490 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XI.
it is weak, like a keen sword in the hand of a child. But we have the advantage in matter of motive ; the flesh cannot propound such excellent rewards as faith propoundeth, eternal happiness in the vision and fruition of God ; but now general motives do little prevail against inclination, and our great motives lie in an unseen world ; therefore our best security lieth in the assisting power, which is the mighty Spirit of God dwelling in us, who cherisheth and strengtheneth the new creature not only to keep up the combat, but to get a victory, and to overcome the carnal inclination more and more. Therefore thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord; not only over external temptations, but our indwelling flesh: Kom. vii. 25, 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' By the Spirit of Christ we have strength to overcome the oppositions of the flesh, and have grace to perform what God will accept, and so far accept, that notwith- standing weaknesses we shall be reckoned rather to be in the spirit, than in the flesh, and obtain the privileges of the justified.
2. It showeth us the reason why carnal men think so meanly of the people of God, and the spirit that dwelleth in them. They think christians are but as other men, and that there is no such great matter to be found in those that profess strictness in religion, no such spirit of God and glory, but what others have. I answer, no wonder that they who are blinded with prejudice and malice, and are loath to see the excellency of others whom they hate, lest it disturb their own carnal quiet, will not see what else would plainly discover itself. But some reason there is for it. This life is a hidden life : Col. iii. 3. It is hidden, partly under the veil of the natural life. It is a life within a life ; they live in the flesh as others do, but they do not live after the flesh ; they eat, drink, sleep, trade, marry, and give in marriage, as the rest of the world do, but all these things are governed by grace, and carried on to high and eternal ends. The spirit and life are not seen and felt by others, but only discovered in the effects ; as these things are carried on holily and with a sincere respect to God's glory : 1 Cor. X. 31. Besides, the efi"ects are imperfect, and clouded with a mixture of remaining infirmities ; the best christians show forth too much of the flesh, and do not act as those that have the Spirit of God dwelling in them ; now this is a great hindrance to the converting of the world, and a means of hardening to prying atheists, who think all strictness is but a pretence : 1 Cor. iii. 3, ' White there is yet strife, envyings, and divisions among you, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ? ' Mat. xviii. 7, ' Wo to the world because of offences : for it must needs be that offences come, but wo to the man by wliom the offence cometh.' It is dangerous to scandalise the world ; but the chief cause is their secret enmity to holiness ; they censure and traduce good men by reproaches and base misprisions, and cannot endure that those that take a contrary course should have an excellency owned that might alarm their con- sciences to reverence : 1 Pet. iv. 6, ' Judged according to men in the flesh, but live to God in the spirit; as deceivers, and yet true,' So reputed in the world as a company of dissemblers ; the world's malice will not give them leave to see any good in those whom they dislike.
3. It showeth how much it becometh christians to give such a
VeB. 9.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 491
demonstration and proof of the Spirit's dwelliiif? in them, that others may be able to say they are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. So did these Romans co Paul ; they gave ground for his charity to think them justified ; so should all that are sincere do. Now these others may be either the godly or the carnal world. First, For the godly, who are best able to judge, they have cause to think so, when you are companions with them in the faith, holiness, and patience of the gospel ; the men in the world are tied to one another, like Samson's foxes by their tails, though their heads look several ways, by their mutual interests and common agreement in mischief and enmity to the godly ; but the godly themselves should be joined together in the communion of the spirit, loving one another with a Christ-like love, and seeking each other's good as their own, and being affected with mutual sympathy towards each other's condition, as if it were their own case, and with one mind and mouth glorifying God, and promoting the interests of his kingdom ; and by their personal holiness bringing his honour in request in the world. Surely whoever do so, we are to judge them heirs with us of the same grace of life, and to bless God for them. Secondly, For the carnal world; you must keep up the majesty of your profession, that they may see there is a generation of men whose'Iife is not spent in carnal pleasures and delights, who are not as other men, nor as them- selves once were, and do things which can be accomplished in them by no other means or agent than the Spirit of God ; who in their common business act upon reasons and principles of religion, and turn all duties of the second table into duties of the first, discharging all their respects to men out of the love of God, and fear of God ; and are led by con- science rather than interest ; and begin and end with God in all they do, and cast their whole lives into a holy and heavenly mould, making straight steps to their feet, and walk with a temper becoming religion, in all the inequality of conditions they pass through in the world, looking for no great matters here, but fetching their main supports and comforts from the world to come.