ashioned any more according to former lusts. Know, ye are men,--that
ye have reasonable and immortal spirits in you. Why will ye then walk as
beasts? "Understand, ye brutish! and ye fools, when will ye be wise!" But
I say more; know, ye are Christians, and this is more than to be a man,--it
is to be a divine man, one partaker of the divine nature, and who is to
walk accordingly. Christians are called to a new manner of walking, and
this walking is a fruit that comes out of the root of faith, whereby they
are implanted in Christ. You see these agree well together. Those who are
in Christ, "walk not after the flesh," &c. Walking after the flesh, is the
common walk of the world, who are without God and without Christ, but
Christ gives no latitude to such a walk. This is a new nature to be in
Christ, and therefore it must have new operations,--to walk after the
Spirit. While we look upon the conversations of the most part of men, they
may be a commentary to expound this part of the words, what it is to walk
after the flesh. "The works of the flesh," saith the apostle, Gal. v. 19,
"are manifest,"--and indeed they are manifest, because written in great
letters on the outside of many in the visible church, that who runs may
read them. Do but read that catalogue in Paul, and then come and see them
in congregations. It is not so doubtful and subtile a matter, to know that
many are yet without the verge of Christ Jesus, without the city of
refuge. You may see their mark on their brow. Is not drunkenness, which is
so frequent, a palpable evidence of this,--your envyings, revilings, wrath,
strife, seditions, fornications, and such like? O do not deceive
yourselves! There is no room in Jesus Christ for such impurities and
impieties. There is no toleration of sin within this city and kingdom.
Sinners are indeed pardoned, yea received and accepted, drunkards, unclean
persons, &c., are not excluded from entering here,--but they must renounce
these lusts, if they would stay here. Christ will not keep both,--he must
either cast out the sin, or the sinner with it, if he will not part with
it. I beseech you, know what ye walk after, the flesh is your leader, and
whither will it lead you?--O! it is sad to think on it,--to perdition, ver.
13, "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." Ye think flesh your great
friend, ye do all ye can to satisfy and please it, and, O how pleasant is
the satisfaction of your flesh to you! Ye think it liberty to