Two treatises. The first is, A plain platform for preaching: whereby the word of truth may be rightly divided; and he that speaketh, speak as the oracles of God. Digested into 20. propositions. The second is, The destruction of in-bred corruption. Or, An antidote against fleshly lust. By A. Symson minister of Gods word.

CHAP. V. After what manner the Flesh with the lusts and affections thereof is to be encountred.

AS in temporall warfare so in this Spirituall skill is no less requisit then strength,* 1.1 especially having to do with such a cunning, deceitfull, and subtile adversary, as the Flesh is, who for the most part pre∣vailes more by secret cunning, then open force. Experience also shweeth that our migh∣tiest Enemies have received

most notable foyles of the weakest Christians, but else carefull and skilfull in the use of their armour.

Now that wee may know how to warre against the Flesh, we are first to take notice how the Flesh warreth against us. Whereby we shall be the bet∣ter enabled both to defend our selves, and offend it.

How the FLESH warreth a∣gainst us.* 1.2

This may be specified espe∣cially in three particulars.

First,* 1.3 that somtime its man∣ner of warre is covertly, and under colour of vertuous af∣fections; that thereby wee may be intrapt at unawares. So did the Flesh deceive both the Daughters of Lot.* 1.4 And the first-borne said unto the youn∣ger,

our Father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us, [unspec 32] after the manner of all the earth Come let us make our Father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that wee may preserve seed of our Father. A goodly bait to draw on Incest. Not unlike was NABALS an∣swer unto Davids messengers.* 1.5 There be many servants now a∣dayes, that break away every man from his master. [unspec 11] Shall J then take my bread and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my sheerers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? Agreeable hereunto was the ground of Ahabs desire of Naboths Vineyard,* 1.6 Give me thy Vineyard (said hee unto him) that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is neere to my

house, and I will give thee for it a better Vineyard then it; or if it seeme good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. Herein doth the Flesh resem∣ble Harlots,* 1.7 as they garishly attire themselves, that they may draw affections; so doth fleshly concupiscence garish∣ly adorne and paint over the things desired,* 1.8 that by their seeming beauty (as Paul spea∣keth of a cloke of covetousnes) they may bewitch us.* 1.9 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, shee took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her hus∣band with her, and hee did eate. Oh how glorious seems wealth to a covetous eye! It is the

way to reputation,* 1.10 the best proof-armour of defence from wrongs, the only self-sufficient condition here on earth. Oh how goodly things are high Places, Honours, and Digni∣ties in the eyes of the Ambi∣tious! No vitious desires doe so insinuate themselves into well-disposed natures as those which are coloured and cloa∣ked with the shew of vertues. Goliahs sword lay hid under an Ephod,* 1.11 as much wickednes doth under the pretence of Religion.

Secondly,* 1.12 That at other times it saineth flight, that therby for the present it may draw us into its ambushes, and (for the time to come) into carelesnes, Security, Presump∣tion, throwing our selves in∣to

occasions of evill, and the like.* 1.13 The Flesh indeed may seeme to bee mortified, as when the occasion is remo∣ved; when it is not violent, but quiet; when it is remo∣ved but from one sinne unto another; when through ter∣ror in the conscience it is re∣strained from desired acts; and the like: but herein putteth it tricks upon us,* 1.14 and (as Jo∣suah by his flight from the In∣habitants of Ai,* 1.15 and the Is∣raelites from the Benjamites) getteth no small advantage a∣gainst us.

Thirdly,* 1.16 that when It can∣not prevaile against us by a∣ny of the former wayes, then as a roaring Lyon setteth it upon us with all its force: yea, and at some times so pre∣vaileth,

that the very best and strongest of Gods Children are for a time brought into very great straits, as S. Paul instanceth in himselfe in the seventh to the Romans.

Adde hereunto, that

It's not in jest with us;* 1.17 it doth not drouzily or unwil∣lingly fight against us: Its at no time idle, neither through delay or negligence letteth slip any opportunity, wherby it may in any sort get the mastery. It's not partiall, see king the mastery over this man, but in the meane time willingly vanquished by ano∣ther; yea, it useth no small discretion in its fight; seaso∣nably laying hold of all op∣portunities, as time, place, company, complexion, age,

and such like. Thus how the Flesh warreth against us.

How wee are to warre against the Flesh.* 1.18

It must be sincerely, impartial∣ly, discreetly, cheerfully, forcibly, seasonably and constantly.

Sincerely.

Both, in respect of the qua∣litie,* 1.19 and quantitie of those things which wee are to op∣pose;* 1.20 qualitie, we are not to mortifie actions either natu∣rall or indifferent, we are not to oppose the motions of Gods good Spirit, we are not to strive a∣gainst the meanes of grace, but against our sinful and flesh∣ly Lusts: quantity, we must not oppose one alone,* 1.21 but as well all as one; for whosoever shall keepe the whole Law, and yet fai∣leth in one point, hee is guilty of

all: for he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill; yea, who so alloweth of one, cannot but allow of others, howsoever one sin is enough to damn any, though there were no more.

Impartially.* 1.22

Not mortifying or oppo∣sing, one which haply we like not in the meane time enter∣taining another, some bo∣some sin by us respected, but equally behaving our selves towards all, being content (as Abraham at Gods command,* 1.23 to kill his beloved sonne) to mortifie our best beloved sins, our Agags, our darlings.* 1.24 Saul thought he had done well in sparing Agag, having killed the poorer sort of Amalekites, but through his disobedience

his Kingdome was rent from him.

Discreetly.* 1.25

First in opposing and stri∣ving against our darling sins, and then in crucifying the rest. Goliah being killed,* 1.26 the Philistims quickly fled. Ahab being wounded, how easie was it to have discomfited his Hoast?* 1.27 If David had beene killed (according to Achito∣phels good Counsell) then would all the people have re∣turned in safety unto Abso∣lon. As therefore the Ara∣mites directed by their King did especially set themselves against Ahab,* 1.28 so must wee a∣gainst our beloved sinnes.

He that would rid his ground of trees doth not lop them, (for they would grow againe)

but diggeth them up by the rootes: root wee up our best beloved sinnes; so shall our others as branches of a fel'd Tree quickly wither.

Cheerefully.* 1.29

As who thus doe but what God requireth of us, by whom we shall be assisted in the per∣formance of the same, and whereby we shall receive no small benefit to our whole man; yea get a particular as∣surance, that we are Christs; for they that are Christs have cru∣cified the flesh with the affections and lusts.* 1.30

Forcibly.* 1.31

As which will not be dri∣ven away without force and violence, you may rate away your dogge by a few angry words. But what careth our

Flesh for words? In dealing with it wee must be void of compassion; the more cruell the better. Thus being cruell, wee have compassion on our owne Soules. The more we spare sinne, the more hurt we our selves: the more wee fa∣vour our lusts, the lesse doe we favour our selves David would have had Absolon kind∣ly dealt withall;* 1.32 but Ioab thrust him thorow. Thrust we sinne thorow, so shall we not need feare its future re∣bellion. Deale we with sinne,* 1.33 as with old Agues harshly and roughly, till it be gone. Deale we with our lusts as the Pri••sts of old with the beasts to bee sacrificed, cut their throats, and so offer them up in sacri∣fice unto God, which indeed

will smell sweetly in his no∣strils. Old wounds must have corrasive plaisters. So sinne before it can bee done away. It's the cutting off of our right hands, the plucking out of our right eyes. Either must we put violent hands on the Flesh, with the lusts thereof, or it will upon the sudden rush up∣on us.

Seasonably.* 1.34

Herein delay is dangerous, when corrupt inclinations do even begin to stirre, then are they to be resisted, opposed, striven against, wee must not give our Lusts any time of truce, any rest at all: though at first they may be easily o∣vercome, afterward they can∣not so be.* 1.35 A Serpent the older it groweth, the more venome

it hath, as a Lyon the greater strength. A staine the longer it continueth, the hardlier can it be washed out. A Tree the longer it standeth, the hardlier can it be pluck't up; thus it is with sin. The first mo∣tions thereto, are like Lyons whelps; let them continue a while, they will be as young Lyons; let them have liberty to get out at the tongue, they will prove ramping and roa∣ring Lyons. We must not dal∣ly or delay, we must not take its word or expostulate there∣with: we must not give it a∣ny respite, but instantly lay the Axe to the root of the Tree.

Its no Repentance to leave Sinne, when it leaveth us,* 1.36 or to give it over when wee can

commit it no longer, we must not let it alone till it die it self, but kill it whilst it might yet live.

Constantly.* 1.37

As who must still goe on in the worke of Mortification,* 1.38 proceeding day by day, and houre by houre without in∣termission, from one degree to another. There's no busi∣nesse so much concernes us as this, which is therefore to be set before all others, we must follow it as the Day-labourer doth his labour day by day, not making so much as one loytering day. This worke is never at an end. Though wee should live Methuselahs dayes, yet might we still employ our selves herein. We weed our Gardens,* 1.39 and are ever wee∣ding:

Sins are ill weeds and grow apace: our hearts are a Step-mother to goodnesse, a naturall mother to vice, and therefore as in that fruitlesse, so in this too too fruitfull. The Captaine that batters the enemies sort a day or two,* 1.40 and then gives over, gives the more courage to the Ene∣mie and loseth his labour. So is it, if we warre not unto the end, if wee continue not our course of Mortification.* 1.41 If Ioash had smitten the ground five or sixe times, then had the Aramites beene rooted out; so if we would be con∣stant in opposing our Lusts, they would at the length give over.* 1.42 As Sampsons haire be∣ing cut off, grew againe; so will sinne if, we doe not day¦ly

ly keepe it under. Wee must not with the Hypocrits men∣tioned by Isaiah hang downe our heads like a bul rush for a day;* 1.43 but constantly persevere in the practise of this duty. Thus after what manner, the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof is to be encountred: and so of the fifth particular.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Skil requi∣site in en∣countring the Flesh.
• * 1.2

  How the Flesh war∣reth a∣gainst us.
• * 1.3

  Covertly.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 19.31.
• * 1.5

  1 Sam. 25.10.
• * 1.6

  1 Kin. 21.2.
• * 1.7

  The Flesh an harlot.
• * 1.8

  1 Thes. 2.5.
• * 1.9

  Gen. 3.6.
• * 1.10

  Note.
• * 1.11

  1 Sam. 21.9.
• * 1.12

  By faig∣ning flight
• * 1.13

  When the Flesh may seeme to be mortified but is not.
• * 1.14

  Iosh. 8.15.
• * 1.15

  Iudg. 20.39.
• * 1.16

  With open force.
• * 1.17

  Other con∣siderati∣ons about the manner of its fight.
• * 1.18

  How wee are to warr against the Flesh.
• * 1.19

  Sincerely.
• * 1.20

  Both in re∣spect of the quality & quantity.
• * 1.21

  Iam. 2.10.11.
• * 1.22

  Imparti∣ally.
• * 1.23

  Gen. 22.16.
• * 1.24

  1 Sam. 15.13.
• * 1.25

  Discreetly.
• * 1.26

  1 Sam. 17.51.
• * 1.27

  2 Sam. 17.2.
• * 1.28

  1 King. 22.31.
• * 1.29

  Cheere∣fully.
• * 1.30

  Gal. 5.24.
• * 1.31

  Forcibly.
• * 1.32

  2 Sam. 18.5.15.
• * 1.33

  Simil.
• * 1.34

  Seasona∣bly.
• * 1.35

  Simil.
• * 1.36

  Note.
• * 1.37

  Constantly
• * 1.38

  Mortifica∣tion a main worke.
• * 1.39

  Simil.
• * 1.40

  Simil.
• * 1.41

  2 Kin. 13.19.
• * 1.42

  Iudg. 16.22.
• * 1.43

  Isa. 58.5.