The Christian Warfare Part 3, Book 1 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Of certaine aduantages which the fleſh hath againſt vsus in the ſpirituall Conflict.
§. Sect. 1. That this enemie the fleſh hath great aduātages againſt vsus; becauſe it dwelleth within vsus.HAuing diſcouered the dangerouſnes of this enemie the fleſh in it owne nature, it now followeth according to our order propounded, that we further conſider that this perill is much intended and increaſed, in reſpect of diuers aduantages which it hath againſt vsus in the ſpirituall Conflict. And theſe are principally two; the firſt is, that this enemy is not farre off, whereby we might hauehave leyſure and opportunitie of fitting and preparing our ſelues againſt the Conflict, before he could approch vntounto vsus, but dwelleth with vsus, yea in vsus. He is not onelyonly neere at hand, and (as it were) in the Suburbs, cloſe vntounto the gate of our ſoules, but it lodgeth euen within the walles of the Citie, not in the out-parts and backe lanes, but it keepeth ſtrong poſſeſſion in the chiefe forts and caſtle of our mindes & wils, our hearts and affections, where our chiefe ſtrength and Ipſi geſtamus laqueum noſtrum nobiſcum circumferimus inimicum. Bernard. de Quadrageſ. ſerm. 5.treaſure lyeth. And (as one ſaith) wee beare our ſnare with vsus, and carry our enemy about vsus whether ſo euer we goe. The which danger is much aggrauated in that he doth not profeſſe his emnity, but is in outward ſhew a familiar friend vvho eateth, drinketh and ſleepeth with vsus; it maketh ſhew of louelove, but indeede mortally hateth vsus, it is like an helper, but is in truth our greateſt Aduerſarie, and like Sanballat and Tobiah it offereth his paines in building the wals of our Citie, which may repulſe forraigne forces, when as it intendeth nothing but our ruine and to betray vsus into the power of outward enemies. For no ſooner doth Sathan and the world beſiege and aſſault vsus with their tentations, but preſently it ioyneth with them, and being acquainted with all our counſailes, it reuealeth vntounto them our ſecrets, euen our hidden thoughts and vnknowne deſires and like a wicked Dalilah, hauing by treacherous flattery vndermined vsus, it diſcouereth to theſe curſed Philiſtims where our chiefe ſtrength lyeth; yea it ſecretly openeth the gates of our hearts, and not onelyonly letteth in all their forces, but as ſoone as they are entred ioyneth with them, and laying violent hands on the ſpirituall man, it laboureth all it may to captiuate and deſtroy him. And therfore the wilye red Dragon neuer maketh warre againſt vsus, vntill he be aſſured firſt of theſe inbred traytors and carnall Hic eſt qui manus noſtras proprio cuigulo alligat et baculo noſtro nos caedit Bernard. ibid.aydes; And as one ſaith, it is his policie to binde vsus alwaies with our owne girdle, and to ouercome and beat vsus with our owne ſtaffe. Yea not onelyonly doth the fleſh dwell and co-inhabite with vsus, but it alſo adhereth and inſeparably cleaueth vntounto vsus, as being a part, and the greater part of our ſelues. Whereby the dangerouſnes of this enemy appeareth, for the warre which it maketh againſt the new and ſpirituall man, is not onelyonly ciuill and domeſticall (which notwithſtanding is much more perilous and terrible then that which is forraigne) but without any metaphor, properly, and truely inteſtine, and (as it were) in our owne bowels. Beſides this combate betweene them is fought in a place of great diſaduantage, namely this world where the worſer Brande quidem periculum eſt et grauis lucta aduſus domeſticum hoſtem &c Bernard. de Quadri. ſerm. 5.parts hath many friends and ſtrong aydes, euen millions of wicked men and whole legions of Diuels, and contrariwiſe the better part hath few friends and many enemies. Great ſurely (ſaith one) is the danger, and the conflict ſore and grieuous againſt an enemie ſo domeſtique, eſpecially ſeeing wee are ſtrangers and he a citizen; hee inhabiteth his owne countrey, and we here are exiles and ſtrangers. Yea in truth this warre is more inteſtiue then that vvhichwhich was betweene Rebecca her twins. For not onelyonly doth here one perſon fight againſt another, nor (as ſome would hauehave it) the body againſt the ſoule of the ſame man, nor yet one faculty alone againſt another of a different nature, the ſenſitiue againſt the reaſonable, and the will & affections againſt the iudgement and conſcience; but alſo the ſelfe-ſame faculties againſt themſelues, reaſon againſt reaſon, will againſt will, the ſame affection againſt the ſame, louelove againſt louelove, feare againſt feare, and hope againſt hope. In which reſpect this fight with our fleſh is much more dangerous then our fight with Sathan himſelfe; for though hee be ſometime yea often neere vsus, yet not alwaies, and when he is neereſt▪ hee is not alike neere as our owne fleſh, which adhereth to eueryevery part and faculty of body and ſoule. Though he caſteth into our hearts and mindes the fiery darts of his tentations, yet if we catch them vponupon, and quench them with the ſhield of faith they will not hurt vsus. Yea though he buckle and cloſe with vsus, yet if the Spirit of God dwelling in vsus reſiſt this foule ſpirit, he will flie away at leaſt for a ſeaſon, and wee Luk. 4. 13.ſhall be rid of his noyſome company; but our fleſh and carnall corruptions inſeparably cleaue vntounto vsus, and though they be neuer ſo often ouercome, by faſting, prayer, watchings and ſuch like ſpirituall exerciſes, yet as long as we liue, we cannot be quite rid of them, nor wholly ſubdue them, and an hilate their ſtrength, but after they ſeeme to be withered they will againe flouriſh, after they are weakened they will recouer ſtrength, after they ſeeme to languiſh with age, they will regaine their youthfull vigour, yea when in outward ſhew they appeare mortified and quite dead, they will againe reuiue and ſtanding ſtoutly in their ſtrength they will re▪enforce the fight againſt vsus.
§ Sect 2. That the daungerouſnes of this enemie is much increaſed by reaſon of this cohabitation.From whence it may plainely appeare, how exceeding dangerous the fleſh with the luſts thereof are vntounto vsus, ſeeing they are enemies not onelyonly ſtrong and ſubtle, but alwayes hard at hand, not onelyonly beſieging and beſetting vsus, but euen dwelling with and in vsus. Whereby they hauehave no ſmall aduantage againſt vsus, for neuer leauing but adhering and cleauing vntounto vsus in all places and at all times, they are ready to vvatch all occaſions and to take all opportunities of doing vsus miſchiefe, laying traps and ſnares for vsus in all our enterpriſes. For doe vve vndertake the performance of holy and religious duties? Why then they dogge and follow vsus to the exerciſes, and diſtract vsus with vvorldly cogitations and wandring thoughts, and oppreſſe our mindes with dulneſſe, drowſineſſe and carnall wearineſſe. Are vve imployed in the duties of our callings? They vvill make vsus negligent and lazie, and carrie vsus away vvith carnall pleaſures, or ſo wholly and earneſtly intent on them, that vve ſhall ſpare no time for Gods ſeruice nor for the inriching of our ſoules vvith ſpirituall treaſures. Doe vve eate and drink to relieue and ſuſtaine our bodies? They are ready to make our tables ſnares, turning ſufficiencie into ſuperfluitie, and neceſſary foode into exceſſe and bellycheare, ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe, where the ſoule and ſpirits are ſo oppreſſed, that they are vtterly vnfit for any Chriſtian duties. Doe we intend to refreſh our ſelues vvith honeſt recreations? They doe attend and waite on vsus, mouing vsus to conſume a great part of our time in them, which ſhould be allotted to better exerciſes, and euen to ſpend our ſtrength and ſpirits in the immoderate vſe of them, whereby inſtead of being refreſhed and cheared, vve are diſabled and made vtterly vnfit for the duties of Chriſtianitie and of our callings, and are ſo vvholly taken vp in the meanes, that vve neglect the maine ends for vvhichwhich we vſe them. Yea doe we after our labours betake our ſelues to our reſt? When vve locke our chamber doores, vve cannot ſhut out theſe enemies, but vvhether we vvill or no, they vvill be our bedfellowes, and are alwayes ready at our lying downe to diſtract vsus from any good meditations or ſerious examination of vvhat we hauehave done or omitted the day paſt, to fill our mindes with vaine dreames and vvicked imaginations, and to oppreſſe nature, in ſtead of refreſhing it; vvhileſt we giuegive our ſelues to too much drowſineſſe. And thus theſe cowards ſticke not to ſtrike vsus euen vvhen vve are downe, and if vve ſtand vponupon our vvatch and guard vvhen wee are vvaking, to giuegive vsus deadly vvounds vvhen vvee are a ſleepe neuer ſuſpecting any danger.
§. Sect. 3. The meanes of preuenting the former daunger, is to ſtand vppon our guard & to pray the Lord to watch ouer vsus.Now if vve would be ſecured againſt that dangerous aduantage vvhichwhich the fleſh hath againſt vsus, the beſt vvay is not to bee ſecure, but continually to ſtand vponupon our guard, and as the Apoſtle exhorteth Timothy, to watch in all things, that vve be not circumuented by this enemy, vvho is alwaies preſent vvith vsus to take all opportunities of vvorking our deſtruction. For vvho walking among ſnares or ſcorpious vvould not carefully looke to eueryevery ſtep? What man carrying a ſerpent in his boſome will not 2. Tim. 4. 5.vſe his beſt heedfulneſſe to preſerue himſelfe from ſtinging? Who being among the thickeſt of knowne theeues, vvill not looke to his purſe, and hauehave alwaies an eye to his choyſeſt iewels, that hee be not robbed by them? What citizens hauing their mighty and malicious enemies, not onelyonly beſiedging them in the ſuburbs, but euen entred into the citie, and alwaies ready in armes to ſurprize them, will lye ſnorting in ſecuritie and not carefully ſtand vponupon their vvatch and guard? Yea who hauing a cruell & malicious enemy lodging in his owne heart, and alwaies ready to prye into all his thoughts, words, and actions that hee may take all opportunities to circumuent and hurt him, would not be moued hereby to hearken vntounto the Wiſe mans counſell, and keepe his heart with all diligence, that ſo Pro. 4. 23.he might defeate this enemy, and be preſerued from euill in the middeſt of theſe dangers? And yet this is not inough if we goe no further; for we muſt not onelyonly watch, but pray alſo, if we would be freed from theſe tentations. Neither is our care and prouidence ſufficient to keepe vsus in the middeſt of theſe dangers, ſeeing if we ſometime be awake, we be at other times aſleepe, if now wee keepe a narrow watch, ſoone after wee will be ſecure and retchleſſe, and therefore▪ we muſt pray the keeper of Iſrael, who neither ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth, to watch ouer vsus and to preſerue vsus from theſe perilous and peſtilent enemies, and of him we muſt beg with Dauid, not onelyonly that he will ſet a watch before our mouthes & keepe the doore of our lips, but alſo ouer our workes and wayes, yea euen the ſecret thoughts of our hearts, that they may not bee tainted and corrupted, ſubdued and led captiue vntounto ſinne by this ſinfull fleſh, which adhereth vntounto vsus and dwelleth in vsus.
§ Sect. 4. The ſecond advantage which the fleſh hath is that it is indefatigable and neuer wearied.The ſecond aduantage which the fleſh hath againſt vsus, is that whereas wee are faint and ſoone wearied in this ſpirituall conflict, the fleſh vſing herein a naturall motion, is altogether indefatigable and neuer wearied; whereof it is that it is ſo impudently importunate, that though it hath many repulſes yet it will take no deniall▪ though in the conflict it bee often beaten backe and put to flight, yet it will neuer quite leaue the field. But vnite it ſcattered forces, and receiuing new aydes and encouragements from the diuell and the world, it will a freſh aſſault vsus and renew the fight; herein reſembling an hunger-ſtarued dogge who will by no meanes leaue the houſe where he hath often beene relieued, but no ſooner is beaten out of one doore, then he reentreth into another. So one ſaith, that the fleſh rageth with furious Nazianzen. de animae ſuae calemitati. pag. 934.ſtrength, and neuer reſteth from the warre the ſucceſſe whereof is very doubtfull, for ſometime the fleſh is ſubdued by the ſpirit, and ſometime againe the ſpirit vnwillingly followeth the fleſh, and although it deſireth that which is better, yet it doeth that which it bateth, &c. For the fleſh is ruled by no wordes, it is broken and weakened with no labours, nor yet bowed or ſoftened with any length of time; but alwayes with blind eyes haſteneth againſt our liues and (like him poſſeſſed with the legion) it luſteth to bee on the ſteepe mountaines and craggy rockes; and if ſometime it be forced for a while to giuegive place to the feare of God, painefull labours, and diuine oracles, yet againe like a plant bended downe by the hands of the gardener, it returneth to it peruerſe faultineſſe. Yea oftentimes the more theſe fleſhly luſtes are reſiſted, the more enraged and violent for the time they grow, and the meanes and medicines which God hath appointed to cure them, make the diſeaſe but the more deſperate, an example whereof wee hauehave in thoſe heathen Princes of which the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, who when Chriſt by his word and ſpirit would raigne ouer them, vnite all their forces and rebell againſt him ſaying, let vsus breake his bonds in ſunder, and caſt away his cordes from vsus. Pſal. 2. 3.So the Apoſtle confeſſeth, that the more he charged the Rom. 7. 8.Law vponupon his ſinnefull luſtes, the more they rebelled, and tooke occaſion by the Commaundement to worke in him all maner of concupiſcence, wherein theſe lawleſſe luſts may be fitly likened vntounto lime which is kindled and inflamed by water, wherewith all other fires are quenched, and doe reſemble their Lord and leader the diuell, who the more he is croſſed of his ends, the more he rageth; and are 1 Pet 5. 8. 9.fitly by the Prophet compared to a raging ſea, which the more the tide and currant is croſſed and oppoſed by the Eſa. 57. 20.winde, the more tempeſtuous it waxeth, ſwallowing and deuouring all that is in the way, with his loftie wanes and ſurging billowes.
§ Sect. 5. Of the meanes to fruſtrate the former aduantage.Now if wee would not hauehave theſe aduantages which the fleſh hath againſt vsus pernitions to our ſoules, let vsus labour that as it is neuer weary in fighting againſt vsus, ſo wee alſo may not be weary and faint in this conflict; but let vsus with vndaunted courage, not onelyonly ſuſtaine the aſſaults of this enemy, but alſo prouoke and ſet vponupon him with all his ſinfull luſtes, that we may mortifie and ſubdue them, though we cannot wholly expell them and driue them out. For if our ſinnefull fleſh be neuer weary in running ſuch courſes as will bring vsus to deſtruction, let vsus bee neuer weary in ſtopping and oppoſing it, and contrariwiſe in running the Chriſtian race which will bring vsus to ſaluation. If it be neuer weary of tripping at our heeles, that we may fall, and in clinging vntounto vsus as a heauy burthen, that it may ſlacken our pace, ſtay vsus in our courſe, and ſo make vsus looſe our crowne; let vsus neuer be weary in looking warily to our footing that we may not ſlip nor ſlide, or being fallen that we may ſpeedily riſe againe by vnfained repentance, nor yet let vsus thinke any paines too much that wee may ſhake off this waight of corruption, and this ſinne that doeth ſo eaſily beſet vsus, that wee may runne with patience the race that is ſet before vsus. To which end let vsus firſt conſider, that if we will Heb. 12. 1.take this paines, we ſhall in the ende be aſſured of victory, the which may well put courage into vsus, and make vsus hold out in this conflict, for if the fleſh is not wearied in this fight after many wounds and foyles, though in the ende it be ſure of a ſhamefull ouerthrowe, much leſſe let vsus faint who are aſſured in the ende to obtaine a ioyfull victory. Secondly, 1 Cor. 15. 58.let vsus meditate of the riches of the crown; & of the gloriouſneſſe of the triumph, which we ſhall enioy after we hauehave ſuffred a litle while the paines of this ſpirituall warfare; and when vve are vveary in running the Chriſtian race, let vsus comfort and refreſh our ſelues by hauing continually in Heb. 12. 2.our eye the goale and garland, imitating and looking vntounto Ieſus the authour and finiſher of our faith, who for the ioy that was ſet before him deſpiſed all the toyle and trouble which hee found in the way. And finally let vsus being weake and faint in our ſelues pray continually vntounto God for the aſsiſtance of his holy ſpirit to ſtrengthen vsus in this conflict, and to renew and repaire our wearied, fainting and decayed graces, that ſo receiuing new life vigour and ſtrength from him we may thereby be enabled to hold out vntounto the ende; let vsus when wee are tyred craue this holy annoynting which will ſo ſupple and ſoften our ſtiffe ioints and weary limmes, that we ſhall be able to continue in the Chriſtian race, till being come to the goale we ſhall obtaine the garland. Neither let this diſcourage vsus, that the more ſharpely we deale with the fleſh, the more it is inraged; for it is but like the fury of an enemy, who hath receiued a mortall wound, vvhichwhich if for the preſent it bee reſiſted, the blaze of the choller quickly goeth out, and fainting in his ſtrength hee will fall at our feete, it is but like the reluctation and reſiſtance of a baſe minded ſlaue, vvho by a fewe and ſmall ſtripes, is ſo inraged that he is ready to catch his maiſter by the throate, but if he bee throughly hampred and ſoundly beaten, hee vvill fall downe at his feete and beare what ſtripes he pleaſeth to giuegive him without reſiſtance. And therefore let vsus make this vſe of the rage of the fleſh, to be moued thereby to vnite our forces and redouble our blowes, and then though it make neuer ſo many gallant brauadoes, it will quickly yeelde and we ſhall be ſure of an happy victory.