[3.] Some things more immediately tend to the pleasing of the flesh ; others more remotely. Immediately, as bodily pleasures, and therefore our inclinations to them are called fleshly lusts, as distinguished from worldly lusts, Tit. ii. 12 ; or from the lusts of the eye, and pride of life, 1 John ii. 16 ; and these are intended, when it is said, 1 Peter ii. 11, 'Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul ; ' that is, those inclinations which carry us to vain and sordid pleasures. Other things more remotely, as they lay in provision for that end, as the honours and profits of the world ; as all religion is pleasing God, so all that is opposite to it is pleasing the flesh. Some please it one way, some another ; though a man be not voluptuous, yet he may be guilty of minding the things of the flesh, because the world lieth nearest to his
446 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. VI.;
heart, and so he is taken off from care of and delight in better things : 'envy, emulation, wrath, strife, division make us carnal,' 2 Cor. iii. 3. Namely, as we bustle and strive for greatness and esteem in the world, though they are not sordidly given to brutish pleasures, and worldly lusts, are called foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in perdition and destruction: 1 Tim. vi. 9. Therefore fleshly minding must be applied to any thing that inticeth us to neglect things spiritual and heavenly, for the world and the flesh suit ; one is the atFection, the other the bait.
[4.] Some please the flesh in a more cleanly, others in a more gross manner ; as some men's sins are open and manifest, and stink in the nostrils of God, as whoredom, drunkenness, and the like. Now though we fall not into these sins, but escape the pollutions of the world, yet there is a more secret, carnal minding, wherewith we may be tainted, as when we let loose the heart to such alluring vanities as draw us off from God, and Christ, and heaven ; and the savour and relish that we have for outward things obstructeth and quencheth the heavenly life, as much as those baser lusts that are more shameful and hateful in the world. Some are disengaged from gross sins, but yet wholly live to themselves, and the pleasures of their fleshly mind ; whereas the spiritual living is a living unto God, and subordinateth all things to our great interest ; and till we return to God from whom we have strayed, there is little difference what way of sin we choose ; we are all gone astray, but every one his own way, Isa. liii. 6.
[5.] The prevalency of the carnal or spiritual mind is known by observing what we mind seriously, resolutely, willingly, constantly.
(1.) Seriously, and in good earnest. Some seek after worldly things in good earnest, but spiritual and heavenly things in an overly, careless, and perfunctory manner. Now it is easy to know to what sort they are to be reckoned, for where the strength of the soul is employed there our mind is. The scripture adviseth us to moderate our affections to earthly things, to rejoice here, as if we rejoiced not ; to mourn here, as if we mourned not ; to use all things as not over-using them ; and many mourn for sin, as if they mourned not ; and rejoiced in God, as if they rejoiced not : seek after heavenly things superficially and by the by, not with their chief strength and care : Mat. vi. 33.
(2.) Eesolutely, so as to carry it on whatsoever difficulties and oppositions we meet with: Neh. iv. 6, 'The wall was built, for the people had a mind to the work.' It was a great charge for a wasted people to undergo, being newly returned from the captivity ; and there was a great opposition, for they were fain to use sword and trowel together, they did work with one hand, and held the sword with the other hand to fight ; but it went on, for the people had a mind to the work. We make our way to heaven by conflict and contest every step, till we are resolved and cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart, whatever it costs us : Acts xi. 23, ' He exhorted them, that with pur- pose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.' We make no work in religion until we so mind these things that we come to such a resolution as Paul had : 'Eroifico'i e^w : Acts xxi. 14, ' I am prepared, I am ready, not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.' Such a resolvedness there is also in minding the things
VeR. 5.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 447
of the flesh. When they put up many sad wound and check of conscience, overlook their conveniences in the world, credit, interest, sacrifice whatsoever should, is dear and precious to them, to follow their lusts.
(3.) Willingly. How constrained are most men's duties? Their thoughts of God, their prayers to him, their attendance on his word ; doing all they do as a task, rather than going about it as a willing and pleasing employment, as Saul said, that he ' forced himself : ' 1 Sam. xiii. 12. He pleadeth it as an excuse of his sin, as committing it out of necessity ; but it is a just account of most men's worship, they are held to it by force ; the heart liketh it not, seeketh to slide away, and they are glad when they are enlarged, and can divert to other things. On the contrary : Ps. civ. 3.5, ' I will be glad in the Lord, my meditation of him shall be sweet ; ' this for thoughts. For words : John iv. 32, ' My meat and drink is to do the will of him that sent me.' They are in their element when discoursing and promoting the interest of God, For actions and endeavours : Ps. xl. 8, * I delight to do thy will, 0 God : ' 1 John v. 3, ' His commandments are not grievous ; ' nothing is more pleasing to them than when they are thus employed.