repentance will now occupy his mind; and the Lord Jesus Christ will be endeared to him as the Saviour of the world. There will be between him and the carnal man the same difference as existed between the whole and the sick in the days of our Lord. The whole beheld him with mere curiosity : the sick flocked around him with a determination to obtain, if possible, the healing of their diseases. The spiritual man is in pursuit of heaven, as begun on earth, and perfected in glory : and, like a man in a race, or in a conflict, he engages with all his might, if by any means he may obtain the prize of his high calling. Even in his earthly engagements he bears in mind his great object, and endeavours to make even temporal pursuits subservient to his attainment of it. He considers his responsi- bility to God, and acts in every thing with a reference to his great account.]
But, that we may render the distinction between the two characters more clear, it will be proper to consider them,
II. In a combined and contrasted view —
Take both the characters, and consider them,
1. In their judgment —
[A carnal man may feel a general approbation of religion ; but he does not regard it as of paramount importance. What he allows to religion, he rather concedes from necessity, than claims as its unquestionable due. He will conform to religion so far as his temporal interests will admit of it : but where the two come seriously in competition with each other, the world will have a decided preponderance in its favour. The good opinion of men will limit his exertions for God ; and the attain- ment of some earthly object be prosecuted in preference to the best interests of his soul. To attend to the interests of time and sense will be esteemed by him as of the first necessity ; and his spiritual welfare will be subordinated to it.
The spiritual man, on the other hand, will decidedly declare himself on the side of God and of religion. He will not neglect his earthly duties ; for he considers them as a part of his duty to God : but if any thing earthly stand in competition with what is heavenly, he hesitates not to which he shall give the preference. The things of time and sense are in his eyes but as the dust upon the balance, in comparison of the things which are invisible and eternal : and in the contemplation of his God and Savioui', he gives this as the deliberate judgment of his mind, " Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee."]
2. In their will —
[The will of man, for the most part, is determined by his