A20756:474
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.
1It is not then enough that we restrain the flesh from things wicked and unlawful, whereby it is nourished and strengthened, but we must also moderate and diet our selves in the use of those things which in their own nature are lawful; yea there must not only be a sober and moderate use of meats and drink and worldly pleasure, but sometimes also as occasion serveth total abstinence, for the better 2taming and subduing of the flesh. So one saith, that he only falleth not in things unlawful, who sometimes wisely and warily restraineth himself from those which are lawful. And Augustine telleth us, that the best way to restrain the flesh from unlawful pleasure, is to refrain sometimes from those which are lawful delights; for he who abstaineth from no delights 3that are lawful, is in the next neighbour-hood to those that are unlawful. Marriage is lawful, and adultery unlawful: and yet temperate men, that they may be far off from unlawful adultery, do moderate themselves in the use of lawful marriage. Sufficiency in diet and drinking is lawful, and drunkenness ⟨p. 339⟩unlawful; and yet modest m•n, that they may be far of from the beastly filthiness of drunkenness do somewhat restrain 4themselves of the liberty of […]. And this is needful for us to do, because (as another Father saith,) Whilst we give free liberty for our refreshing, we are often deceived and carried beyond our bounds, and whilst the mind flattereth it self with a conceit of necessity, it is allured and deceived with the will and appetite, &c. And whilst we do unwarily 5condescend to necessity, we become slaves to our lusts and appetite. And again, we are to know (saith he) that voluptuousness doeth so cloak it self under necessity, that the most perfect man can scarcely discern it. For whilst necessity calleth upon us to pay our debt to nature, voluptuousness doeth satisfy it lust and appetite; and so much the more securely doeth gluttony carry us away with headlong violence, by how much the more cunningly it covereth it self with the honest name of supplying necessity. And oftentimes in the way of eating, pleasure stealingly followeth after, and sometime impudently taketh the way and goeth before; now it is easy to see when pleasure goeth before necessity; but very hard to discern when in our eating it followeth after.