that sin hath brought into the world, that all things in
man are so degenerated and become brutish, both his affections and his
conversation, that carnal and sensual lusts have the whole dominion over
men; I say, the serious and earnest view of this might make a man suspect
and call in question, whether or not there be any difference between men
and beasts; whether or not there may be any spirit in the one of a higher
nature than in the other? Truly, it would half persuade, that there is no
immortal spirit in man, else how could he be such a beast all his time,
"serving diverse lusts?" Can it be possible, might one think, that there
is any spirit in men, that can ascend to heaven, when there is no motion
thither to be observed among men? I beseech you, consider this,--the spirit
must either ascend or descend when it goes out of the body, as now in
affection and endeavour it ascends or descends while it is in the body.
There is an indispensable connection between these. Whatsoever the spirit
aims at, which way soever it turns and directs its flight, thither it
shall be constrained to go eternally. Do you think, my beloved, while you
are in the body, to bow down yourselves to the earth, to descend into the
service of the flesh all your time, never once seriously to rise up in the
consideration of eternity, or lift up your heads above temporal and
earthly things, and yet in the close to ascend unto heaven? No, no; do not
deceive yourselves; you must go forward. This life and eternity make one
straight line, either of ascent or descent, of happiness or misery, and
since you have bowed down always, while in the body, there is no rising up
after it. Forward you must go, and that is downward to that element, into
which you transformed your spirits, that is, the earth, or below the
earth--to hell. Your spirits have most affinity with these, and down they
must go, as a stone to the earth. But if you would desire to have your
spirits ascending up to heaven, when they are let out of this prison, the
body, take heed which way they turn. Bend and strive while here in the
body. If your strugglings be to be upward to God, if you have discovered
that blessedness which is in him, and if this be the predominant of your
spirit, that carries it upwards in desires and endeavour, and turns it off
the base study of satisfying the flesh and the base love of the world, if
thy soul be mounting aloft on these wings of holy desires of a better life