A20756:93
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.
For whereas God in the ⟨p. 48⟩little world of man hath appointed the reason and understanding, to be as the Sun to give light and directions unto all the other parts and faculties, that so they may orderly exercise their functions and operations, Satan knoweth right well that if he can eclipse this light, by the opposition of changeable trifles, or utterly darken it by the interposition of earthly vanities, there can thereupon nothing follow, but sinful disorder and dangerous confusion in all our actions. And thus the Apostle lively describing mans misery and sin, first pointeth at this as the chief fountain, that there is none that understandeth nor seeketh after God, and 1then that, they are all gone out of the way and become unprofitable. And this is the cause why the kingdom of sin is called the kingdom of darkness; and sinful lusts are called the lusts of ignorance; and sinful works, the works of darkness; because ignorance is the sceptre of the devils kingdom by which he reigneth and ruleth in the children of disobedience; all carnal lusts spring from the blindness of the mind, & the darkness of ignorance is the veil which hideth all wicked works, not only from others, but also from their own eyes who commit them and so encourageth them to go in these sinful actions.
For whereas God in the ⟨p. 48⟩little world of man hath appointed the reason and vnderstanding, to be as the Sunne to giue light and directions vnto all the other parts and faculties, that so they may orderly exercise their functions and operations, Sathan knoweth right well that if he can ecclipse this light, by the opposition of changeable trifles, or vtterly darken it by the interposition of earthly vanities, there can thereupon nothing follow, but sinfull disorder and dangerous confusion in all our actions. And thus the Apostle liuely describing mans misery and sinne, first pointeth at this as the chiefe fountaine, that there is none that vnderstandeth nor seeketh after God, and 1then that, they are all gone out of the way and become vnprofitable. And this is the cause why the kingdome of sinne is called the kingdome of darkenesse; and sinfull lustes are called the lustes of ignorance; and sinfull workes, the workes of darknesse; because ignorance is the scepter of the diuels kingdome by which hee raigneth and ruleth in the children of disobedience; all carnall lustes spring from the blindnesse of the minde, & the darkenes of ignorāce is the vayle which hideth all wicked workes, not onely from others, but also from their owne eyes who committ them and so encourageth them to goe in these sinfull actions.