Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

XVI. 1. A Christian indeed hath so far mortified the flesh, and brought all his senses and appetite into subjection to sanctified Reason, as that there is no great rebellion or perturbation in his mind; but a little matter, a holy thought, or a word from God, doth presently rebuke and quiet his inordinate desires: The flesh is as a well-broken and well-ridden horse, that goeth on his journey obediently and quietly, and not with striving and chasing and vexatious resisting: Though still flesh will be flesh, and will be weak, and will fight against the spirit, so that we cannot ⟨p. 43⟩do all the good we would, (Isa. 5.17. Rom. 7.16, 17, &c.) yet in the confirmed Christian, it is so far tamed and subdued, that its rebellion is much less, and its resistance weaker, and more easily overcome: It causeth not any notable unevenness in his obedience, nor blemishes in his life: it is no other than consisteth with a readiness to obey the will of God. Gal. 5.24, 25. 1 Cor. 9.26, 27. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof: They run not as uncertainly: they fight not as one that beateth the air: but they keep under their bodies, and bring them into subjection, lest by any means they should be castaways: They put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Rom. 13.13, 14. As we see to a temperate man, how sweet and easy temperance is, when to a glutton or drunkard, or riotous liver it is exceeding hard: so it is in all other points with a confirmed Christian. He hath so far crucified the flesh, that it is as dead to its former lusts, and so far mastered it, that it doth easily and quickly yield: And this maketh the life of such a Christian, not only pure, but very easy to him, in comparison of other mens. Nay, more than this, he can use his sense (as he can use the world, the objects of sense) in subserviency to faith and his salvation. His eye doth but open a window to his mind to hold and admire the Creator in his work: His taste of the sweetness of the creatures is but a means, by which the sweeter Love of God doth pass directly to his heart: His sense of pleasure is but the passage of spiritual holy pleasure to his mind: His sense of bitterness and pain is but