The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of the fleſh, and the ſtrength thereof.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſo much concerning the world. The ſecond enemie which aſſiſteth Sathan againſt vsus is the fleſh, which is that inborne traytor which wee nouriſhing in our ſelues, doth opē a gate in our ſoules, into which Sathan and the world may eaſily ſend whole troupes of temptations to enter and ſurprize vsus. By the fleſh we are not to vnderſtand the bodie alone and the fleſh thereof,VVhat the fleſh is. but that corruption of nature which hath defiled both bodie and ſoule, being ſpread and mixed with eueryevery part of both, euen as the light is mingled with darknes in the twilight or dawning of the day; whereby wee are made prone to all ſinne, and readie to entertaine all temptations, which promiſe the ſatisfying of any of the luſts thereof. This ſecret traytor conſpiring with Sathan and the world to worke our deſtruction, doth entertaine and further all their temptations; it fighteth and luſteth againſt the ſpirit, it rebelleth againſt the law of our mindes, and leadeth vsus captiue to the law of ſinne, it hindreth vsus from doing the good we would, and maketh vsus commit the euill which wee hate, as it is notably ſet downe Rom. 7. So Gal. 5.17.Rom. 7. Galat. 5.17. The fleſh lusteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrarie the one to the other, ſo that ye cannot doe the ſame things that ye would.
This enemie the holy Ghoſt in the Scriptures deciphereth by diuers names; for it is called the old man, the old Adam, the earthly, carnall, and naturall man, the ſinne which is inherent and dwelleth in vsus, the adioyning euill, the law of the members, the luſts of the fleſh which fight againſt the ſoule; by all which is ſignified our corruption of nature, which is deriued from our firſt parents, whereby wee are made backward vntounto all good, and prone vntounto all euill, vnapt to entertaine any good motions of Gods ſpirit, but moſt readie to receiue and imbrace all the ſuggeſtions and temptations of the world and the diuell, as the waxe the print of the ſeale, or the tindar fire. And this the Apoſtle Iames ſheweth chap. 1.14 EueryEvery man is tempted when he is drawne away by his owne concupiſcence and is enticed: Iam. 1.14.15.15. Then when luſt hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth ſinne, and ſinne when it is finiſhed bringeth foorth death. So that as Sathan is the father, ſo the fleſh is the mother of ſinne, which receiuing Sathans temptations as it were into a fruitfull wombe, doth conceiue, nouriſh, and bring forth ſinne, which no ſooner is borne, but like a deadly ſtinging ſerpent, it bringeth death to bodie and ſoule, vnleſſe the poyſon thereof be ouercome and taken away by the precious bloud of Chriſt.
§. Sect. 2 And thus you ſee what the fleſh is, The treacherie of the fleſh.and how it conſpireth with Sathan in ſeeking our deſtruction, whereby appeareth the treacherie and dangerouſnes of this our enemie. The treacherie thereof is hereby manifeſt, in that being in outward ſhew a deare friend, and more neere than an alter idem, another ſelfe, it notwithſtanding aideth Sathan to our owne ouorthrow. So as wee may complaine with Dauid, Pſal 41.9. My familiar friend whom I truſted, Pſal. 41▪ 9.which did eate my bread, hath lift vp the heele againſt me. For this Iudas which daily followeth vsus, and eateth, drinketh and ſleepeth with vsus, doth betray vsus into the hands of thoſe enemies who ſeeke our life; and that, when it ſeemeth louingly and kindly to kiſſe vsus.
And as it is moſt treacherous, ſo alſo moſt dangerous, and hard to be ouercome, for as much as it is in our ſelf, and the greateſt part of our ſelfe, and therefore we cannot forſake it, vnleſſe we forſake our ſelues;Mark. 8.34. That the fleſh is a moſt dangerous enemie. we cannot fight againſt it, vnleſſe we raiſe inteſtine and ciuill warres in our owne bowels; we cannot vanquiſh it, vnleſſe wee ſubdue our ſelues; and if we ſeeke to runne away from it, wee might as eaſily flee from our owne ſhadowes, yea from our ſelues, for wee carrie it in our owne boſomes. How hard therefore is this enemie to be ouercome? how dangerous and irkſome muſt this fight needs be, wherein our ſelues muſt be enemie to our ſelues? So that we cannot obtaine the victorie, vnleſſe we be ouercome; we cannot be ſure of life, vnleſſe we mortifie and kill our greateſt part; we cannot ſuſtaine our ſelues, but we nouriſh our enemie; we cannot famiſh our enemie, but we our ſelues ſhall pine with hunger. Who would not thinke the eſtate of thoſe citizens to be moſt dangerous, who being beſieged by forraine forces, harbour amongſt them more traytors which are hourely in readines to open the gates and betray the citie into their enemies hands, than true ſubiects and loyall citizens to ſtand in their defence? But this is our caſe, we are beſieged with forraine forces, the world and the diuell; and we nouriſh in vsus ſecret traytors, euen the fleſh, with whole legions of the luſts thereof, which are continually readie to open the gates of our ſoules, euen our ſenſes of ſeeing, hearing, touching, taſting, ſmelling, whereby whole troupes of temptations enter and ſurprize vsus.
§ Sect. 3 How the fleſh is to be weakned.The conſideration whereof ſhould make vsus moſt watchfully to ſtand vponupon our guard, and to vſe ſuch Chriſtian policie to withſtand our enemies, and preuent their treacherous attempts, as true-hearted citizens would vſe in the like caſe; who if they were beſieged with forraine forces, and knew that they harboured traytors, who ſought all opportunities of betraying their citie into their enemies hand, they would if they were ſtrong enough lay hand on them, draw them to the place of iudgement, condemne and put them to death; but if they found them too great and ſtrong a partie, then they would vſe all good policie to make them weaker, by depriuing them of their foode and prouiſion, weapons, armour and munition, and all other meanes wherein conſiſted their chiefe ſtrength; and then they would ſet vponupon them being thus diſabled, and proceede in the courſe of iuſtice before mentioned: ſo we being in continuall danger to hauehave the citie of our ſoules ſacked through the treacherouſnes of our fleſh, muſt, if wee be ſtrong enough and powerfull through Gods ſpirit, mortifie, kill, and aboliſh the fleſh, and the luſts thereof; but if we finde the ſpirit weake and the fleſh ſtrong, we are to diſable it by faſting and watchfulnes in prayer, by withdrawing from it the foode with which it is nouriſhed, that is, voluptuous pleaſures and worldly delights, but eſpecially being weake in our ſelues, wee are to implore the aide and aſſiſtance of Gods ſpirit, whereby we may be ſtrengthened and enabled to ſubdue and mortifie the luſts of the fleſh,1. Pet. 2.11. which rebell and fight againſt our ſoules, being aſſured by Gods mercifull promiſe, that if we aske and deſire his ſpirit, he will giuegive it vsus,Luk. 11.13. Luk. 11.13. and hauing the ſpirit of God to aſſiſt vsus, we ſhall be ſure of victorie.
But if in ſteede of mortifying and taming the fleſh and the luſts thereof, wee pamper them like Epicures with all voluptuous delights;Pro. 24.21. wee ſhall but ſtrengthen our enemies to cut our owne throtes: if wee delicately bring vp this ſeruant, which we ſhould vſe as a ſlaue, at length it will be not onelyonly as our ſonne, but a tyrannous Lord and maſter, which will binde vsus hand and foote in the fetters of ſinne, and caſt vsus into the priſon of hell. What follie therefore is it to nouriſh and arme our enemie to our owne deſtruction?