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…

¹Secondly, the sanctifying and saving gifts and graces of the Spirit may be considered in their quality; For they are either true, sincere and substantial, or false, hypocritical, and but in show and semblance only; In which regard they have their divers subjects and persons in whom they are; the former in the faithful and regenerate alone; the latter in hypocrites and temporaries who continue but only for a time. Now these may loose their illumination, faith, love and zeal, whether we consider them as common gifts, or as they are shows and semblances both to themselves and others of saving graces, because in this sense they are not so in them in truth, simple and sincere, but hypocritical, counterfeit and only but in show. And thus our Saviour having said, that from him that hath not, shall be taken away, even that which he hath, expoundeth his meaning by another Evangelist; Whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have, or thinketh that he ²hath. As though he should say, do you ask how a man can have that taken from him which he hath not? Why know that there are many men that have no gifts truly, ⟨p. 307⟩that yet do seem to have them, and from these shall be truly taken the gifts that they seem to have, or the show and seeming of their gifts, that is, even that apish imitation which they have of Gods saving graces shall be taken away, and so their hypocrisy being discovered it shall plainly appear that what show so ever they have made, yet they never had them in sincerity and truth. For example though the unregenerate may have some enlightening in speculation, which at the first appearance may resemble that saving, feeling and experimental knowledge, which is in the faithful, yet indeed there is (as hath been showed) many and great differences between them, and therefore that show and semblance whereby for a time they deceive themselves and others, will in a while vanish, when as being severed from all power of godliness and fruits of obedience, it shall be discovered to have been in respect of the quality of it false and counterfeit.

¹Secondly, the sanctifying and sauing gifts and graces of the Spirit may be considered in their qualitie; For they are either true, sincere and substantiall, or false, hypocriticall, and but in shew and semblance onely; In which regard they haue their diuers subiects and persons in whom they are; the former in the faithfull and regenerate alone; the latter in hypocrites and temporaries who continue but only for a time. Now these may loose their illumination, faith, loue and zeale, whether we consider them as common gifts, or as they are shewes and semblances both to themselues and others of sauing graces, because in this sense they are not so in them in truth, simple and sincere, but hypocriticall, counterfait and onely but in shew. And thus our Sauiour hauing said, that from him that hath not, shalbe taken away, euen that which hee hath, expoundeth his meaning by another Euangelist; Whosoeuer hath not from him shalbe taken euen that which hee seemeth to haue, or thinketh that hee