A20756:82
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.
1Eighthly, that which is called the flesh, is in other places, called the evil concupiscence, the evil which encloseth us, and the law of sin; but the body is not evil absolutely, for it is the good creature of God as well as the soul; but respectively, as together with the soul it is tainted & defiled with corruption. So Augustine telleth us that our flesh that is 2our body is good, yea very good, as being the workmanship of our only good God; and it is not evil as Sethianus, Ophianus and Patricianus would have it; nor the cause of evil as Florianus hath taught, nor yet compacted of evil and good, as Manichaeus blasphemeth, but whereas it is good by creation, it is at the choice of the mind made unto us either good or evil, not by the change of the substance, but by the wages of execution. With whom Chrysostom agreeth, saying, that the Apostle doth 3nor call the flesh (that is the body) sin, but it is the work of God, which if we wisely use it, is exceeding fit for the pursuing of virtue. Neither is the body our enemy in this spiritual conflict, but our friend which assisteth us in the fight, and taketh our part against the flesh with the rest of our spiritual enemies; namely as it is employed by the soul, in praying, fasting, watching, hearing the word, holy conferences, giving of alms and such like religious and Christian duties. So Hierome testifieth that this life to mortal men is a place 4of Combat, here we fight that elsewhere we may be crowned, and no man can go securely among serpents and scorpions. We are compassed about with great troupes of enemies; the whole world is full of them; the frail flesh which within a while will become dust, fighteth alone against many, &c. For as the body partaketh with the soul in the state of corruption, so also in the state of regeneration, the one being sanctified as well as the other. For whereas the Apostle speaking to the faithful telleth them, that they were washed and sanctified, he excludeth not their body but understandeth it of the ⟨p. 41⟩whole person body and soul. And this he plainly testifieth, saying, that the unmarried woman careth for the things