Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

I answer, It is true, they may be foiled in a particular ¹combat, and yet may get the victory notwithstanding. A man may have a blow, such a blow as may make him stoop, and yet prevail against his enemy; so though in a particular combat they may be overthrown, yet they get the victory over their lusts. Therefore Peter, though he were so timorous at that that time to deny his Master, yet afterwards we find he was as bold as a Lion. So David, though he was overcome in that particular combat, yet the victory was on his side, all his life was chaste and pure, and holy afterward.

I answer, It is true, they may be foyled in a particular ¹combate, and yet may get the victory notwithstanding. A man may have a blow, such a blow as may make him stoop, and yet prevail against his enemy; so though in a particular combate they may be overthrown, yet they get the victory over their lusts. Therefore Peter, though he were so timerous at that that time to deny his Master, yet afterwards wee finde he was as bold as a Lion. So David, though he was overcome in that particular combate, yet the victory was on his side, all his life was chaste and pure, and holy afterward.

1. 1Answ.

Last of all, there is a difference in the continuance of ¹this fight; for a natural man doth make resistance, yet he groweth weary of it, and layeth down the wasters in the end, and yields to the sin; and saith thus with himself, Well, I see I shall never get the victory over this or that particular lust, therefore I will contend no more against it. But now in the regenerate this fight continueth ⟨p. 368⟩