508 CHARACTER OF A SOUND, and pressed-1 toward the mark, for the prize of the high callingof God in Christ Jesus " not turning an eye to any thing that would stop him in his course. Thus, while he is employed about things below, his mind and conversation are heavenly and divine, while all things are estimated and used purely for God and heaven ; Luke xvi. 1, 2. 1 Pet. iv. 10. Tit. i. 15. Prov. xxx. 8. 1 Tim. vi. 6.8. James iv. 3. Rom. xiii. 14. Phil. iii. 13-15. 2. But the weak Christian, thoughhe have , all this in desire, and be thus affected 'and resolved in the main, and liveth to God in the scope and course of his life, yet is too often looking aside, and valuing the creature carnally for itself; and ófttimes useth it for the pleasing of the flesh, and almost like a common man : his house and land, and friends, and pleasures, are relished too carnally, as his own accommodations; and though he walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, yet he hath too much of the fleshly taste, and is greatly out in his accounts with God ; and turneth many a thing from his Master's use to the servicefthe flesh ; and thoughhe be not as the slothful, wicked servant, yet is it but little improvement' that he maketh of his talent; Matt. xxv. 17. 26-28. 3. But the seeming Christian being carnal and selfish, while his notions and professions are spiritual and divine, and his selfish and fleshly interest being predominant, it must needs follow that he es- timateth all things principally as they respect his fleshly interest, and useth them principally for his carnal self, even when in the manner he seemeth to use themmost religiously; (as I have said before ;) and so to the defiled nothing is pure ; Rom. viii. 5 -8. 13. Tit. i. 15. XXII. 1. A Christian indeed bath a promptitude to obey, and a ready, compliance of his will to the will of God'. He hath not any great 'averseness and withdrawing, and doth not the good which he doth with much backwardness and striving against it; but as in a well-ordered watch or clock, the spring or pòise doth easily set all the wheels a going, and the first wheel easily moveth the rest ; so is the will of a confirmed Christian presently moved, as soon as he knoweth the will of God. He stayeth not for other moving reasons; God's will is his reason. This is the habit of subjection and obedience, which makes him say, "Speak,' Lord, for thy servant heareth ; " and "Lord, what wouldst thou have me do? " And " Teachme to do thy will, OGod ; "' Psal. cxliii. 10. 1 Sam. iii. 10. Acts ix. 6. "I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law is within my heart ;" Psal. xl. 8. The " law written in 'our heart " is nothing else but theknowledge of God's laws, with this habit or promptitude to obey them ; the special fruit of' the Spirit of grace. 2. But a weak Christian, though he love God's will and way,
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