The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

5. Improve your talents and opportunities in your callings as Believers; especially you that are Governors. God is the original and end of Government. The highest are but his ministers, Rom. 13.6. This world is but the way unto another. Things seen are for things unseen: And Government is to order them to that end: Especially by terrifying evil doers, and by promoting holiness in the earth. The Moral as well as the Natural motion of inferior agents, must proceed from the influence of the superior. The spring and the end of every action truly good, are out of fight. Where these are not discerned, or are ignorantly or maliciously opposed, the action is vitiated, and tendeth to confusion and ruin. God is the end of all holy actions; and carnal self is the end of sin. If God and self are infinitely distinct; you may easily see that the actions materially the same, that are intended to such distant ends, must needs be very distant. Nothing but saving Faith and Holiness can conquer selfishness in the lowest of the people. But where the flesh hath more plentiful provision, and self is accommodated with the fullest contents of honour and pleasure that the world affords, how difficult a work then is self-denial! And the reign of the flesh is contrary to the reign of Christ. Where the flesh and visible things bear sway, the enemy of Christ bears sway. The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to his Law, nor can be, Rom. 8.7. And how ⟨p. 74⟩Christs enemies will receive his Laws, and use his Messengers, and regard his ways and servants, the most of the world have experience to their cost. The interest of the flesh, being contrary to Christs interest, the competition maintaineth a continual conflict. The Word of God doth seem to be against them: The faithful Ministers that would save them from their sins, do seem to wrong them, and deal too boldly with them. Were it an Elijah, he would be called, The troubler of Israel; and met with an [Hast thou found me O mine enemy] No measure of prudence, knowledge, piety, innocency, meekness or self-denial, will serve to appease the wrath and displeasure of this carnal enmity. If it would, the Apostles had escaped it: or at least it would not have fallen so furiously upon Christ himself. Nay, these are the oil that increase the flame. And Satan hath still the bellows in his hand: