14 OF SPIRITUAL MINDENESS. containing a double antithesis, the one in their sub- jects, the other in their predicates. And this opposi- tion is the highest and greatest, that is, between eter- nal blessedness, and eternal ruin. The opposite subjects, are the minding of the flesh, and the minding of the spirit; or the being carnally minded, and spiritually minded. And these two do constitute two states of mankind, unto the one of which every individual person in the world doth belong. And it is of the highest concernment unto the souls of men, to know unto which of them they appertain. As unto the qualities expressed by the flesh and the spirit, there may be a mixture of them in the same per- sons at the same time ; there is so in all that are re- generate. For in them the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit lusteth against the flesh, and these are contrary. Gal. v. 17. Thus different con- trary actings in the same subject constitute not distinct states. But where either of them is predominant, or hath a prevalent rule in the soul, there it makes a dif- ferent state. This distinction of states, the apostle expresseth, v. 9. c But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit.' Some are in the flesh, and cannot please God, v. 8. They are after the flesh v. 5. they walk after the flesh, v. 1. they live after the flesh v. 13. This is one state. Others are in the spirit, v. 9. after the spirit, v. 5. walk after the spirit, v. 1. This is the other state. The first sort are carnally minded, the other are spirit- ually minded. Unto one of these, doth every living mansbelong ; he is under the ruling conduct of the flesh, or of the spirit; there is no middle state; though there are different degress in each of these as to good and evil. The difference between these two states is great,
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