Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations,…

By flesh here, understand the corruption of nature by original sin, and the sinful motions thereof; by spirit, not the soul, or natural spirit of man, but the Spirit of God in man, viz. those graces in men which are the workmanship of the Spirit, and therefore called by his name. The opposition betwixt these two is expressed by lusting (i. e.) desiring the mutual ruin and destruction of each other; for even when they are not acting, yet then they are lusting, there is an opposite disposition against each other; which opposition is both a formal and an effective opposition. There are two contrary forms to men in every Saint, Col. 3. 9, 10. From hence an effective opposition must needs follow, for as things are in their natures and principles, so they are in their operations and effects▪ workings always follow beings; fire and water are of contrary qualities, and when they meet, they effectively oppose each other. Sin and grace are so opposite, that if sin should cease to oppose grace, it would cease to be sin; and if grace should not oppose sin, ⟨p. 117⟩it would cease to be grace. And this doth much more endanger the work of grace, than any other enemy it hath; because it works against it more inwardly, constantly, and advantageously, than any thing else can do. (1) More inwardly; for it hath its being and working in the same soul where grace dwells, yea, in the self same fame faculties, so that is not only sets one faculty against another, but the same faculty against it self, the understanding against the understanding, and the will against the will, so that ye cannot do the good, nor yet the evil that ye would; not the good that ye would, because when the spirit moves to good, and beats upon the heart by divine pulsations, exciting it to duty, the flesh crosses and opposes it there; and if it cannot totally hinder the performance of a duty, yet it lames the soul upon the working hand, whereby the performance is not so spiritual, free and composed, as it desires; nor yet the evil that you would commit, if grace were not there, because when lust stirs in its first motions, grace puts a rub in its way. How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Gen. 39. 9. And if it cannot (which for the most part it doth) hinder the acting of sin, yet it so engages the will against it, that it is not committed with complacency and full consent,