The Christian Warfare Part 3, Book 1 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. That the fleſh is an enemy exceeding powerfull and mightie.
§. Sect. 1. That the fleſh is to the vnregenerate a mighny king, and to the regenerate a powerfull tyrant-WE hauehave ſhewed that the fleſh is a moſt malitious enemy, ſo that it wanteth no will to bring vsus to deſtruction: And now it remaineth that we ſhew how mighty and powerfull it is in effecting that which it deſireth and luſteth. The which will appeare if we conſider the mighty power, and ſubtile pollicy of theſe malitious enemies. Their power appeareth both in regard of their ſtrength and number. For the firſt, if wee looke vponupon the fleſh in it full ſtrength, as it is Rom. 6. 12.in a man vnregenerate, and is not ſubdued nor hath the vigour thereof abated by Gods ſpirit, wee ſhall finde that it raigneth as a mightie monarch in the little world of man, holding eueryevery facultie, power and part both of ſoule and body in ſubiection. The which the Apoſtle plainely intimateth, where he exhorteth thoſe whom Chriſt by his ſpirit hath regenerated and freed from this regiment, not to let ſinne raigne in their mortall bodies, that they ſhould obey it in the luſtes thereof. Yea it raigneth not onelyonly as a King and abſolute ſoueraigne; but as a Lord or tyrant who hauing conquered mankinde doth hold them in ſubiection as miſerable captiues and bondſlaues, ſelling them ouer to the committing of all actuall tranſgreſſions, for the baſe price of earthly vanities. The which the Apoſtle intimateth in theſe words; but I am carnall, ſold vnderunder ſinne. Whereby Rom. 7. 14.he ſignifieth that the fleſh dealt with him like a proude and cruell tyrant, ſeaſing vponupon him like one who had bought a ſlaue in the market, and forcibly compelling him to doe his will. The which if the Apoſtle might truely ſpeake of himſelfe though he were regenerate, in reſpect of that part which remained vnſanctified, then how much more may it be verified of thoſe who remaine in the ſtate of corruption and vnregenerate, who are wholly vnderunder the dominion of ſinne? Now if we would ſee with what power and vnreſiſtable force, this cruell tyrant did rule in all the ſonnes of men, whileſt they remained in the ſtate of corruption, hereby it will appeare in that they were ſo vtterly vnable to free themſelues out of this thraldome, that they neuer durſt nor could attempt their libertie, becauſe their wils were no leſſe captiuated, then their other parts and faculties, and it was their chiefe delight to liue in this ſlauery. Neither were any outward helps auaileable, becauſe being poſſeſſed and ruled by this legion of wicked luſts, like the Doemoniake in the Goſpell, nothing would containe them nor reſtraine their fury, but they break eaſily all thoſe chaines, giues, and Mar. 5. 2.fetters wherwith they vvere bound, being (like mad men) a like harmefull both to themſelues and others. For neither would Gods louelove and many benefits allure them and containe them in obedience, nor his vvrath and fearfull iudgements terrifiee and reſtraine them from ſinne; Neither the law of God, containing ſo many gracious promiſes to them who obeyed it, and ſo many terrible threatnings againſt them that tranſgreſſed it, both of temporary plagues and euerlaſting puniſhments; nor the execution of theſe dreadfull iudgements in the puniſhment of the whole world by a vniuerſal deluge, of Sodom & Gomorrah with fire and brimſtone, with many other cities & countries which hauehave beene made examples of Gods wrath againſt ſinne; beſides the experience of innumerable particular perſons, and euen of themſelues, viſited by the hand of God in a fearefull manner, were all ſufficient and ſtrong inough to curbe and keepe vnderunder, theſe ſinfull paſsions and corrupt luſts, nor to ſubdue and thruſt out of his regency this powerfull tyrant the fleſh; till Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe came who is the wiſdome and power of his father, & conquered him on his croſſe, triumphing gloriouſly ouer him together with the reſt of our ſpirituall enemies; and vntill he apply the vertue of this victory vntounto vsus and by his powerful ſpirit, which is infinitely ſtronger then all men and Angels, doe vanquiſh this mighty tyrant, giuegive him a deadly wound of which he continually languiſheth, and depoſing him from his regency, doe ſet vp in our hearts the gracious and glorious kingdome of our bleſſed Sauiour. So that we may conclude this In Iohan. lib. 3. cap. 34.point with the ſaying of Cyrill. The voluptuous luſtes of the fleſh without doubt are of mightie power, by which the mindes of men are wholly diuerted from all honeſtie and goodneſſe.
§ Sect. 2 Of the ſtrength of the fleſh being conſidered in it ſelfe.But leaſt thoſe who are regenerate ſhould contemne this enemy, as being weake and impotent, becauſe it is in part mortified & the ſtrength thereof abated by vertue of Gods ſpirit dwelling in them; let vsus in the next place know, that though it bee not in them ſo puiſſant and powerfull as in thoſe who remaine in their naturall corruption, yet it is exceeding ſtrong and mighty, whether wee conſider it ſimply in it ſelfe, as it worketh and rebelleth in thoſe who are ſanctified, or compare it with the ſpirituall and regenerate part. The former is notably ſet downe by the Apoſtle in his owne perſon, in the ſeauenth chapter of the Epiſtle to the Romanes, where he ſheweth that this corrupt and ſinfull fleſh is ſo farre off from any conformity to the lawe, that taking occaſion by the commaundement, it wrought in him all maner of concupiſcence, and ſo abuſed the lawe which was purpoſely giuen to reſtraine him from ſinne, and to ſubdue and mortifie his corruptions, as a meanes to giuegive ſtrength, life and vigour vntounto it. Whereby the lawe which was ordained to life, became to be vntounto death. Further ſhewing vers. 8.the power of his fleſhly corruption he ſaith, that it tooke occaſion by the commaundement to deceiue and ſlay him, working vers. 9.death vntounto him by that which is good; that it ouercame him vers. 10.and like a ſlaue ſold him vnderunder ſinne, that it made him to doe that which he allowed not, to omit the good which he affected, and vers. 11.commit the euill which he hated; that though he were delighted vers. 12.in the lawe of God and deſired to obey it, yet euill was preſent with bim That though he conſtantly reſolued to ſerue vers. 13.God, yet the fleſh like a ſtrong rebell making warre againſt vers. 14.him, did often foyle and ouercome him, and carried him into captiuitie to the lawe of ſinne. Yea of ſuch force and might did this holy Apoſtle find the fleſh in him, that it forced him to crye out; wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death. So elſe where he telleth vsus, that Gal. 5. 17.the fleſh is not ſo ſubdued, but that it continually maketh warre againſt the part regenerate; and ſtandeth in ſuch ſtrong oppoſition againſt it, that the godly cannot doe the good they would. With whom the Apoſtle Peter agreeing telleth 1 Pet. 2. 11.vsus, that the fleſhly luſtes doe fight againſt our ſoules. Finally as it hindreth vsus often times from yeelding any obedience to the law, and enforceth vsus to tranſgreſſe it; ſo when we doe performe any duties which it requireth, it ſo defileth and ſtaineth them, that we hauehave iuſt cauſe to acknowledge with the Prophet that our beſt righteouſneſſe is but like a polluted Eſa 64. 6.cloath.
Now this ſtrength of the fleſh vnleſſe it be wounded, ſubdued and kept vnderunder by Gods ſpirit, is alwayes in it full vigour, yea in daily growth, notwithſtanding all naturall meanes which can be vſed. For the decay of nature it ſelfe doeth not make it decay, but euen in ſickneſſe it retaineth health and vigour, and when through olde age the body is weake and decrepite it continueth firme and ſtrong.
§ Sect 3. That the fleſh it mightie being conſidered comparatiuely with the ſpirit.So alſo if wee compare it with the ſpirituall part, the fleſh is much greater and ſtronger; and therefore would eaſily ouercome it and quench al Gods graces in vsus, if God ſhould leaue vsus to our ſelues to be ſupported and defended by the ſtrength which we hauehave receiued, and not continually ſend vsus new ſupplies, and vphold vsus with the power of his owne ſpirit. For the Apoſtle telleth vsus, that in this life we hauehave receiued but firſt fruits of the ſpirit, which is but an handfull Rom. 8. 23.in compariſon of the harueſt, the whole croppe of grace being reſerued, till we ſhall receiue with it the fullnes of glory. And in regard that the fleſh in quantiiy did ſo much exceede the ſpirit, he ſticketh not to ſay, that the Corinthyans though ſanctified in Chriſt Ieſus and called to be ſaints, were carnall and but babes in Chriſt; yea hauing himſelfe 1 Cor. 1. 2. chap. 1. 2.receiued ſuch a great meaſure of grace, he notwithſtanding in the ſight and ſence of his great corruption acknowlegeth Rom. 7. 14.that he was carnall and ſould vnderunder ſinne. Hereof it is that Diuines compare the fleſh to the great gyant Goliah, and the ſpirit to little Dauid; and not vnfitly, for as Dauid was farre vnequall to the mightie Gyant, and therefore preuayled not againſt him by his owne ſtrength, but by the power of God aſſiſting him, in whoſe name he came againſt him, ſo by the ſame meanes only the ſpirit getteth victorie ouer the fleſh, God giuing it ſtrength to ouercome becauſe it fighteth his owne battayles.
§. Sect. 4. Of the multitude of … fleſhly luſt▪Finally vntounto the ſtrength of our enemie we may adde their multitude, for though they be one in name, to note that they are all of the like ſinfull nature, and as one combined in malice to worke our deſtruction, ſo are they many in number, euen whole legions of vnlawfull luſts, which continually multiply themſelues, by begetting a new offſpring after the ould are killed and ſubdued. Wherof it is that the apoſtle Peter willeth vsus, to abſtaine from fleſhly luſts, which fight againſt the ſoule, ſpeaking plurally of them as being many, euen a whole army which maketh warre againſt vsus.
§ Sect. 5. That the power of our enemies … vsus t… ſhake of all ſecuritie.The conſideration wherof ſhould moue vsus to ſhake of all ſecuritie, ariſing from contempt of our enemies and ſeeing they are ſo mightie in ſtrength, and many in number, let vsus vſe ſo much the more care, dilligence, and vigilance to defend our ſelues againſt their furie, buckling vntounto our ſelues the whole armour of God, and vſing all meanes both for the vveakning of our enemies, and the nouriſhing and ſtrengthening of Gods graces in vsus. Eſpecially let vsus call vponupon God, the Lord of boaſts, deſiring him by our feruent prayers, that he vvill by his ſpirit abate the power of the fleſh & the ſinfull luſts thereof, and re▪inforce and ſtrengthen the armie of his ſpirituall graces in vsus, by ſending to them daily new …i…es and …eſh ſupplyes, that ſo in the end wee may obtaine the victorie.
§ Sect 6. That the might of our enemies … diſcourage … couragious.Neither ſhould the power of theſe ſpirituall enemies daunt and diſcourage vsus, an… ſo make vsus cowardly to ſhe, or yeeld our ſelues as ſlaues vntounto them; becauſe being ſo much too ſtrong for vsus, there is no hope of with ſtanding their fury or obtaining victory. But let vsus ſtill remember that we fight the Lords battailes, and therefore he being on our ſide, we are ſure (if we wil but fight) to obtaine the victory in the end. Let vsus remember that our Graund Captaine IESVS CHRIST hath by his death ouercome ſinne, and led it captiue vponupon his croſſe, triumphing gloriouſly ouer it together with the reſt of our ſpirituall enemies, ſo as none of them ſhall bee able to hurt vsus. With which meditation the Apoſtle comforted and incouraged himſelfe in his tedious conflict with the fleſh; for hauing pitifully complained and cryed out; Wretched man that I am who ſhall deliuer me from the body of this death? He preſently 2 Sam. 2…. 9.addeth; I thanke God through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord; By whom alone hee had obtained ſtrength, whereby hee was able to ſtand in the fight, and was aſſured in the end to get the victory. Yea let vsus call to minde that hee by his ſpirit hath applyed vntounto vsus the vertue …f his death, whereby he hath giuen vntounto our fleſh ſuch a deadly wound, that it ſhall neuer recouer o… it, but languiſh in a continuall conſumption, vntill by our death it be fully aboliſhed. And therefore when wee like weake and white-liuered ſouldiers are tyred in the fight, let vsus flye to the ſtanderd and fight vnderunder the ſhield, of Chriſt our Sauiour, vvho is our true Eleazar (the comfort of God) and ſo mighty and omnipotent, that hee is able to vanquiſh and ouercome all our enemies alone, onelyonly he would hauehave vsus to fight with him in the battaile, that ſo we might alſo accompany him in his glorious triumph. Let vsus remember that though our ſpirituall part be but the firſt fruits, yet it is an earneſt of the whole harueſt; though it be but ſmall in quantitie, yet it is full of vertue and vigour, the God of life giuing life vntounto it, and like a little quinteſcence, which is ſtronger in operation, by that vertue which it receiueth from the fire of Gods Spirit, then a great quantitie of common waters. Whereas contrariwiſe the fleſh, though it be much greater and ſtronger, yet being deputed to mortification and hauing receiued a fatall blowe, of vvhichwhich it daily languiſheth and decayeth; it is a gyant indeede in ſtrength and bigneſſe, but yet ſuch an one as being in a deadly conſumption, pin…th away by little and little till it be vvholly aboliſhed. And on the other ſide the ſpirit as a child in age ſtatute, yet is in a continuall growth vntill it come to mans eſtate and a perfect age in Ieſus Chriſt.