The Christian Warfare Part 3, Book 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Whether the conflict betweene the fleſh and ſpirit bee in all the regenerate, and whether if it be, it be in the ſame manner and meaſure.
§ Sect. 1 That this ſpirituall conflict is in all the regenerate that are of yeares.WEe hauehave ſhewed that the conflict betweene the fleſh and the ſpirit is onelyonly in the regenerate, and how it differeth from that conflict of conſcience, which is oftentimes in many of the wicked; now let vsus conſider whether that combate be in all the regenerate. Secondly whether it be in all in the ſame maner and meaſure. Thirdly how wee may knowe whether this conflict be in vsus or no. And laſtly, if it bee when it beginneth and how long this conflict i… to continue. Concerning the firſt we are to knowe, that this conflict betweene the fleſh and ſpirit is in all the regenerate, who hauehave receiued ſpirituall illumination, and hauehave the vſe of their reaſon and vnderſtanding, being poſſeſſed of Gods ſanctifying graces, not onelyonly in their habites but alſo in their actes and opperations, not in the faculties alone, but alſo in their functions and exerciſes. For as long as theſe curſed corruptions (like the Cananite in the land) doe coinhabite with vsus, they will continually be a… ſcourges Ioſu. 23. 13.to our fides, and thornes in our eyes; and ſtill there will bee warre betweene vsus, whileſt they labour to hold their poſſeſſion, and wee endeauour to roote them out. And howſoeuer our chiefe Commaunder may ſometime ſound a retraite, and giuegive vsus ſome intermiſſions for the renewing of our forces, and recouery of our breath, yet vtter diſmiſſions we ſhall not hauehave from this warlicke ſeruice, till hauing (like our head and Sauiour) by death ouercome all our enemies, we ſhall receiue the crowne of victory, and for euer triumphantly reioyce in the ſecurity of our peace.
§ Sect 2. What wee are to thinke of Infants and Ideotts.But whereas I ſay that this conflict is in all the regenerate who hauehave the vſe of reaſon and vnderſtanding, I doe from among them exempt ſuch infants and ideots as want the vſe of reaſon and yet belong to Gods election; in whom God worketh for their iuſtification, ſanctification and ſaluation, after an extraordinary, ſecrete and wonderfull maner, applying Chriſt vntounto them his righteouſneſſe, obedience, and the vertue of his death and reſurrection by his holy ſpirit, who al-ſufficiently ſupplieth vntounto them the defect of all inferiour iſtruments and meanes, and here by purgeth and cleanſeth them from the guilt, puniſhment and corruption of all their ſinnes. Now in theſe there cannot actually bee this conflict betweene the ſpirit … fleſh, becauſe they hauehave not the actes and operations o… ſpirituall graces, but onelyonly the ſeedes of them, which though they may hauehave their potentiall inclinations to this conflict, yet no preſent actuall exerciſe and voluntary imployment of them in this ſpirituall warrefare. Although it may bee, thus much may be granted, that ſeeing by their regeneration there is a change in their nature, by which they are ſpiritually renewed in all their powers and faculties, there may be in them all, an auerſeneſſe in their renewed nature to their olde corruptions (as it were) by an holy inſtinct and diſpoſition, wrought in them by Gods ſpirit, although there be no diſcourſe of reaſon or vſe of vnderſtanding, euen as wee ſee by naturall antipathy fire and water, light and darkeneſſe contending and ſtriuing againſt one another though they hauehave no will or reaſon to ſtirre them vntounto the fight. For though (as we hauehave ſhewed) the conflict of conſcience ariſeth out of logicall diſputes and the diſcourſe of reaſon and vnderſtanding, and therefore can onelyonly be in them who hauehave the vſe of theſe, yet this combate of the ſpirit ſpringing from another fountaine, euen the change of an nature through ſpirituall regeneration, there may (in that ſenſe which I hauehave ſhewed) euen in children and ideots, bee ſome kinde of conflict betweene the ſpirit and the fleſh, the ſeede of grace and of corruption ſtriuing againſt one another. All which is to be vnderſtood not of all infants belonging to Gods Election, but onelyonly of thoſe which dye in their infancy, who hauing much to bee done for the quicke perfecting of that great worke of their ſaluation, whileſt they are going that ſhort paſſage betweene the wombe and their heauenly inheritance, God to manifeſt his infinite wiſedome, power and goodneſſe, doeth thus worke in them after a wonderfull and extraordinary maner. And as for theſe who liue to riper age, and vntill they hauehave the vſe of reaſon and vnderſtanding, they hauehave not this conflict in them before their regeneration and conuerſion, becauſe then onelyonly the ſpirit and in ſanctifying graces doe begin to dwell in them, and to make warre againſt their carnall corruptions.
§ Sect. 3 That this conflict is not in al the regenerate in like manner and meaſure.As touching the ſecond point, we are to know, that the conflict betweene the ſpirit and the fleſh is not in all the regenerate after the ſame maner, nor in the ſame meaſure, but diuerſly as it pleaſeth the Lord to glorifie himſelfe in the manifeſtation of his wiſedome, goodneſſe, and omnipotencie, either by giuing vntounto his ſeruants a great meaſure of ſtrength and ſpirituall grace by which they obtaine an eaſie victorie, wherein the bounty of his goodnes clearely ſhineth, or a leſſe and ſcanter proportion, by which notwithſtanding they are inabled as certainely, though not ſo ſpeedily to ouercome, hereby magnifying the all-ſufficiencie of his power, which more manifeſtly appeareth in our 2 Cor. 12. 9.greater weakeneſſe. For according as the meaſure of our ſpirituall ſtrength and riches of Gods grace, as alſo of carnall corruption differ in reſpect of their diuers proportions, ſuch is the difference in this Chriſtian combate betweene one faithfull man and another. For ſome receiue but a ſmall meaſure of ſpirituall illumination, the leaſt degrees of faith, confidence, louelove and other ſpirituall graces; and theſe through their weakeneſſe, commonly make weake aſſaults againſt the fleſh and fleſhly luſts, and as weakely withſtand their encounters, whereof it commeth to paſſe that they ſtand in the battaile with much faintneſſe and frailetie, and receiue many wounds, foyles and fals, before they obtaine the victory. Though the Lord performing euen to theſe his gracious promiſes, doth not ſuffer them to be tempted aboue their power, but either aſsiſteth them by his owne might, or fitteth them with ſlight tentations, according to their weakeneſſe. Sometimes there is in the regenerate leſſe reformation of their corrupt natures by the reſtraining grace of God and the common gifts of the ſpirit, by reaſon whereof the fleſh is of greater ſtrength and the corruptions thereof are much more malignant, raging and violent in all the faculties of their ſoules, eſpecially in their wils, paſsions and affections. So that though they hauehave a great meaſure of ſtrength and ſpirituall grace, yet they cannot with any eaſe, or in ſhort time get the vpper hand, but there is much ſtrugling and wraſtling, ſharpe and fierce aſſaults on both ſides, as is betweene mighty enemies equally matched, and ſometimes the one, ſometimes the other preuaileth, and woundeth and foyleth the aduerſe party; like thoſe warres of old betweene the Romanes and Carthaginians, and thoſe mighty enemies the Turkes and Perſians in theſe dayes. And becauſe both parties continue in their great ſtrength, hereof it commeth to paſſe, that theſe ſharpe and fierce encounters, doe alſo laſt euen to the end of their liues, vntill the Lord by death doe put an end to the battaile, giuing vntounto the ſpirituall man full and finall victory ouer all his enemies, and the crowne of victory euerlaſting happineſſe.
§ Sect. 4. That this conflict is aften weake in ſtrong ChriſtiansFinally the Lord to ſhew the riches of his bounty, doth ſometimes giuegive vntounto his ſeruants ſuch a large meaſure of ſpirituall ſtrength, ſauing grace, knowledge, faith, louelove, Chriſtian magnanimitie and the reſt, that like thoſe mightie worthies in the time of Dauid, none of their ſpirituall enemies are able to withſtand them, but in the firſt encounters after this ſtrength receiued, they foile, wound, and vanquiſh them, either leading them captiue without any great reſiſtance, or elſe putting them to a ſhamefull flight. So as they neuer againe gather their ſcattered forces, nor once dare to enter the field; onelyonly they may perhaps after a treacherous manner lye in ambuſhment, and make ſome attempt vponupon ſome great aduantage. And in this caſe the ſpirituall ſould our gloriouſly triumpheth ouer his ſpirituall enemies, and keeping them vnderunder with vnreſiſtable power, doth enioy his victory with much peace and heauenly comfort. But all this while we are to remember that the Chriſtian Champian, and the Lords great worthy, doth not thus preuaile by vertue of any naturall ſtrength which he hath aboue others of his fellow ſouldiers, (but like Sampſon) through the gifts of the ſpirit, and the power of God communicated vntounto him; which becauſe through their pride and ſelfe-louelove they are apt to forget, and beeing ſwollen vp in their owne conceipts, to rob God of his glory, by arrogating ſome part of the praiſe of their ſpirituall ſtrength and victories vntounto themſelues; the Lord leaueth them by ſpiritual deſertions vntounto their owne abilities, and letteth looſe their enemies to aſſault and encounter them. In which caſe they are vtterly vnable to ſtand in the leaſt conflict, but are ſhamefully foyled, put to flight, and led captiue of ſinne, as we ſee in the example of Noah, Lot, Iob, Dauid, Peter, and many others. And then being diſcouraged and diſcomfited they complaine with Iob, that God oppoſeth them as a mightie enemie, making them his markes, and ſhooting againſt them his enuenomed arrowes; With Dauid. that God hath forſaken them, will be no Pſal. 22. 1. & 77 7. 8.more intreated, but hath ſhut vp his kindneſſe in diſpleaſure, that his terrours doe fight againſt them, dry their bones, and drinke vp their ſpirits; And finally with the Church they cry out; O Lord, why haſt thou made vsus to erre from thy Eſa. 63. 17. & 64. 9.wayes, and hardened our heart from thy feare? Bee not wroth very ſore O Lord, neither remember iniquitie for euer. On the other ſide the fleſh all this while proudly ſwelleth in victorie, inſulteth ouer the ſpirit, is this the man that tooke God for his hope? Carryeth away the ſpoiles, and vaunteth it ſelfe in a wicked triumph. But though God hath withdrawne himſelfe a little, that the ſpirituall man might more carneſtly ſeeke him, yet hee doth not vtterly forſake his ſouldiers and ſeruants, and thoſe his graces in them, though in reſpect of ſenſe motion and outward operation, they ſeeme qu…e vtterly extinguiſhed, yet in truth they are but in a ſwound, and (as it were) couered ouer with the aſhes of corruption, and therefore when the Lord reuiueth them, bloweth vponupon them with his ſpirit, and cheriſheth their inward heate, by freſh fuell, and a new acceſſe of ſauing grace, then Sampſons haire growing cut againe, hee recouereth his ſtrength, and the Chriſtian Champion being grieued and aſhamed for his former foyles, gatheteth together his ſcattered forces, and with more then wonted valure and reſolution encountering his enemies he putteth them to flight, obtaineth the victorie, and for euer after holdeth them vnderunder in more baſe ſubiection.