(2.) The new nature is exceedingly weakened and suffers loss, if it be not cherished and obeyed. The church of Sardis is warned to prevent the dying of gracious habits. David speaketh as if the work were to begin anew, and his restoring were a second conversion : Ps. li. 10, ' Cxeate in me a clean heart, 0 Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.' The principle of grace being not adhered to, loseth much of vigour and power.
(3.) When these motions are not obeyed, and this power is not exercised, God is provoked to withdraw the quickening grace. Though the spirit here spoken of is the new nature, yet the Holy Ghost is the superintendent of it, and doth move, guide, direct, and quicken by it. The new nature inclineth, but he giveth strength to its motions. Now the Spirit withdra.weth when this work is slighted, and we wilfully run into sin : Ps. li. 11, ' Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.'
(4.) There is another mischief ; his sanctifying work is not only obstructed, but his certifying and sealing work is obscured, and so our day is turned into night : Eph. iv. 30, ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.'
Use 1. It showeth what necessity there is that we should look after conversion to God, or a Avork of grace wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, for the apostle supposeth they had the Spirit. There is no walking without living, for otherwise our motions are but the motions of puppets, not proceeding from internal life, but acted from springs and engines ; no subduing the flesh without setting up an opposite principle. Therefore, we must give up ourselves to the Holy Spirit, first to be sanctified, then governed by him ; first renewed, then guided, ordered, and directed by him in all our actions, and the flesh dietli away insensibly.
2. Being renewed by the Holy Ghost, that is, having our minds enlightened and hearts inclined, we must obey this inclination ; for life is not given us that we may have it, but that we may act by it, and do things suitable to that life which we have. Grace is not a sluggish, idle quality, but is always working and warring on the opposite principle.
3. Though at first we are pestered and encountered with the lusts of the flesh, which divert us from God and heavenly things, yet we should not be discouraged by every difficulty ; for difficulties do but inflame a resolved spirit, as stirring doth the fire. And, besides, though we do not wholly subdue the lusts of the flesh, yet we shall not accomplish them and live in subjection to them, but by degrees get power against them.
4. The carnal life is not of one sort. Some wallow in sen.sual
292 THE ELEVENTH SERMON. [GaL. Y. 16,
pleasures, others have head and heart altop^ether taken up with the world and worldly things. Now if God hath put a new hias upon our wills and affections, we must show it forth hy a heavenly conver- sation ; for they that mind earthly things are carnal, and the great inclination of the new nature is to carry us unto God and the things of another world, 2 Cor. v. 5.
5. They are much to blame that complain of sin, and will not take the course to get rid of it hy obeying the instincts of the Holy Ghost, or the motions of the new nature. The Lord's spirit is a ' free spirit,' Ps. li. 12, and his ' truth maketh us free,' John viii. 32. And we are interested in this liberty when born of the Spirit. Let us be true to our duty and we shall bless God for our liberty, rather than complain of our bondage. It is laziness and cowardice not to improve grace, which was given us for this use.
6. How much we are concerned in all conflicts, especially in those which allow deliberation, to take part with the Spirit, and obey his motions rather than to fulfil the lusts of the flesh : otherwise, by consent and upon deliberation, you are unfaithful to Christ and your own souls. Your business is not to gratify the flesh, but to crucify it, to overrule sense and appetite, and cherish the life of grace, Gal. V. 24. And surely when conscience hath help to deliberate, it is a greater evil to resist it, than when hurried by our own passions.
7. It is of great use and profit to us to observe which principle decayeth, the flesh or the Spirit ; for thereby we judge of our condition, both in order to mortification and comfort.
The increase of the flesh may be known ; —
(1.) By your backwardness to God. Grace is clogged when you cannot serve him with sweetness and delight, Eom. vii. 18.
(2.) When the heart groweth careless of heaven, and your life and love is more taken up about things present than to come, Phil. iii. 18, 19. The contrary is found when grace is in vigour, 2 Cor. iv. 18 ; Col. iii. 1, 2.
Secondly, The prevalency and increase of the Spirit is known : —
(1.) By a humble contentedness and indifferency to plenty, plea- sures, and honours; Phil. iv. 12, ' I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound ; everywhere and in all things I am in- structed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need ; ' Heb. xiii. 5, ' Let your conversation be without covetousness. and be ye content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'