A20756:59
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 this also may appear by their doctrine: For not to produce many testimonies out of a multitude of Authors, but only to name two or three of the chief and most refined, Thomas Aquinas himself howsoever sometime he agreeth with us, holding that the flesh is the (a) corruption of nature and original sin, as appeareth in his readings upon the Romans, yet in other places he confoundeth the flesh (b) and the body, and maketh the body sin and death, and the natural body to be all one, although ⟨p. 23⟩in these places, by body and flesh he understandeth the vices and corruptions of them, as he expoundeth himself in other (c) places. So likewise he holdeth that by the spirit part regenerate, or inner man, we are to understand the (d) mind and reason, which as he saith is called the inner man, because that is said to be man, which is principal and chief in him. And thus he opposeth the flesh and the heart, or the mind and reason; where speaking of the Apostles (e) words; I know that in me, that is in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing, he saith that this is not to be understood of his reason: for in me, that is, in my heart good dwelleth, according to that, Ephesians the 3. where the Apostle saith, 7that Christ himself dwelleth in our harts by faith. So also Lewis Granada, a chief Doctor of their superstitious devotion and mortification, joining with the famous heathen Philosopher Mercurius Trismegistus, inveigheth against the body, as though it alone were this corrupt flesh, which is the author and fountain of all our sin and evil. Unless (saith he) O son thou hate thy body, thou canst not love thy self, for it is impossible seriously to intend both, unto things mortal and divine. But first of all of necessity thou must put of this garment which thou cariest about thee, being the covering of ignorance, the foundation of wickedness, the bond of corruption, the dark veil, the living death, the carcass of the senses, the moving sepulchre, the household thief, which hateth whilst it flattereth, and envieth whilst it hateth, &c. which speech of the heathen man he judgeth so full of light and trueth, that for it alone he well deserved the name of Mercurius Trismegistus the thrice great or excellent.