CONFIRMED CHRISTIAN. 499 mover of sedition among the people, and a ringleader of a sect, and a profaner of the temple; (Acts xxiv. 5, 6.) and which of the prophets and apostles did they not persecute? Because Christ's doctrine doth cross the interest of selfish men, therefore the world doth so generally rise up against it with indignation, .even as a country;will rise against an invading enemy ; for he cometh to take away that which is dearest to them ; as it is said of Luther, that he meddled with the pope's crown, and the friars' bellies ; and there- fore no wonder if they swarmed all about his eats. Selfishness is so general and deeply rooted, that (except with a few self-denying saints) self-love and self-interest rule the world. And if you would know how to please a graceless man, serve but his carnal . interest, and you have done it : be of his opinion, (or take on you to be so,) applaud hire, admire him, flatter him, obey him, promote his preferment, honor and wealth, be against his enemies ; in a. word, make him" your god, and sell your soul to gain his favor, and so it is possible you may gain it. XVI. 1. AChristian indeed bath so far mortified the flesh, and brought all his senses and appetites into subjection to sanctified reason, as that there is no . great. rebellion or perturbation in his mind; but a little matter, a holy thought, or a word from God, Both presently rebuke and quiet his inordinate desires. The flesh is as a well-broken and well-ridden horse, that goeth, on his jour- ney, obediently and quietly, and not with striving, and chafing, and vexatious resisting: though still flesh will be flesh, and will be weak, and will fight against. the Spirit, so that we cannot do all the good we would; .(Isa. v. 17. Rom. vii. 16, 17, lac.) yet in the, confirmed Christian, it is so' far tamed and subdued, that its rebel- lion is much less, and its resistance weaker, and more easily over- come: it causeth not any notable unevenness in his obedience, nor blemishes in his life : it is no other than consisteth with a readiness to obey the will of God ;, Gal. v. 24, 25. 1 Cor. ix. 26, 27. They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof: they run not as uncertainly ; they fight not as one that beateth the air ;,but they keep under.their bodies, and bring them into subjection, lest by any means they should be cast- aways. They put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provis- ion for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof;" Rom. xiii: 13, 14. As we see, to a temperate man, how sweet and easy temperance is, when, toa glutton, or drunkard, or riotous liver, it is exceeding hard, , so it is in all other points with a confirmed Christian. , He hath so far crucified the flesh, that it is as dead to its former lusts ;. and so far mastered it, that it dóth easily and quickly yield,. And this maketh the life of such a Christian not only pure, but very easy to him, in comparison of other mep:s : nay,, more than this, he can
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