruled by a free and generous spirit, do after their foils earnestly desire and labour to re-gain their liberty, and repair and increase their strength, that giving a new onset, they may put their enemies to flight, and obtain victory; the other being of a slavish disposition after they are once subdued, do contentedly live in the bondage of sin, never labouring or endeavouring to come out of it and better their estate.