62 FLESI{ AND SP1YiIT, &C. ESfiRM. IV. power of flesh and sense : It is by the powers of the soul enlightened and renewed, that we corne to see the value and excellency of religion, and spiritual things above temporal ; and are inclined to chuse God for our only happiness, and Jesus Christ as the way to the Father. The understanding and will are faculties of the soul, and the flesh has no part in their operations, The soul of a believer seems to be the more proper, immediate, and receptive subject of the sanctifying influences of the Spi- rit of God ; and this will appear by consulting the; word of God, or the experiences of men. The word of God leads us very naturally into this sen- timent by its constant language. The apostle speaks in- deed in one place of being sanctified wholly, and our whole spirit, soul, and body, being preserved blame less, &c. 1 l Bess. v. 23. But he much oftener expr?essei sanctification by the renewing of the mind, Rom. xii. 2.. Renewing of the Spirit of the mind, Eph. iv. 23. Though the outward man, or body, perish, yet the in- ward man, or spirit, is renewed day by day, 2 Cor. iv. 16. And the constant language of the scripture calling sin flesh, and holiness spirit, in the saint, inirnates that there is more sin in the flesh, and more holiness in the: spirit of one that is sanctified. Thus we read in St. Paul's discourse from the 16th ver. of Romans vii. to the 25th,, where you find him all along distinguishing the flesh and the mind. By one of them he complains in a variety of expressions, that he is led away to sin, while the other of them approves and pursues afterholiness; and though the words flesh and spirit are often used for the. princi- ples of sin and holiness, yet it may be remarked, that he does not confine himself here to these terms, but uses also the words body, members, to represent sin ; in- ward man, and mind, when he points to the springs of holiness ; which would lead one very naturally to believe that there . is more sanctification in the mind or soul of a believer, and more of the occasions of sin remaining in bis. body or flesh. We may find this also in a great measure fromour own experience: We are tempted to many more sins by our various carnal appetites and senses, than by the mere in- Qlinations that belong to the mind, which are purely in- Wkiectual. There are indeed the lusts or sinful desires
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