War against the flesh

Thomas Watson, Heaven Taken by Storm

Fleshly lusts war against the soul. If the flesh doth war against us, good reason we should war against the flesh.

Thomas Watson, Heaven Taken by Storm (1669)


Thomas Watson (c. 1620–1686) was an English Puritan preacher. Heaven Taken by Storm was first published in 1669. Spelling here is modernised; the words are his.

"Holy violence" is Watson's phrase for all-out, wholehearted effort toward God (Matthew 11:12).

More words from the saints who fought before us are in the Library.