SERMON IV. 53 answer to these questions, by making an inward enquiry into ourselves, according to the three descriptions of flesh and spirit. First, What are our chiefaims and desires ? Are they bent to gratify the appetites of the flesh, and set upon sensual enjoy, ments ? Or do we seek and pursue spiritual and eternal things, as our most valuable and lovely portion ? What is our chief treasure ?- Where are our hearts and our hopes ? Are they wandering amongst heaps of gold and silver, roving over fair and large estates, entertaining themselves with gay cloathing, honours, and vanities ? Or. are they pointing upwards, and directed towards God, the first and best of beings ; and fixed on the blessedness of the spiritual world. Is our chief concern to make provisionfor thefesh and this life, or to secure an inherit- ance for our souls among the incorruptible glories of the upper world? What is it that sits highest in our esteem, and awakens our warmest affections and brightest joys ? Is it God or the creature, heaven or earth, things fleshly or invisible? Letcon- science befaithful, and answer to such inquiries. Again, let us ask ourselves, have we nothing within us but what was derived from nature and the flesh? or do we find ourselves enriched with divine graces by the influence of the Holy Spirit ? Are we the same sort of creatures that we were born? or have we had a mighty change wrought in us, so that we can find inourselves that we are born again, born of the spirit ? Have we new love andnew hatred, new designs and pursuits, new joys and sorrows ? or are theaffections of our souls the same that we brought into the world with us, and engaged chiefly about the affairs of this body, and this temporal life? Let us enquire, in the third place whether there be any opposition made by our spirits' against fleshly passions and appe- tites ? Let every oneof us ask our souls, What inward conflict do I find in myself ? Do I comply with all the sinful tendencies of fleshly nature, or do I maintain a continual resistance ? Is there a combat, and, asit were, a duel within me, when tempta- tions present themselves? or am I easily led away, and 'yield to sinnaturally, without any reluctance? Do I find my flesh and spirit atwar within me, when any sensual allurements appear? or do I yield up all my powers as servants to sin, and comply with the lusts of the flesh, with a hearty delight? Am I like a dead fish 'carried down with the stream of my appetites and passions, and makeno pretences to oppose the vicious current? If, upon this enquiry, I findthat the flesh is sovereign, and the spirit never opposes it, I may pronounce myself then to be in the flesh, in the most significant and complete manner : then I have nothing but flesh in me, and my soul is, as it were, carnalized, and deep immersed in the fleshly life. r 3
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