254 COERUPTION OR DEPRAVATION [BOOK III.
reasons hereof. The mind of man by nature is wholly vain, under the power of vanity, and is an endless, fruitful womb of all monstrous births. The world is noAV growing towards six thousand years old, and yet is no nearer the bottom of the springs of its vanity, or the drawing out of its supplies, than it was the first day that sin entered into it. New sins, new vices, new vanities, break forth continually; and all is from hence, that the mind of man by nature is altogether vain. Nor is there any way or means for putting a stop hereunto in persons, families, cities, nations, but so far as the minds of men are cured and renewed by the Holy Ghost. The world may alter its shape and the ovitward appearances of things, it may change its scenes, and act its part in new habits and dresses, but it will still be altogether vain so long as natural uncured vanity is predominant in the minds of men ; and this will sufficiently secure them from attain- ing any saving acquaintance with spiritual things.
Again : It is one of the principal duties incumbent on us, to be ac- quainted with, and diligently to watch over, the remainders of this vanity in our own minds. The sinful distempers of our natures are not presently cured at once, but the healing and removing of them is carried on by degrees unto the consummation of the course of our obedience in this world. And there are three effects of this natural vanity of the mind in its depraved condition to be found among be- lievers themselves: — (1.) An instability in holy duties, as medita- tion, prayer, and hearing of the word. How ready is the mind to wander in them, and to give entertainment unto vain and fond ima- ginations, at least unto thoughts and apprehensions of things unsuited to the duties wherein we are engaged! How difficult is it to keep it up unto an even, fixed, stable frame of acting sjDiritually in spiritual things ! How is it ready at every breath to unbend and let down its intension! All we experience or complain of in this kind is from the uncured relics of this vanity. (2.) This is that which inclines and leads men towards a conformity with and unto a vain world, in its customs, habits, and ordinary converse ; which are all vain and foolish. And so prevalent is it herein, and such arguments hath it possessed itself withal to give it countenance, that in many instances of vanity it is hard to give a distinction between them and the whole world that lies under the power of it. Professors, it may be, will not comply with the world in the things before mentioned, that have no other use nor end but merely to support, act, and nourish vanit}^; but from other things, which, being iiidifferent in themselves, are yet filled with vanity in their use, how ready are many for a compli- ance with the course of the world, which lieth in evil and passeth away! _(3.)_It acts itself in fond and foolish imaginations, whereby it secretly makes provision for the flesh and the lusts thereof; for
CHAP. III.] OF THE MIND BY SIN. • 255
they all generally lead unto self-exaltation and satisfaction. And these, if not carefully checked, will proceed to such an excess as greatly to taint the whole soul. And in these things lie the prin- cipal cause and occasion of all other sins and miscarriages. We have, therefore, no more important duty incumbent on us than mightily to oppose this radical distemper. It is so, also, to attend diligently unto the remedy of it; and this consists, (1.) In a holy fixedness of mind, and an habitual inclination unto things spiritual ; which is communi- cated unto us by the Holy Ghost, as shall be afterward declared, Eph. iv. 23, 24. (2.) In the due and constant improvement of that gracious principle, — [1.] By constant v/atchfulness against the mind's acting itself in vain, foolish, unprofitable imaginations, so far at least [as] that vain thoughts may not lodge in us ; [2.] By exercising it con- tinually unto holy spiritual meditations, " minding always the things that are above," Col. iii. 2 ; [3.] By a constant, conscientious hum- bling of our souls, for all the vain actings of our minds that we do observe ; — all which might be usefully enlarged on, but that we must return.
[Secondly], The minds of men unregenerate being thus depraved and corrupted, being thus affected with darkness, and thereby being brought under the power of vanity, we may yet farther consider what other effects and consequents are on the same account ascribed unto it. And the mind of man in this state may be considered, either, — 1. As to its dispositions and inclinations; [or], 2. As to its power and actings, with respect unto spiritual, supernatural things: —
1. As to its dispositions, it is (from the darkness described) per- verse and depraved, whereby men are "alienated from the life of God," Eph. iv. 18; for this alienation of men from the divine life is from the depravation of their minds. Hence are they said to be " alienated and enemies in tlieir mind by wicked works," or by their mind in wicked works, being fixed on them and under the power of them, Col. i. 21. And that we may the better understand what is intended hereby, we may consider both what is this "life of God," and how the unregenerate mind is alienated from it: —