180 CORRUPTION OR DEPRAVATION the scent And chace whiéh they so eagerly pursue in dif- ferent tracts, and paths innumerable. Something they would attain or arrive unto, which should satisfy their minds, and fill their desires. And this commonly be- fore they have-had any great consideration of the pro- posals of the gospel, they suppose themselves-at least in the way unto, by those little tastes of satisfaction unto their lusts, which they have obtained in the ways of the world. And these hopeful beginnings they will not fore- go. Isa. lvii. 10. " Thou art wearied in the greatness of thyway; yet saidst thou not, there is no hope; a thou hast found the life of thine hand, therefore thou west not grieved." They are ready oft-times to faint in the pursuit of their lusts, because of the disappoint- ments which they find in them, or the evils that attend them. For which way soever they turn themselves in their course, they cannot but see, or shrewdly suspect, that the end of them is, or will be vanity and vexation of spirit. But yet they give not overthe pursuit where- in they are engaged; they say not, there is no hope. And the reason hereof is, because they find the life of their hand. Something or other comes in daily, either from the work that they do, or the company they 'keep, or the expectation they have,' which preserves their hope alive, and makes them unwilling to forego their present condition. They find it to be none of the best, but do not think there can be a better. And therefore their only design is to improve or to thrive in it. If they might obtain more mirth, more wealth, more strength and health, more assurance of their lives, more power, more honour, more suitable objects unto their sensual desires, then they suppose it would be better than it is; hut as for any thing which differeth from these in the whole kind, they can entertain no respect for it. In this state and condition, spiritual things, the spiritual mysterious things of the gospel, are proposed unto them. At first view they judge that these things will not assist them inthe pursuit or improvementof their carnal satis- factions. And so far they are in the right, they judge . not amiss. The things of the gospel will give neither countenance nor help to the lusts of men. Nay, it is no hard matter for them to come to a discovery, that the gospel being admitted in the power of it, will cru- cify and mortify those corrupt affections, which hitherto they have been given up to the pursuit of. For this it plainly declares, Col. iii. 1, 2, 3, h, 5. Tit. ii. 11, 12. , Sect. 54.There arebut two things, wherein men seeking after contentment and satisfaction are concern- ed. First, the objects of their lusts or desires, and then those lusts and desires themselves. The former may be considered in their own nature, so they are indifferent, or as they are capable of being abused to corrupt and sinful ends. In the first way, as the gospel condemns them not, so it adds nothing to them unto those by whom it is received. It gives not men more riches, wealth, or honour, than they had before in the world. It promises no such thing unto them that do receive it, but rather the contrary. The latter consideration of them, it condemns and takes away. And for the de- sires of men themselves, the avowed work of the gospel is to mortify them. And hereby the naturally corrupt relation which is between these desires and their ob- jects, is broken and dissolved. The gospel leaves men, unless upon extraordinary occasions, their names, their reputations, their wealth, their honours, if lawfully ob- tained and possessed. But the league that is between the mind and these things in all natural men must be broken. They most no more be looked on as thechief- est good, or in the place thereof; nor as the matter of satisfaction, but must give place to spiritual, unseen, e- ternal things. This secretly alienates the carnal mind, and a prejudice is raised against it, as that which would deprive the soul of all its present satisfaction, and offers nothing in the room of them that is suitable to any of its desires or affections. For by reason of the dark- ness thatit is under the power of, it can neither discern the excellency of the spiritually and heavenly things which are proposed unto it, nor have any affections whereunto they are proper and suited, so that the soul should go forth after.them. Hereby this prejudice be- comes invincible in their souls. They neither do, nor can, nor will admit of those things which are utterly in- consistent with all things wherein they hope or look for satisfaction. And men do but please themselves with dreams and fancies, who talk of such a reasonableness and excellency in gospel-truths, as that the mind of a natural man will discern such a suitableness in themunto itself, so as thereon to receive and embrace them. Nor do any, for the most part, give a greater evidence of theprevalency of the darkness and enmity, that is in car- nal minds against the spiritual things of the gospel, as to their life and power, than those who most pride and please themselves in stich discourses.
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