SEl`IMON IV. 56 regeneration or holiness. They are led away indeed many times by sensual and fleshly allurements, but the chief objects of their pursuit are spiritual and heavenly ; they have too many of the same vain affections and sinful desires, that were born of the flesh, remaining in them ; but they have also new thoughts and hopes, newinclinations and appetitestowards divine things, which could not be derived but from heaven, and prove them to be born of the spirit. As unreasonableas it is therefore for any sincere christians -to say, they are complete in holiness, or pretend to perfection in this life, because they find a' work of grace in - them : so it is equally unreasonable for them to charge themselves with being altogether carnal and unregenerate, because they find some of the lusts of -the flesh warring in them. I would say, therefore, -with compassion to such humble and doubting souls, while you are inhabitants in flesh, and your sanctification is imperfect, you will not have perfect peace, there will ever be some enemies within, for you to conflict with; and this inward war, this battle with flesh andblood, with self and sin, will by no means prove that yeare utterly unsanctified : No, it will rather give you some reasons to hope, that there may be a principle of holinesswrought in you, because you find a resistance against the flesh; especially if you experience also a zeal andhatred against every rising ini- quity. The most holy soul-in this life, can never prevent all the motions of irregular appetite : and the best of christians have muchado to curb and suppress some sinful affections which spring from this mortal body. The chiefest of saints had reason to complainthat he was too often ledcaptive by the lawof sin in his members; Rom. vii. 23. It is true indeed, if we were completely sanctified, if our spirits were entirely holy, they would constantly and effectually resist all evilmotions and appetites ofthe flesh, so that they should not bring forth the fruits of iniquity and guilt: But where this resistance isnot always effectual, yet if it be constant andsincere, and flow from a real hatred of sin, there the heart-is renewed, and the spiritual life begun. Let trembling christians therefore be encouraged, though they may find many vexing ferments of the flesh, and disquieting passions, sometimes stirring within them ; let them not cast away their hope, but let them rather rejoice in the promises of the covenant, and go on daily to cleanse them- selves, by theaids ofdivine grace, from all filthiness offlesh and spirit, and toperfect holiness in the fear of God; 2 Cor. vii. L Remark,lll. What bold and impious folly are those guilty of, who give a loose to all the appetites and lusts of theflesh, under a pretence that it is their temper and constitution leads them to it; that it is their nature inclines them to riot. in all luxury and
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