The Life of Faith, and the Life of Sense, are the two ways ⟨p. 49⟩that all the world do walk in, to the two extremely different ends, which appear when death withdraws the veil. It is the ordination of God, that mens own estimation, choice and endeavours, shall be the necessary preparative to their Fruition. Nemo nolens bonus aut beatus est. Men shall have no better than they value, and choose, and seek: Where earthly things are highest in the esteem, and dearest to the mind of man, such persons have no higher, nor more durable a portion. Where the heavenly things are highest and dearest to the soul, and are practically preferred, they are the portion of that soul. Where the Treasure is, the heart will be, Matth. 6.21. The sanctifying spirit doth lead the spiritual man, by a spiritual Rule, in a spiritual way, to a spiritual, glorious, durable felicity. The sensual part, with the sensual inclination communicated to the corrupted mind and will, doth by carnal reasonings, and by carnal means, pursue and embrace a present, fading, carnal interest: and therefore it findeth and attaineth no more. The fl•sh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, Gal. 5.17. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh▪ but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit▪ To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. If we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if by the spirit we mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. Rom. 8. to v. 14. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap everlasting life, Gal. 6.7, 8. As a man is, so he loveth and desireth; as he desireth, he seeketh; and as he seeketh, he findeth and possesseth. If you know which world, what riches a man prefers, intends, and liveth for, you may know which world is his inheritance, and whither he is going as to his perpetual abode.
The Life of Faith, and the Life of Sense, are the two waies ⟨p. 49⟩that all the world do walk in, to the two extreamly different ends, which appear when death withdraws the veil. It is the ordination of God, that mens own estimation, choice and endeavours, shall be the necessary preparative to their Fruition. Nemo nolens bonus aut beatus est. Men shall have no better than they value, and chuse, and seek: Where earthly things are highest in the esteem, and dearest to the mind of man, such persons have no higher, nor more durable a portion. Where the heavenly things are highest and dearest to the soul, and are practically preferred, they are the portion of that soul. Where the Treasure is, the heart will be, Matth. 6.21. The sanctifying spirit doth lead the spiritual man, by a spiritual Rule, in a spiritual way, to a spiritual, glorious, durable felicity. The sensual part, with the sensual inclination communicated to the corrupted mind and will, doth by carnal reasonings, and by carnal means, pursue and emb•ace a present, fading, carnal interest: and therefore it findeth and attaineth no more. The fl•sh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, Gal. 5.17. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh▪ but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit▪ To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. If we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if by the spirit we mortifie the deeds of the body, we shall live. Rom. 8. to v. 14. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap everlasting life, Gal. 6.7, 8. As a man is, so he loveth and desireth; as he desireth, he seeketh; and as he seeketh, he findeth and possesseth. If you know which world, what riches a man prefers, intends, and liveth for, you may know which world is his inheritance, and whither he is going as to his perpetual abode.
