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…

¹The sixth rule to be observed for the resisting and subduing of the flesh, is that as we are not securely to neglect any sins, though we seem never so far off from falling into them, because we have in us the seeds of all sin, and need nothing to the committing of them, but that God should give us over to our own strength and to be tried with Satan's temptations, in which regard we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and when we think we stand to take beede of falling: so that we bend our chief study for the mortifying of those fleshly lusts which are strongest in us and endeavour most earnestly to withstand and overcome those enemies which have most prevailed against us, that we keep the narrowest watch, and place the strongest guard upon that part of the City of our souls, where the wall hath been most battered, and the enemy hath given the strongest assaults. For ⟨p. 373⟩when they have prevailed, there they are most likely to attempt again, and when these unruly beasts have broken down the hedge and made a gap, there they will again seek to enter and come over even after the passage is stopped, and those sins which have formerly overcome us, will be ready in confidence of their victory to make new assaults, and are likely again to give us the foil, unless we keep a more diligent watch, stand stoutly upon our guard, and be well armed and furnished with spiritual weapons and munition. Even nature teacheth us to be more wise and provident in avoiding those evils which in our own feeling and experience have been most harmful, and (as we say) the burnt child will ever after dread the fire. He that hath been bitten with surety ship and hath had his goods attached and his person arrested, and laid up in prison, will if he have any wit afterwards take heed how he striketh the hand and becometh surety for a stranger. He that hath been notably cozened to his great loss and hindrance, will keep a vigilant eye, upon the cozener from the time to come, that he be not again deceived especially by the same wiles; and he that hath gotten fore falls by going in slippery places, will afterwards look better to his footing, when he is to come back in the same way.

¹The sixth rule to be obserued for the resisting and subduing of the flesh, is that as we are not securely to neglect any sinnes, though we seeme neuer so farre off from falling into them, because wee haue in vs the seedes of all sinne, and neede nothing to the committing of them, but that God should giue vs ouer to our owne strength and to bee tried with Sathans temptations, in which regard wee are to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling, and when wee thinke wee stand to take beede of falling: so that we bend our chiefe study for the mortifying of those fleshly lusts which are strongest in vs and endeauour most earnestly to withstand and ouercome those enemies which haue most preuailed against vs, that wee keepe the narrowest watch, and place the strongest guard vpon that part of the Citie of our soules, where the wall hath beene most battred, and the enemy hath giuen the strongest assaults. For