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…

¹Having showed what our enemies in this spiritual warfare are, we should now proceed to warfare are, we should now proceed to discover their nature and properties, were it not that these enemies were by the devil and the world disguised: yea quite hid from our sight in secrete ambushments; and our friends through their malice mustered against us, as though they were our enemies, that so whilst we bend all our forces against them who oppose us in this seeming hostility, these may suddenly set upon us, and assault us at unawares, giving us deadly wounds when we fear no danger. For the plotting and contriving of which stratagem they use the vassals of Antichrist, the clergy of Rome as their chieftains and especial instruments, who hiding our true enemy, the corruption of nature, which hath overspread all the powers and parts of our souls and bodies, under the close covert of their cunning sophistry, do in stead thereof, offer to our view seeming foes of their own fancying. For by the flesh they would have us to understand (not the relics of corruption which keep their chief residence in the soul, mind, and will) but the body it self and the flesh thereof; and at most the inferior, brute and sensitive faculties of the soul; and by the spirit they understand the intellectual faculties, the mind, reason and understanding, and so affirm this to be the fight between the flesh and the spirit, when as the body and sensitive parts do rebel and stand in opposition against the understanding & reason, and contrariwise when these strive to maintain their regency by keeping them under and subduing them to their laws and orders. And although, being sometime convinced with the evidence ⟨p. 22⟩of trueth, they give together with us the same verdict, affirming that not the body it self is meant by the flesh, but the corruption of it, that it is only the instrument of the soul in wicked actions, and the soul it self the chief cause of sin, and that the mind, understanding and reason are poisoned and tainted with natural corruption;

¹HAuing shewed what our enemies in this spirituall warfare are, we should now proceede to warfare are, we should now proceede to discouer their nature and properties, were it not that these enemies were by the diuell and the world disguised: yea quite hid from our sight in secrete ambushments; and our friendes through their malice mustred against vs, as though they were our enemies, that so whileft we bend all our forces against them who oppose vs in this seeming hostilitie, these may suddenly set vpon vs, and assault vs at vnawares, giuing vs deadly wounds when wee feare no danger. For the plotting and contriuing of which stratagem they vse the vassals of Antichrist, the cleargie of Rome as their chieftaines and especiall instruments, who hiding our true enemy, the corruption of nature, which hath ouerspread all the powers and parts of our soules and bodies, vnder the close couert of their cunning sophistrie, doe in stead thereof, offer to our view seeming foes of their owne fancying. For by the flesh they would haue vs to vnderstand (not the reliques of corruption which keepe their chiefe residence in the soule, minde, and will) but the body it selfe and the flesh thereof; and at most the inferiour, bruite and sensitiue faculties of the soule; and by the spirit they vnderstand the intellectuall faculties, the minde, reason and vnderstanding, and so affirme this to be the fight betweene the flesh and the spirit, when as the body and sensitiue parts doe rebell and stand in opposition against the vnderstanding & reason, and contrariwise when these striue to maintaine their regency by keeping them vnder and subduing them to their lawes and orders. And although, being sometime conuinced with the euidence