A20756:486
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 above all other parts we are with greatest care to guard our hearts, and to set a strict and strait watch over them, according to the counsel of the Wise man: Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. And this is most necessary first because above all other parts it is most cunning and crafty, according to that of the Prophet: The heart is deceitful and wicked above all things: Who can know it? And therefore as we are careful 2to keep a vigilant eye when as we have to deal with a cunning cozener, or deceitful thief, and keep a narrow watch over subtle and politic traitors, who are still ready to spy all opportunities to betray & deliver us into the hands of our malicious enemies that seek our lives and endeavour to spoil our goods: so must we deal with this cozener, thief and traitor which doth intend nothing more then our utter ruin and destruction. Secondly, because it is the chief Monarch and commander in this little world of man, which ruleth and commandeth all the other parts; It is their guide and captain which leadeth and directeth them in all their courses; It is like the primum mobile which moveth all the inferior spheres, and the first and chief wheel in the clock which setteth all the rest on going. It is the spring and fountain of all our thoughts, words and actions, which being defiled defileth them, and being purged doth communicate unto them its purity and cleanness. For according to the direction of the heart, the tongue speaketh, the hand worketh, the eye seeth, the foot walketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart (saith our Saviour) bringeth forth that which is good, and 3an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil: For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaketh. And again: Those things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth the heart, and they defile the ⟨p. 349⟩4man For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.