soul, changeth the nature and name,--it is all but
darkness and flesh in him, because the flesh hath a dominion over all
that. The clouds and vapours that arise from the flesh, bemist(166) and
obscure all these; the corruptions of the soul are most strengthened in
this sort, and most vented here. Sin is become connatural to the flesh,
and so a man, by the flesh, is ensnared and subjected to sin. Christ
comprehends all our prerogatives and endowments under this. John i. 13,
"born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh;" and Matt. xvi. 17,
"flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee." Even all the outwards of
religion, and all the common privileges of Christians may be called so.
What hath Abraham found according to the flesh? Rom. iv. 1, Phil. iii.
3;--which imports so much, that all those outward privileges, many
illuminations, and reformations, may so far consist with the corruption of
man's nature, may unite so with that, as to have one name with it. It is
not all able to conquer our flesh, but our flesh rather subdues all that,
and makes it serve itself, till a stronger than it come, even the Spirit,
to subdue it and cast it out of the house. Thus the image of God in man is
defaced; nay, the very image and nature of man, as man, spoiled. The first
creation,--sin hath marred and disordered it. Now, when this second
creation, or regeneration comes, the creature is made new, and formed
again by the powerful Spirit of Jesus Christ. This change is made, flesh
is put out of the throne, as an usurper; the spirit and soul of a man is
put in a throne above it, but placed according to its due order, under a
holy and spiritual law of God. And thus Jesus Christ is the repairer of
the breaches, and restorer of the ancient paths and old wastes, to dwell
in. Now the soul hath a new rule established to act according to, and new
principles to act from. He whose course of walking was after the corrupt
dictates and commands of his fleshly affections, and was of no higher
strain than his own sparks of nature, and acquired light would lead him
to, now he hath a new rule established,--the Spirit speaking in the word to
him, and pointing out the way to him. And there is a new principle, that
Spirit leading him in all truth, and quickening him to walk in it. Now
this is the soul's perfect liberty, to be from under the dominion of sin
and lusts; and thus the Son makes free indeed by the free Spirit. The Son
was made a servant, that we m