2. To what end do you live ? That you may please, glorify, and enjoy God, or live after the flesh ? You were made by God, and for God, that you might have fellowship and communion with him here and hereafter : Ps. Ixxiii. 25, * Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee.' This God's people long for, and labour after, and wait for.
3. In what manner do we mind it ? Is this our constant care, and earnest desire, and choice delight ? A naked approbation of that which is good will make no evidence ; nor a few cold wishes, or faint endea- vours ; but your constant business : 2 Cor. v. 9, ' Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.'
VeR 7.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 469
SEKMON IX.
Becavse the carnal mind is enmity to God; for it is not subject to tM laiu of God, nor indeed can he. — Kom. viii, 7.
In the words a reason is given, why the carnal minding will be deadly to us, because it is enmity to God. God surely will be avenged on all his enemies: those that are enemies to God will shortly be dealt with as enemies.
Therefore to be carnally minded is death, because the carnal mind is enmity to God, &c.
In the words here is —
1. A proposition.
2. A reason ; First. From the contumacy of the carnal mind ; Secondly. From its impotency to overcome it : it is a weak wilfulness, or a wilful weakness.
First. The proposition. And there is to be considered the subject, the carnal mind. The predicate is enmity to God.
1. The subject, or thing spoken of, <^p6vrifia aapKo<i, the carnal mind, or the minding of the flesh, or the wisdom of the flesh. But that hath in a great measure been shown before ; therefore —
[1.] By the carnal mind is meant the rational powers, corrupted by our sensitive appetite, and disposed to obey it ; or a mind deceived by the flesh, and enslaved by it ; called elsewhere ' a fleshly mind,' Col. ii. 18.
[2.] It is here considered in its prevalency and reign, as it depresseth the mind from rising up to divine and spiritual things, and wholly bindeth it, and causeth it to adhere to things terrene and earthly, such, as gratify sense, and conduce to please the flesh. The wisdom of the flesh is described : James iii. 15, ' The wisdom that descendeth not from above is earthly, sensual, devilish : ' and 1 John ii. 16 ; ' All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.'
2. The predicate. It is not only ixOpov, but ix^P^, enmity to God. It is more emphatical ; an enemy may be reconciled, but enmity cannot. That which is black may be made white, but blackness cannot. Tliis emphatical expression is to set forth the perfect contrariety that is in our desires, afi'ections, inclinations, and actions, to the will of God. We love what he hateth, and hate what he loveth. It is not only an enemy, but enmity.
Doct. That the wisdom of the flesh is downright opposition and enmity to God.
To evidence this, take these considerations : —
1. It is possible that human nature may be so far forsaken as that among men there should be found haters of God and enemies to him. We bless ourselves from so great an evil ; and men scarce believe that there are such profligate and forlorn wretches in the world as to profess themselves to be enemies to God, who is so good and the fountain of all goodness ; and, for our own part, are ready to defy those that charge it upon us. But the matter is clear. The Scriptures show
470 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. IX.
expressly, that there are 'haters of God,' Oeoarv^eh, Kom. i. 30 ; and Ps. cxxxix. 21, ' Do not I hate them, 0 Lord, that hate thee ?' and Ps. xiii. 2, ' They that hate thee, are risen up against us without a cause.' And we need not go among the pagans and infidels to seek or find out them that are haters of God ; there is an opposite party to God nearer at hand ; and they are all those that walk contrary to him : Col. i. 21, ' Enemies in your minds by evil works ; ' and Ps. Ixviii. 21, ' He will wound the head of his enemies, and. the hairy scalp of such as go on still in their trespasses,' Now many such live within the verge of the church, and are not to be sought among Turks and infidels only.
2. That hatred and enmity to God may be determined by three things: (1.) If we love not God at all; (2.) If we love him not as much as we ought to do ; (3.) If we rebel against him and. disobey his laws.
(1.) If we love not God at all ; for not to love, is to hate, in things
worthy to be beloved. Surely, in divine matters, there is no medium :