A20756:463
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.
And in the second place let us persuade every one who fighteth in this Warfare, that they do not trust in their own strength, but in the power of Gods might, nor in their spiritual armour and weapons which in themselves are far too weak to bear off the canon-shot of our mighty enemies, but in the promises of God which assure us of victory, and in his gracious assistance which we are daily to crave by fervent prayer, whereby, and by nothing else we shall be enabled to obtain the victory.
And in the second place let vs perswade euery one who fighteth in this Warfare, that they doe not trust in their owne strength, but in the power of Gods might, nor in their spirituall armour and weapons which in themselues are farre too weake to beare off the canon-shot of our mighty enemies, but in the promises of God which assure vs of victory, and in his gracious assistance which we are daily to craue by feruent prayer, whereby, and by nothing else wee shall be enabled to obtaine the victory.
1The rules of direction which are to be observed and practised of those who desire to get the victory in this spiritual conflict are of two sorts: For either they tend to the weakening and subduing of the flesh, or to the nourishing and strengthening of the spirit. The former also are of two kinds. The first is that we withdraw and withhold from the flesh all means whereby it may gather strength; the second that we use the contrary means whereby it may be weakened and disabled. Concerning the former: it is the care of all men that are to fight against mighty enemies, to deal with them as the Philistines with Sampson, first curiously searching where their chief strength lieth and wherein it consisteth, and then in the next place using all means to disable and deprive them of it; whereby the victory becometh more easy and assured, and less dangerous and disaduantageable to the conquerors. The which course must be held also by us in this combat with the flesh, if we desire to overcome To which purpose let us observe these three rules. The first is, that we do not nourish and ⟨p. 330⟩