A20756:432
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.
Lastly, after his foils and falls he will carefully perform all holy duties which are contrary to his former sins, as if he he have fallen by covetousness, he will being risen exercise himself in bounty and liberality, if by pride, he will abase himself in all humbleness and meekness of spirit, if by surfeiting and excess in meats and drinks, he will practise moderation in diet, and oftentimes fasting and total abstinence. Yea the regenerate man after his relapses into the ague fits of sin, will much increase and thrive in his spiritual stature, being much more fervent and zealous in all holy and Christian duties then he was before, redeeming his lost time by future diligence, and running after he is risen up so much the more swiftly, by how much he findeth himself hindered in his spiritual race by his slips and falls.
Lastly, after his foyles and fals hee will carefully performe all holy duties which are contrarie to his former sinnes, as if hee hee haue fallen by couetousnesse, he will being risen exercise himselfe in bounty and liberalitie, if by pride, hee will abase himselfe in all humblenesse and meekenes of spirit, if by surfetting and excesse in meates and drinkes, hee will practise moderation in dyet, and oftentimes fasting and totall abstinence. Yea the regenerate man after his relapses into the ague fits of sinne, will much increase and thriue in his spirituall stature, beeing much more feruent and zealous in all holy and Christian duties then hee vvas before, redeeming his lost time by future diligence, and running after hee is risen vp so much the more swiftly, by how much hee findeth himselfe hindered in his spirituall race by his slippes and fals.
1But here a weighty question may fitly and seasonably be moved and determined; namely how far the flesh in this conflict may prevail against the spirit, and whether it may by the furious assaults thereof, be not only foiled, but for a time quite overcome, not only cooled but utterly quenched lost & extinguished. For the resolving of which doubt, we must first distinguish between the gifts of the spirit and the persons in whom they are. The gifts may be considered both in their kind and in their quality. Concerning the former, the gifts and graces of the spirit are either common to the regenerate and unregenerate, or proper and peculiar to the faithful and elect. The common graces are especially those Moral virtues of wisdom, civill honesty, fortitude, temperance, patience and such like, which may not only be lost & extinguished in worldly civil men, but also in the faithful, because they are not essential to a Christian, but rather ornaments then parts of the spiritual man. And this David may be a fool in seeming so, and be spiritually mad whilst he counterfeiteth natural madness; thus he was dishonest in his dealing with Bathsheba