A20756:469
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.
1But what is the provision of the victuals which must be withheld from this our enemy? And from what places and parts is it to be kept back that it may receive no benefit by it? To the later I answer first, that the flesh is resident in all the parts and faculties of our bodies and souls, and therefore our care must be generally and particularly to keep it from all and every of them. Now the provision it self which we are to withhold from it, are all the means whereby it may be nourished and strengthened, and so enabled to resist the spirit. As for example, we must use our best endeavour to keep from our corrupt minds all sinful cogitations, and from our phantasies all vain imaginations, we must not entertain wicked deliberations, and ungodly counsels, pernicious errors, and false doctrine, but cut them off, when they are approaching, or cast them out, as soon as they are entered. And contrariwise let us furnish our minds in the regenerate part, with holy thoughts, & divine meditations, with religious counsels, wholesome instructions, and pure doctrine, concerning God and his will, according as in his word he hath revealed it unto us; following herein the Apostles counsel, Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. So let us keep out of our consciences all manner of sin, and 2and purge them daily from all dead works, that we may serve the living God; Let us as much as in us lieth preserve them from the hot searing iron of known, voluntary and presumptuous ⟨p. 335⟩sins, from vain excuses of that which is evil, and false accusations for doing good; from the deep lethargy of carnal security, and from the tormenting corrosives of terrors and fears, and let us labour to keep them pure, peaceable, and tender. Let us keep or blot out of our 3memory the remembrance of sinful pleasures, unless it be to repent of those that are past, and to loath & flee from those which are present and to come; of ribald speeches, 4obscene lests, injuries received with a purpose of revenge, with all other lessons of impiety imprinted in them by Satan, the world, or our own corruption, and let us write and even engrave in them all holy documents which out of the word have been imparted unto us.