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 which notwithstanding is daily committed by innumerable Christians, who profess themselves enemies to the flesh, and yet in the mean time give themselves over to all voluptuous courses, and take more care to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, and to nourish and strengthen it with worldly delicacies, then ever they did for the enabling of the spirit, that it might obtain the victory against our spiritual enemies. And as we are not to nourish the flesh by ministering food unto it, so are we not to leave it to it own liberty, and to make free provision for it self without restraint; which if we do, it will need no other purveyor to provide victuals enough, for the satisfying of our carnal lusts. To which end let us remember that it is far unfit that the flesh should have the liberty of a son and friend, seeing it is a base slave and bitter enemy: and therefore if we do not put it (as it were) under hatches and keep it like a galley-slave in fetters and chains, no sooner shall those great Pirates Satan and the world set upon us, but it will join with them, and betray us into their hands. There is no enemy that maketh war against another, ⟨p. 331⟩when as he hath besieged their city, will send them in provision of victuals, neither yet will they suffer them to use their liberty in going out and in at their pleasure, to forage in the fields, and to furnish themselves with all necessaries to maintain them in the time of siege; but they begirt the walls on all sides with trenches and bulwarks, and keep a narrow watch and strong guard to restrain them from all liberty; and thus must we deal with our enemy the flesh, if ever we mean to get the victory: For if we do not keep a diligent watch and strong guard over it, but give it liberty to rove and range at it own pleasure; it will be to small purpose that the spiritual man doth not purvey for it, seeing it will make enough provision for the satisfying and nourishing of our carnal lusts, and for the strengthening of it self against the spirit. If we lay the reins in the neck, and suffer it to go which way it will it will quickly carry us out of the narrow path into the broad way which leadeth to destruction.

The which notwithstanding is dayly committed by innumerable Christians, who professe themselues enemies to the flesh, and yet in the meane time giue themselues ouer to all voluptuous courses, and take more care to satisfie the lusts of the flesh, and to nourish and strengthen it with worldly delicacies, then euer they did for the enabling of the spirit, that it might obtaine the victory against our spirituall enemies. And as wee are not to nourish the flesh by ministring foode vnto it, so are we not to leaue it to it owne liberty, and to make free prouision for it selfe without restraint; which if we doe, it will neede no other purueigher to prouide victuals enough, for the satisfying of our carnall lusts. To which end let vs remember that it is farre vnfit that the flesh should haue the liberty of a sonne and friend, seeing it is a base slaue and bitter enemy: and therefore if we doe not put it (as it were) vnder hatches and keepe it like a gally-slaue in fetters and chaines, no sooner shall those great Pirats Sathan and the world set vpon vs, but it will ioyne with them, and betray vs into their hands. There is no enemy that maketh warre against another,