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PART I.

GRACE AND DUTY

OF BEING

SPIRITUALLY MINDED.

ROMANS VIII. 6.

BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE.

CHAPTER I.

The words of the text explained.

In

THE expression in our translation sounds differently from that in the original. To be spiritually minded, say we. In the original it is φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος; as that in the former part of the verse is φρόνημα τῆς cagnós; which we render to be carnally minded. the margin we read, the minding of the flesh and the minding of the Spirit. And there is great variety in the rendering of the words in all translations, both ancient and modern. The wisdom, the understanding, the mind, the thought or contrivance, the discretion of the spirit, that which the spirit savoureth, are used to express it. All our English translations, from Tindal's, the first of them, have constantly used, to be spiritually minded. Neither do I know any words by which the emphasis of the original, considering the design of the apostle in this place, can be better expressed. But the meaning of the Holy Ghost in them must be farther inquired into.

In the whole verse there are two entire propositions, containing a double antithesis, the one in their subjects, the other in their predicates. And this opposition is

the highest and greatest that is between eternal 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 constitute two states of mankind, to the one of which every individual person in the world doth belong. And it is of the highest concern to the souls of men, to know to which of them they appertain. As to the qualities expressed by the flesh and the Spirit, there may be a mixture of them in the same persons at the same time: there is so in all that are regenerate. For in them the "flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit lusteth against the flesh, and these are contrary." Thus different contrary actings in the same subject, do not constitute distinct states. But where either of them is predominant, or hath a prevalent rule in the soul, there it makes a different state. This distinction of states, the apostle expresseth, v. 9. "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 The first sort are carnally minded, the other are spiritually minded. To one of these doth every living man belong: he is under the ruling conduct of the flesh or of the Spirit; there is no middle state, though there are different degrees in each of these, as to good and evil.

state.

And

The difference between these two states is great, and the distance in a manner infinite, because an eternity of blessedness or misery depends upon it. this at present is evidenced by the different fruits and effects of the principles and their operations which constitute these different states; which is expressed in the opposition that is between the predicates of the proposition; for the minding of the flesh is death; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace.

1. To be carnally minded is death. Death, as it is

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