A20756:98
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.
1And thus have we proved by testimonies of Scripture Reasons & Fathers, that by flesh in the spiritual conflict, we are not to understand the body and inferior faculties of the soul, or the corruption of them both, but the corruption of the whole man in every part and faculty, and especially in the mind, understanding and will which above all the rest are chiefly tainted and defiled. Now let us also produce the testimony of the adversaries themselves, who howsoever in their doctrine they commonly confound the body and the flesh as being all one; and in their whole practise of mortification, do bend all their strength against the body to subdue and keep it under, yea even to torment, consume and destroy it, as though it were their mortal enemy; yet having sometime their eyes dazzled with the light of truth, they acknowledge even the same verity of doctrine which we teach and defend against them. Thus Thomas Aquinas, their great school Doctor, extendeth the flesh and corruption of nature to the whole man, the soul as well as the body, for writing on the words of the Apostle, 2In me that is my flesh, dwelleth no good thing, he saith, that in man as he is a sinner dwelleth no good thing, neither in his body nor mind. Now this is spoken by the Apostle of himself, and that as he was in the state of grace and regeneration as Aquinas a little before acknowledgeth and therefore must necessarily be referred to the part unregenerate both soul and body. And commenting on these words of the Apostle, The flesh lusteth against the spirit, he saith, that 3here is a doubt to be cleared; namely that, seeing to lust or covet, is an act proper to the soul; therefore as it may seem it cannot agree with the flesh: unto which we are to say with Augustine, ⟨p. 52⟩that the flesh is said to covet or lust, in regard that the soul doth lust or desire according to the flesh; as the eye is said to see, when as rather the soul seeth by the eye. And therefore the soul then lusteth by the flesh, when as it desireth those things which are pleasant according to the flesh. But the soul lusteth or desireth by it self, when as it is delighted in those things which are according to the spirit, as works of virtue and divine contemplation. Yea but if the flesh lusteth by the spirit, how is it said that it lusteth against it?