A20756:67
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.
1Now by this which hath been said it appeareth what the Church of Rome and her adherents conceive and hold concerning the flesh, in respect both of their doctrine and their practise. Wherein they are justly to be taxed, first of untruth and falsehood, in that they do herein teach gross errors which are directly contrary to the whole course of Scriptures, as it shall (God willing) afterwards plainly appear. Secondly, of damnable pride, and that first in this respect that they afflict and torture their bodies by their voluntary penance for mere ostentation to be seen and praised of men, (for else to what end serve their going barefoot on their pilgrimages; and their whipping of themselves in the open streets) of all which their torments, if any pitying them more then they do themselves, would have them c•sed and freed; the best way were to follow the advice of Plato, who seeing men take compassion on the proud Cynic Diogenes, because he voluntarily stood in a great storm of rain, told them, that the only way to rid him out of that misery, was to withdraw themselves, and to let none remain to look upon him: for there would surely but few be carried about in this pageant of penance, if there were no spectators who might encourage them with their applause. Secondly, their pride appeareth in the acting and suffering of this voluntary penance in respect of the end, which is not so much to mortify the flesh, as to make satisfaction to Gods justice for their sins, or to merit his favour and the joys of heaven; wherein as they derogate much from Gods mercy, and the all sufficient merits & satisfaction of Jesus Christ, so also they manifest their hellish pride, which will not suffer them wholly to deny themselves, and ascribe the glory of their justification and salvation only to Gods free grace and Christs sufferings and obedience: but needs will they share with them in the praise, in part at least pay their own debt, and give something towards the purchase of our heavenly inheritance; In which ⟨p. 31⟩respect it may truly be said, that the leaner they make their bodies with penance and punishment, the more their hearts are fattened with pride and vain-glory; and the more they subdue and keep under their fleshly carcass, the more their minds are lifted up with opinion of their merit and deserving.