the prevalent remainders of this Carnal-mindedness in the Lords own people unfits them for the Lords work makes them uncapable of doing it or being used in it for this keeps them from being subject to the Law of God the Rule of the Lord by which he will square his work which he hath said he will Magnify and make Honorable Isa 42.21 By this we come to Dye and to be Dead to the Work of God If we would live to the Work of the Lord we must be Spiritually minded to be spiritual minded is Life and Peace ver 6. this is that must enable Jacob to take root and Israel to blossome and bud and fill the Face of the World with fruit Carnal-mindedness is Death to Jacob by it he becomes as a withered branch bringing forth no fruit to the Lord for while he is in that mind he is not neither can he be subject to the Law of his Work This Carnality of spirit respects either Natural worldly flesh as Paul tels us Rom. 8. minding the things of the flesh this world and the good things thereof which are not of the Father but of the VVorld for all that is in the VVorld The lust of the flesh the lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but of the World which whosoever loves the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.15 16. of which the Apostle Paul saith the world is crucified to me and I unto the world Gal. 6.14 otherwise he could not have been an Apostle of Christ Or it respects Religious flesh such a frame of Spirit in matters of Religion and Worship as is Fleshly and Carnal The more gross of this Sort the Apostle Paul complains of as those that would make a fair shew in the Flesh that they might glory in the Flesh and that to this unworthy end to avoid persecution for the Crosse of Christ Gal. 6.12 13. But saith he God forbid that I should Glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world ver 14. This was Pauls frame of spirit and such only are fit Christians for Christs service There are a more refined sort of these Carnal-minded Christians to cure whom the Apostle Paul takes a a great deal of pains in his three first Chapters of his first Epistle to the Corrinthians to the 8th verse of the fourth Chapter These Corinthians were Christians of such a high pitch of such high attainments as the Apostle saith of them In every thing ye are enriched in all Utterance and in all Knowledge so that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Notwithstanding all this they are yet Carnal I could not saith he speak unto you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal for ye are yet Carnal See what Fruit this Carnal frame of Spirit brought forth in these Corinthians and then we shall know what it is to be Carnal to be a Carnal Christian 1. PRIDE Proud boasting of their attainments a puffing up in the conceit of their own Opinion to be more truth and higher truth than others vainly glorying in that wherein they differ'd from others as if they received it not but had it of themselves and from themselves exalting themselves above their Brethren as full and rich reigning as Kings looking upon themselves as wise as strong as honorable whilst others yea Apostles themselves are accounted foolish and weak and are despised and that by themselves judged of of them This the Apostle tells them of and rebukes them for Chap. 4.3 6 7 8 and 10. verses A Spiritual mind would never have brought such Fruit but this was the fruit of their Carnallity by this Carnal wisdom the Apostle tels them they deceived themselves if we will indeed become wise we must deny our selves in this and become fools that we may be wise this is but the worlds wisdom which is vain and foolish with the Lord therefore let none glory with this glorying Chapt. 3.18 19 20 21. verses 2. ENVY I am for Paul saith one I am for Appollo saith another and he envies him that is for Paul I am for Caephas saith another and he envies the rest I But I am for Christ saith another and he Envies all because they are more for men than for Christ as he thinks I am for this saith one and I am for that saith another and he envies his Brother because he differs from him because he is not of his Opinion of his Judgement of his way not considering that what he hath is but received from another and therefore he hath not whereof to glory nor to exult over his Brother much less should he envy him while enviously one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not Carnal 3. STRIFE These several parties Strive against each other for their Opinions those things wherein they differ from each other which of them should be most received and honoured as the ritchest truth as the highest attainment Striving and contending about whose Parts and Gifts are most deserving and worthy of honour to be followed after and hearkned to 4. DIVISIONS Chapt. 1.11 12. and Chap. 3.3 4. verses It hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them which are of the house of Cloe that there are contentions among you Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Caephas and I of Christ ye are yet Carnal for whereas there is among you Envy and Strife and Division are ye not Carnal and walk as Men For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not Carnal The Apostle blames them not for being for Paul or for Apollo or for Caephas or for Christ or for being for them all for saith he Let men so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God Chap. 4.1 we are to be accounted of you ought to honour us as such But in this they were blame-worthy in this they transgressed that they were Enviously Dividingly Factiously for one against another and he that is thus for Christ Sins as well as he that is so for the Ministers of Christ his being for Christ will not excuse him while he is in this Frame and Temper of Spirit Are not these things a knowing Men and Christ after the flesh of which the Apostle tels these very Corinthians they for their parts they Apostles would not be guilty Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the Flesh yea though we have known Christ after the Flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 The Flesh profiteth nothing It s the Spirit that quickneth John 16.63 This Fruit a Carnal mind brings forth those who are Spiritual as Paul and others brought forth better Fruit giving every one their Due Christ his Due and his
Ministers their Due and every member of the Body its Due notwithstanding the Differences wherein every Member Differed from another by this keeping the Body perfectly joined together Paul being Spiritual tells them he planted and Apollo watered but God gave the increase and that neither he that planteth nor he that watereth is any thing but God is all he is to have the honour of all Chap. 3.6 7. He tells them also that Christ cannot be Divided he is not for those that are for Apollo more than for them that are for Paul nor for any party of them in contradiction to the rest though by this their Carnal Spirit they would Divide him into Parts and Parties He tels them further that they were to be only for him who was crucified for them and into whose Name they were Baptized This is the true import of the words Chap. 1.13 and 15. verses 5. VVALKING LIKE MEN Are ye not Carnal and walk as Men the works of the Flesh of the fleshly Man of the Men of the VVorld are Hatred Variance Emulation VVrath Strife Sedition Envy and such like Gal. 5.19 20 21. Now while we walk thus Carnally we walk like Men such Men the Men of the world not as Christians as those that are Spiritual that have the Spirit of Christ in them For they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts thereof if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another 24 25 26. verses 6. UNFITNESS to receive such Truths a making them not able to bear such discoveries of God and Christ and his Glory as Christ hath given him from the Father to discover unto and bestow upon his People I could not speak unto you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto Babes in Christ I have fed you with Milk and not with Meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able for ye are yet Carnal Chap. 3.1 2 3. These Corinthians that were enriched in all utterance and all knowledge that came behind in no gift are yet Carnal which hinders them that they cannot as the Apostles did with open face behold as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and be as they were changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 No by this Carnality of mind they become as Babes not able to bear strong meat and so not fit for strong work that VVork which to enable his people to do it s absolutely necessary that the Lord give unto them such a full and large discovery of himself as this Carnality of spirit will not admit them to receive From these things Obs 1. This Carnality of Spirit bringing forth these Fruits is such a Distemper as the Highest Christians Christians of the Richest attainments that are enriched in every thing yea waiting for the coming of the Lord are too much and too too often troubled with to the great unhappiness of their own Souls hindring the Work of the Lord that is to be done in them and by them Of this Sort were those whom the Author to the Hebrews rebukes VVhen for the time ye ought to be Teachers ye need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of Milk and not of strong meat Heb. 5.12 Obs 2. This Carnality of Spirit opposes not Gifts but Grace All Gifts all Utterance all Knowledge may be in a Christian together with this Carnality So that Christians may think themselves fully prepared to meet the Lord be waiting for his coming and be yet Carnal But it hinders receiving of Grace it keeps them from being of and submitting to such a frame of Spirit as is absolutely necessary to enable them to grow from Glory to Glory to follow Christ whithersoever he will please to lead them Therefore saith the Apostle unto these Corinthians Chapt. 1.10 I beseech you Brethren by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly Joined together in the same mind and in the same Judgement This Same thing this Sameness of mind and this Sameness of Judgement which the Apostle exhorteth and beseeches them to cannot be that nor in that which any one of these Parties strove for against the other that wherein any of them Differed from the other for he rebukes them all for their Striving for and their vain glorying in that wherein they Differed He takes not Part with any One of their Opinions nor Waies but keeps close to his own Way and his own Judgement which was indeed that which he had Planted them in and upon from the Simplicity of which they through Carnality had strayed and that was Jesus Christ the only true foundation Therefore saith he Chap. 2.2 I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified for other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ Chap. 3.11 Paul had planted them in this Foundation this is that Same thing he would have them all to speak of and towards which he would have them all joined together in the same mind and of this he would have them all of the Same Judgement It 's impossible he could mean by this Same thing this Sameness of mind and Sameness of Judgement in it any One of the Parties they were Divided into for he rebukes them all a like as well he that was for Christ who its the most probable was the best and surely was of the best side as he that was for any of the other and it 's as irrational to conclude he was for any particular Opinion of any of the Parties wherein they differed from each other and so beseeches them all to be of the Same mind and Judgement with them For as the Differences were not such as were inconsistant with the Foundation so he seems to give them all an equal Allowance as being such things as they had received from the same Fountain from God But saith he If any man build on this Foundation Gold Silver Precious Stones Wood Hay Stubble every mans work shall be made manifest for the Day the further revelation of the Lord shall declare it is because it shall be revealed by Fire and the Fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is and that which is right shall abide and that which is wrong shall be burnt therefore Judge nothing before the time vers 12 13 14 15. with the 5th verse of the 4th Chapt. Look to the Foundation whereon ye are planted Jesus Christ him that was Crucified for you him into whose name ye were Baptized speak all the Same thing be ye all in this in the Same mind and in the Same Judgement
but judg nothing before the time neither the Gold nor the Silver nor the Wood nor the Hay nor the Stubble but be ye Perfectly joined together in waiting upon the Lord till his Day come wherein he wil declare what he Allowes what he allowes not of what he will have to abide and what is to vanish away and perish Upon this Same Principle it is that this Same Apostle tels the Philippians I press towards the Mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the Same Rule let us mind the Same Thing This Same Thing is even Pressing towards the Mark waiting patiently and tenderly when God shall reveal even this to those who in any thing are otherwise minded This evil of Carnality is that of which the Lord so Affectionately complains in tendernesse and pitty towards his poor Flock and for which he so sharply deals with and Judges the guilty Ezek. 34.17 18 19 20 21 22. verses And as for you O my Flock thus saith the Lord God Behold I judge between Cattle and Cattle between the Rams and the He-goats Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good Pasture but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your Pastures And to have drunk of the deep waters but you must foul the residue with your feet And as for my Flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your Feet and they drink that which you have fouled with your Feet Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them Behold I even I will judge between the fat Cattle and between the lean Cattle because you have thrust with side and with shoulder and pusht all the diseased with your Horns till ye have scattered them abroad Therefore will I save my Flock and they shall no more be a prey and I will judg between Cattle and Cattle How nearly this Scripture concerns us a due consideration of the whole of it will quickly make us sensible Here are such proud tramplings of the Pastures such envious Pudling in the Waters that though the Pastures of Gods house are good Pastures yet they are made as not so though the Waters of the Sanctuary are deep Waters yet they are fouled that the poor Lean of the Flock those who are hungring and thirsting after the fat things of Gods house are forced if they will have any food any relief to satisfie their weary and thirsty Souls to feed upon that which the fat Cattle those who are full and rich in Gifts and Parts and High attainments as these Corinthians were have trodden down and drink that which they have fouled with their feet their Carnal uncomely unbrotherly walkings Here are such wrathful strivings and Pushings of the strong Cattle against the poor diseased Cattle and the poor weak Lambs of the Flock that they are scattered abroad This the Lord takes very much to heart Seemeth this a small thing unto you saith he I have given you good Pastures enough to feed my whole Flock and I have given you deep Waters sufficient for my whole Flock to drink of And now through Pride do you think them not worthy to eat in my Pastures and to drink of my Waters which I have provided for them as well as for you and so what your selves cannot eat you tread down and what you cannot drink you foul with your Feet If you cannot keep them from it yet by your Carnal uncomly Walking you cause their Souls even to loath my good Pastures and my deep Waters and I have Lambs and Lean and Sick and Broken Cattle in my Flock and do you proudly and enviously strive against these to keep them out of my good Pastures and from my deep Waters that I have given them to feed upon and drink of as well as you Do you thrust with Side and Shoulder and push with your Horns these poor needy ones till ye have scattered them abroad as if they were not of my Flock did not belong to my Fold Know saith the Lord if this seem a small thing unto you it doth not so unto me I will judge of these matters I will seek that which was lost by you by your proud disesteem of them not looking after them and bring again that which was driven away by you by your Envious striving against them and bind up that which was Broken by your thrusting with Side and with Shoulder and the Pushes of your Horns and that which is sick will I strengthen Thus will I deal with them whom you despise but you the F at and the strong that work this mischief in my Flock I will destroy I will feed you with Judgement ver 16. By this time I suppose it plainly appears how dangerous and Pernitious this Evil is to a Christian yea that it s so subtil so curious a resined Spirit that it many times enters into and dwels in the Richest Christians Christians of the highest attainments in Gifts and Parts These Corinthians were enriched in every thing in all Utterance and all Knowledge coming behind in no Gift and that which adds to all they were waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ yet these kept not themselves free from this evil frame of Spirit It 's only the conformity to a crucified Jesus that can expel this Evil spirit that can Cure this dangerous distemper that can kill this Soul-canker But we must know and be conformable to him as he is a Crucified Jesus before we can become Spiritual Christians indeed This the Apostle strongly hints to us while he tells the Corinthians I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him Crucified Also the great displeasure of the Lord against this Sin this Carnality of Spirit which brings forth Proud-boastings vain-gloryings which brings forth Envy which brings forth Strife which brings forth Divisions which causes to walk as men and which so unfits for higher Communion and fellowship with the Lord than at present is attained and for higher and more Noble work than at present the Christian is exercised in causing an inability to feed upon strong Meat and so to do strong work that till Christians are cured of this Distemper they cannot become a fit Instrument in the hand of God to do his great Work How far Christians poor sinning Jacob at this day have been and are with these Corinthians guilty of this pernitious Evil CARNALITY OF MIND and how far we have been and are yet from that Sweet Heavenly Thriving Strengthning frame of Spirit that Spiritual mind that Paul and the rest of the Apostles and compleat Christians were in in their Day the Day of the Gentiles our Espousals let every seeing Eye and sensible Heart judge how far we have been guilty of