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…

¹Yea but did not David loose some degree of his graces when he committed those fearful sins of murder and adultery; and the Apostle Peter when he denied his Master? I answer that there might be a decay, yea an utter surceasing of them for a time, even till they were renewed by repentance; yet not in the habits, and (as it were) the essence of their graces, but only in their actions and operations. So the Sun shineth continually in his full brightness, and yet it is often had from our eyes by the dark clouds or opacous earth. The fire still retaineth his natural heat, and may increase it self in combustible matter when it is covered with ashes, or is so pent in through the closeness of the place, that it cannot for the present be seen or felt. The faculties of the soul are not lost or lessened in the time of sleep or in a dead sound, although there be a surceasing of the actions and operations. A child which is growing doeth not in the fit of an ague loose his growth, and howsoever the flesh may be abated and strength impaired, yet the radical moisture and heat being inwardly preserved, well may his growth be a little while hindered, but when the ague is lost and past, he groweth faster then ever before. So the streams that come from the fountain may be for a time stopped in their course, but in the very time of the stopping they are multiplied and increased, until at last they grow so strong, that they beat down that which hindereth their course, or rise so high, that they overflow and run over it. And that I may fit the similitude to our present purpose, a worthy champion may be so tired in the fight, that he may have no more strength then a child to perform any valorous enterprise; and yet the act and operation of his strength is only hindered for a time; and as for the habit it self it is not impaired, but much increased by this martial exercise, and will also appear more able for like employments after a little rest, and much more vigorous and strong even in respect of act and operation. And thus it is with the faithful in this spiritual conflict; their outward foils do not ⟨p. 315⟩impair their inward valour, but rather excite them to unite all their forces against their enemy, that they may recover their lost honour;

¹Yea but did not Dauid loose soome degree of his graces when hee committed those fearefull sinnes of murther and adultery; and the Apostle Peter when he denyed his Maister? I answere that there might be a decay, yea an vtter surceasing of them for a time, euen till they were renewed by repentance; yet not in the habits, and (as it were) the essence of their graces, but onely in their actions and operations. So the Sunne shineth continually in his full brightnesse, and yet it is often had from our eyes by the darke cloudes or opacous earth. The fire still retaineth his natural heate, and may increase it selfe in combustible matter when it is couered with ashes, or is so pend in through the closenesse of the place, that it cannot for the present be seene or felt. The faculties of the soule are not lost or lessened in the time of sleepe or in a dead sownde, although there bee a surceasing of the actions and operations. A childe which is growing doeth not in the fit of an ague loose his growth, and howsoeuer the flesh may be abated and strength impaired, yet the radicall moysture and heate being inwardly preserued, well may his growth be a little while hindred, but when the ague is lost and past, he groweth faster then euer before. So the streames that come from the fountaine may bee for a time stopped in their course, but in the very time of the stopping they are multiplied and encreased, vntill at last they growe so strong, that they beate downe that which hindreth their course, or rise so high, that they ouerflow and runne ouer it. And that I may fit the similitude to our present purpose, a worthy champion may be so tyred in the fight, that hee may haue no more strength then a childe to performe any valorous enterprise; and yet the act and operation of his strength is onely hindered for a time; and as for the habite it selfe it is not impaired, but much increased by this martiall exercise, and will also appeare more able for like emploiments after a litle rest, and much more vigorous and strong euen in respect of act and operation. And thus it is with the faithfull in this spirituall conflict; their outward foyles doe not