DIRECTIONS HOW TO LEAD' &C. most devouring tyrant, if thou suffer it to have what it unreasonably desires ; and it is as a blunted knife, if thou unjustly deny.it what is necessary to its sup- port.. When we consider how frequently men offend on both extremes, and how few use their bodies aright, we cannot wonder if they be much hindered in their converse with heaven. Most men are slaves to their appetite, and can scarce deny any thing to the flesh, and are therefore willingly carried by it to their sports, or profits, or vain companions, when they should raise their minds to God and heaven. As you love your souls, "make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof;(u) but remember, " to be carnally minded is death ; because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Therefore, brethen, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live.(w) There are a few, who much hinder their. heavenly joy, by deny- ing the body its necessaries, and so making it unable to serve them : if such wronged their flesh only, it would be no great matter; but they wrong their souls also ; as he that spoils the house injures the inhabitants. When the body is sick, and the spirits languish, how heavenly do we move in the thoughts and joys of heaven ! (u) Rom. xiii. 14. (w) Rom. viii. 6--8, 12, 13,
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