body may be concerned as an inftrument in the exe. cution of them. The flesh then, fignifying the corrupt principle, and the body acting in concert with it; by the fpirit is meant the new ftate of the mind, and its confequent actings in and by the body, as we ftand: related to Go D, and one another. 3. And forafmuch as the 17th verse represents flesh and spirit acting in the fame foul, and ftriving for the maftery; the 19th verfe is defcriptive of a person wholly in the flesh, without any the leaft mixture of of grace; and, by parity of reafon, the 22d verfe exhibits a state wholly fpiritual or free from evil, which in its initiation, progrefs, and consumation, may be thus defined: It is that transforming, quickning, work of God's fpirit; which begins, carrieson, and completes God's image in us.. 4. It begins in a fight or conviction of the fallen ftate, efpecially of outward fin. And generally in convincing of fin, the spirit ufeth the law as the coun terpart of the finner's conduct, applying the violatedprecept to his understanding, feting his fins in array before him, caufing them to pafs through or over his mind, and giving as keen and clear a sense of them as though but newly committed: A neceffary effect of which is, the confcience being awakened, and the finfulness of fin clearly defcerned, the confcious fin-ner is pronounced guilty, and fentenced to eternak death. And this fentence is fo clear and full, and born with fo convincing and powerful evidence, that the convict is left without excufe, and obliged to acquiefce in it as right, as what he deferves for what he hath done. And having no works or merit of his own to > pleadi P. 3. plead to reconcile him to GOD, his only refuge is a crucified Saviour, on whom by the help of the convincing fpirit, he is enabled to believe; when conviction iffues in converfion, the fpirit of bondage in that of adoption. 5. And being reftored to the favour of God through remiffion of fins, which accompanies the fpirit of adoption, and, in fome degree renewed in his image; the Holy Spirit, ever mindful of his charge, (his office being to fanctity) fails not to difcover the remains of an unrenewed nature, and excite defires and endeavours after more of the mind of CHRIST JESUS. 6. Wherefore, as in the preceding condition, while the foul was conflicting with a guilty confcience, the chief point of enquiry was, what it fhould do to be faved from it: And being delivered in that refpect, its prefent concern is, how to recover that purity and perfection, it now as clearly fees the want of, as before it defcerned the neceffity of divine acceptance. Hence a new war commences in the foul, nature and grace ftrongly oppofe each other, contending for their refpective rights and privileges. Nature, as the agent of Satan and prior poffeffor of the foul, reluctantly relinquifheth its charge, goeth not eafily out. And grace, as actor for CHRIST, who, by the price he has paid for the redemption of finners, has purchafed the right of poffeffion. These qualities, though incompatable in their kind, and obstructive of each other in their courfe, are notwithstanding the refident difpofitions of the foul, in the firft ftage of chriftianity. And inhering in the fame fubject, and acting in oppofition oppofition to each other; fo, though the foul is at peace with GOD, touching what is past, it is far from being at peace with itself, respecting what is prefent: For the flesh lufteth againft the fpirit, and the fpi"rit again the flesht.”. 7. Now obedience to the one of thefe different difpofitions, is difobedience to the other; and according as the one or the other is obeyed, it is proportionably encouraged and encreased: For they who walk in the fpirit, do not fulfill the defires of the flesh; as, on the contrary, he who "fows to the fiefh fhall of the flesh reap corruption*." Agreeable to which, (faith the Apostle) "if ye live after the flesh ye "shall die; but if ye through the fpirit do morti"fy the deeds of the body, ye fhall live§.” 8. Death then being the fruit of disobedience, and life the confequence of the contrary practice; it infers, that after the life of grace commences in the foul, its continuance and increase depend on a right ufe of it: And that, notwithstanding the freeness of grace, there is no reafon to expect a continuance, much less an increase of it, in a way of difobedience; whether it be by doing things forbidden, or by omiting any part of that duty, which the Almighty has made the means of grace and fpiritual improvement. Therefore fpiritual profit depending on a proper ufe of grace; proportionable to the use of it, will the increafe be. If this is not granted, there is neither fenfe in, nor use of, exhortations to diligence in duty; to Arive, to run, to fight; to watch, to pray without ceafing, to work out our falvation; to give all diligence, + Gal. v. 17. * Gal. vi. 8. § Rom. viii. 13. and and be faithful unto death, &c. Neither, without this, can life itself be confidered as a ftate of probation in reference to religion; to regain the loft image of GoD, to glorify him on earth, and be rendered. meet for the heavenly inheritance. 9. But, if fome exceptions be made to the rule of proportioning the increase of grace to the use of it, if. ever the Lord deviates from this rule by profpering an unfaithful perfon; yet it may with the greateft certainty be called his general rule: And perhaps it will be difficult, if not impoffible, to produce one inftance of confiderable improvement, which had not fome dependence on preceding faithfulness to previous bleffings. Yea, this is fo clearly revealed, and is fo congruous to the nature of the thing, that there can be no difficulty in affenting to this propofition, viz. "That " on a right use of grace in ferving GoD according "tó prefent ability, and in acting from it in order to "its increase, depends future profficiency in fpiritual "things; and according to the degree of faithfulness in the ufe of grace, the increase is proportioned." As a confirmation of this, the fcriptures affert, that; the faithful increafed their talents; and teftify, that the unfaithful did not fo. Moreover, they add, that: ❝to every one who hath hall.be given, and he fh:ll, "have abundance; but from him that hath not fhall "Le taken away, even that which he hath." Which evidences, that every one who is faithful in the ufe of little, or that which he hath, fhall receive more; and that the unfaithful fhall be deprived of that which they have, 10. Seeing then that faithfulness to grace is the hinge on which profperity turns, it infers, that if the method prefcribed by our Lord for a fupply of fpiritual wants be complied with, fuccefs is fure. And being eafy of accefs, comporting with the meaneit capacity, and within the compafs of every one's power, where there is any, the lealt degree of grace; therefore according to the ufe or abufe of it, will the conditions of men be. If it be obeyed, bleflings will be given; if not, they will be withheld. The prefcription is this: "Which of you (faith JESUS) fhall have a friend, "and fhall go unto him at midnight, and fay unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves: And he from "within fhall anfwer and fay, Trouble me not; the "door is fhut, and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rife and give thee. I fay unto you, though "he will not rife and give him because he is his "friend; yet becaufe of his importunity he will rife "and give him as many as he needeth*.' Here, where friendship, the general inducement to do good, fails; importunity, urging the petition, prevails. This prevalent method our Lord transfers to, and recommends, as it concerns the foul, by adding, "And "I fay unto you, afk, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye fhall find; knock, and it fhall be opened." The fuccessfulness of which method he afcertains, by faying, "For every one that afketh, receiveth; and "he that feeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, "it shall be opened." And as it is impoffible for GoD to lie, fo if his love to mankind, through CHRIST, were no greater, no more to be depended on than that of a common friend; which, in refpect of doing good, was not proof againft the difficulties of its being midnight, *Luke xi. 5. &c, |