A20756:85
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.
CHAP. VI. Testimonies of Fathers to prove that the body alone is not our enemy the flesh.
CHAP. VI. Testimonies of Fathers to prooue that the body alone is not our enemy the flesh.
1Unto these reasons we may add divers testimonies for the better clearing of this 2point. And first Saint Augustine telleth us, that the corruption of the body, which overburdeneth the soul, is not the cause of the first sin but the punishment. Neither doeth the corruptible flesh make the soul sinful, but the sinful soul maketh the flesh corruptible. From which corruption of the flesh, although there arise many provocations of vices and vicious desires, yet not all the vices of a wicked life are to be imputed to the flesh (that is the body) least hereby we acquit the devil of them who hath no flesh. Again, he that magnifieth the nature of the soul, as though it were the chief goodness, and accuseth the nature of the flesh as evil, without doubt he doeth 3carnally affect the soul, and after a fleshly manner shun the flesh, because he so judgeth out of human vanity, and not out of divine trueth. So in another place, the soul is not better then 4the body in merit but in nature; for the soul is sinful and stained with many corruptions of concupiscence. But yet impure gold is better then the most purified lead. And else where he saith; The flesh therefore is not evil if it want evil, that is, sin wherewith 5man is corrupted, neither is he evil made, but doeth evil, for in both parts soul and body he was made good of our good God, but he doeth evil whereby he is made evil. Now as by all these testimonies he showeth what the flesh is not, namely not the nature or substance of the body; so in many other places he showeth what it is, namely the law of sin and corruption of nature, which hath overspread and defiled the soul and body. To name one or two for all. In his book of retractations, he saith that the Apostle by the names of flesh