VeB. 9.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VITL 487
though they live a natural life, and having not divested themselves of the interests and concernments of flesh and blood no more than others, yet they do not 'live after the flesh.' A life carnal, see it notably expressed : 1 Pet. iv. 2, ' That he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but the will of God.' Though the life be in the flesh still, yet it is not ordered by the will of the flesh, but the will of God. It is iu the flesh we live, but not after the flesh, — mortifying and subduing the inclinations of corrupt nature yet more and more. Thus we see the sense of the words.
(2.) Let me prove the connection, that though they live in the flesh, yet they do not live after the flesh. The very explication doth suffici- entlv sliow it.
[1.] For if the dwelling of tne Spirit implieth intimacy and familiarity, or such operations in the hearts of believers as are not common to others, but peculiar to them, then certainly God's children, though they live in the flesh as others do, yet they should and do live above the rate of flesh and blood ; for they have an higher principle in them, which others have not. It is a charge on christians, that they walk as mea 2 Cor. iii. 3, kut avOpcoirov. If we do no more than ordinary men do, wherein do we difi'er? What peculiar excellency do we show forth? Some live as beasts, as if they had forsaken all humanity, and had no reason, but sense ; others only as men that have reason, but not the spirit. But our way should be with the wise, above, as having a more excellent spirit dwelling in us.
[2.] If it implieth the constancy of his operations ; he doth not sojourn for a season, but dwelleth in us by his continuance and abode in our hearts ; for he hath constant work to do there, to quicken and enliven our graces, and check the flesh, and abate the force of it. Surely then the tenor of our lives must not be after the flesh, but after the spirit. There are but few but have their good moods and flts ; but a constant habitual influence or principle of life, inferreth more than some good moods now and then, a constant living in obedience to God.
[3.] If it implieth sovereingty, that he dwelleth as lord in his own liouse, then he must not be controlled, nor grieved by the indulging the desires of the flesh : so that the terms explained do evidence themselves, and make out their own truth to any man's consideration. But yet we shall give you some other reasons.
(1.) The Si)int dwelleth nowhere, but where he hath changed the heart so far as to put a new nature in us. He writeth the word of God upon the heart : Heb. viii. 10, and thereby imprinteth his image upon them : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' But we all as with open face beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image ; ' so fitting us for God, and making us amiable in his sight. Now they that are thus prepared, are in the flesh, but not after the flesh ; they keep the affections which l)elong to the bodily life, but they are mortified and subdued, they are not governed by them : 2 Pet. i. 4, ' To us are given great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust.' In which j)hice is intimated a new principle, and that is the divine nature ; a new rule, and that is not the course of the world, but the will of God revealed in his word : new ends and motives, and those not the satis-
488 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XI.
fying of our fleshly lusts, but the vision and fruition of God, intimated in the great and precious promises. Now if the Spirit of God dwelleth nowhere but where he hath thus fitted the heart for his residence by sanctifying it and inclining it to God, and the world to come as our happiness, and the word of God as our sure direction thither, it must needs follow, that where the Spiiit of God dwelleth, they do not live after the flesh, though they live in it; for then there is a contrary principle, the new nature, which must needs be a curb upon the fleshy if we obey the inclinations of it: Gal. v. 16, 'Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.' And a contrary rule, which is the will of God : Eom. xii. 2, ' Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.' For by it they are new formed, and to it they are suited ; and there is a contrary end and tendency, which is to love, please, serve, glorify and enjoy God. As the natural soul looketh after the conveniences of the body, and catereth only for the body ; so the renewed soul looketh after the pleas- ing of God : 1 Pet. iv. 6, ' We live to God in the spirit' Their business lieth with God, and their happiness lieth in God ; it is his favour they seek, his work they do, and the fruition of him they aim at. Spiritual life carrieth a resemblance with the life of Christ as Mediator. Now Christ, * in that he liveth, he liveth unto God: ' Rom. vi. 10 ; so doth a christian, his whole life is a living unto God: Gal. ii. 19, 'The life that Hive in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.'