In the whole verse there are two entire propositions, containing a double antithesis, the one in their subjects, the other in their predicates. And this opposition is the highest and greatest that is beneath eternal blessedness, and eternal ruin.
The opposite subjects, are the ' minding of the flesh/ and the ' minding of t!ic Spirit / or the being ' carnally minded,' and 'spiritually minded.' And these two do constitute two
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states of mankind, unto the one of which every individual person in the world doth belong. And it is of the highest concernment unto the souls of men, to know whether of them they appertain unto. As unto the qualities ex- pressed by the flesh and the Spirit, there may be a mixture of them in the same persons at the same time ; there is so in all that are reaenerate. For in them • the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit lusteth against the flesh, and these are contrary ;' Gal. v. 17. Thus difi^erent contrary actings in the same subject constitute not distinct states. But where either of them is predominant or hath a preva- lent rule in the soul, there it makes a different state. This distinction of states, the apostle expresseth, ver. 9. ' But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.' Some are ' in the flesh, and cannot please God,' ver. 8. they ' are after the flesh,' ver. 5. they ' walk after the flesh,' ver. 1. they ' live after the flesh,' ver. 13. This is one state. Others 'are in the Spirit,' ver. 9. ' after the Spirit,' ver. 5. ' walk after Spirit,' ver. 1. This is the other state. The first sort are carnally minded, the other are spiritually minded. Unto one of these doth every living man belong, he is under the ruling conduct of the flesh or of the Spirit; there is no middle state; thouo-h there are different deo;rees in each of these as to good and evil.
The difl^erence between these two states i ; great, and the distance in a manner infinite, because an eternity in blessedness or misery doth depend upon it. And this at present is evidenced by the different fruits and effects of the principles and their operations which constitute these different states ; which is expressed in the opposition that is between the predicates of the proposition ; for the mind- ing of the flesh is death; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace.
'To be earn, lly minded is death.' Death, as it is ab- solutely penal, is either spiritual or eternal. The first of these it is formally, the other meritoriously. It is formally death spiritual ; ' for they that are carnally minded, are dead in trespasses and sins;' Eph. ii. 1. 'For those who fulfil the desires of the flesh and of the mind, are by nature children of wrath,' ver. 3. are penally under the power of spiritual death. 'They are dead in sins and the uncircum- cision of the flesh;' Col. ii. 13. And it is death eternal.
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meritoriously. ' For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die,' Rom. viii. 13. as * the wages of sin is death;' chap. vi. 23.
The reason why the apostle denounces so woful a doom, so dreadful a sentence on the carnal mind, he declares in the two next verses : ' For the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject unto the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.' If it be thus with the carnal mind, it is no wonder that to be carnally minded is death ; it is not meet it should be any thing else. That which is enmity against God is under the curse of God.
In opposition hereunto it is affirmed, that ' to be spiritu- ally minded,' or the minding of the Spirit, ' is life and peace.' And these are the things which we are particularly to in- quire into ; namely. What is this minding of the Spirit ; and then, How it is life and peace.
1. The Spirit in this context is evidently used in a double sense, as is usual where both the Holy Spirit himself, and his work on the souls of men, are related unto. 1. The person of the Spirit of God himself, or the Holy Ghost is intended by it : ver. 9. ' If so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.' And so also ver. 11. 'The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead.' He is spoken of as the principal efficient cause of all the spiritual mercies and be- nefits here and afterward insisted on. 2. It is used for the principle of spiritual life wrought in all that are reo-e- nerate by the Holy Ghost. ' For that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ;' John iii. 6.
It is most probable that the name Spirit is here used in the latter sense, not for the Spirit himself, but for that which ' is born of the Spirit,' the principle of spiritual life in them that are born of God. For it is in its nature, actino-s, in- clinations, and operations, opposed unto the flesh, ver. 1. 4, 5. But the flesh here intended is that inherent corrupt principle of depraved nature, whence all evil actions do pro- ceed, and wherewith the actions of all evil men are vitiated. The opposition between them is the same with that men- tioned and declared by the apostle. Gal. v. 17, 18, Sec. Wherefore the Spirit in this place is the holy vital prin- ciple of new obedience wrought in the souls of believers by the Holy Ghost, enabling them to live unto God.