3. Example increaseth sin, though it doth not cause it. At first sin is natural ; it is not caused by imitation, but yet imitation doth much increase sin : Isa. vi. 5, ' I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips ; ' that is a snare certainly. So we are born worldly, and the greatest part of those men with whom we do converse they are all for present satisfaction : ' There are many that say, Who will show to us any good?' Ps. iv, 6. The multitude are for worldly wealth and profitc A mortified man is rare ; one that renounces interests and contentments is a wonder in the world : 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot.' There- fore this is a great snare to the soul ; we are in danger to miscarry by example as well as by lust ; for men will say, Why should not we do as others do ? There are but a few that are otherwise given, and the world thinks them to be mopish, precise, and singular. The greatest part seek worldly good. We easily contract contagion and taint one from another, and learn to be carnal and worldly. There are few heavenly and mortified christians, and men think these do thus and thus, and hope to be saved. We that have the same nature learn the same manners. Surely there is somewhat in the world, or else these wise men would not follow it so earnestly.
4. Satan, he joins issue with our lusts, and makes them more vio- lent ; he finds the fire in us, and then blows up the flames. Therefore carnal men are said to walk after the prince of the power of the air, in
100 SERMONS UPON TITUS 11, 11-14. [SeR. V.
fulfilling the will of the flesh and the mind ; Eph. ii. 3, ' Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience ; among whom also we all had our conver- sation in times past, in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.' Satan hath a hand in it ; he presents objects, poisons the fancy, and stirs up those corrupt and carnal motions ; therefore the apostle saith, 1 Cor. vii. 5, 'Lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.' He marks our temper, and to what we are flexible and pliable, what is our sin, and then he joins issue with it ; when Satan seeth our carnal affections run that v/ay, he makes an advantage of it. As when the matter of a tempest is prepared, the devil joins and makes it more terrible and violent, so he doth deal here with our corruptions ; when he seeth our hearts strongly carried out either to the delights, pleasures, or honours of the woi-ld, he blows up the fire he finds in us into aflame. Well, then, to deal with nature, custom, example, Satan, this is hard ; all these plead for worldly lusts.
Fourthly, Upon what grounds and encouragements are we to deny worldly lusts ? How doth grace teach us to deny them ? Partly by way of diversion, partly by way of opposition ; and partly by way of argument, discourse, and persuasion.
1. By diversion, acquainting us with a better portion in Christ. The mind of man must have some oblectation and delight. Love is a strong affection, and cannot remain idle in the soul ; it must run out one way or another. Look, as water in a pipe must have a vent, there- fore, it runs out at the next leak, so we take up with the world because it is next at hand, and we know no better things. Well, then, grace for cure goes to work by diversion. Why should we look after these things when better are showed to us in Christ ? Grace acquainteth us with pardon of sin, wdth the sweetness of God's love in Christ, with the comfort of forgiveness, with the spiritual delight that is in commu- nion with God, with the hopes of glory. And look, as the woman of Samaria, John iv. 28, when she was acquainted with Christ, left her pitcher, so when grace acquainteth us with Christ, and draws out the stream of our affections that way, the course of them is diverted and turned from the world. Why should you look after these things, when you have a better portion? Rom. xiii. 14, there the apostle describes this diversion, or turning the stream another way : ' Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.' If Christ be put on and take up the heart, if he be delighted in as the treasure of the soul, lusts will not engross so much of our care and esteem. Get Christ as near the heart as you can ; for those that are acquainted with him and his sweetness, with pardon, peace, and grace, they will lose their savour and relish of these things. It is an ill sign when we have not lost our savour and taste of carnal things ; it is a sign we are not much acquainted with Christ. It is no wonder for a man that knows no better fare to love coarse diet ; and so it is no wonder that one that never tasted of the sweetness of hidden manna should long for the garlic and flesh-pots of Egypt.