* to be carnally minded [Gr. the minding of the flesh], is k death; but* to be fpiritually minded [Gr. the minding of the spirit, is life and peace: 7. Because * the carnal mind [Gr. the minding of the flesh is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, m neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the (1) flesh, cannot please God. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the (2) Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not

6. k + Rom. 6. 21. † Gal. 6. 8. See on Rom 5.12

7. Jam. 4. 4. Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses, know ye not that the Friendship of the World is Enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God.

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which is in you? which ye have of God.- 2 Cor. 6. 16. What Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? for ye are the Temple 5 of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my People. Eph. 2. 21, 22. In whom all the Build

† 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural Man receiveth not the things of ro ing fitly framed together, groweth

the Spirit of God: for they are foolishnes's unto him; neither can he know them, because they are fpiritually difcerned.

15

unto an holy Temple in the Lord: In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. I Tim. 3-15. That thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave thy felf in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God. Heb. 3. 6. Christ, as a Son over his own House:

9.†1 Cor. 3. 16, 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If any Man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy : for the Temple of God is holy, which 20 whose House are we.- 1 Pet. 2.5.

Temple are ye. † 1 Cor. 6. 19. Whar, know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the holy Ghost,

T

Ye also as lively Stones, are built up a spiritual House. - 1 Joh. 3. 24. He

(1) The Word Flesh here, is not to be understood in a proper Sense, but in a figurative one. For it does not stand for a natural Body, but it denotes a worldly, carnal Life, and the being in a corrupt State and Condition. When therefore the Apostle says, that fuch cannot please God, and in the former Verse, that the carnal Mind neither is, nor can be subject to the Law of God, his meaning is not, that this is utterly impossible, but that it is impoflible fo long as it continues to be carnal. An evil Tree, while it continues evil, cannot bring forth good Fruit; but if the same Tree by Pruning, Grafting, or any other Method of Cultivation, is made a good Tree, it will then bring forth good Fruit. And that a wicked Man may become a good Man, is manifeft from the Exhortations to die unto Sin, to crucifie the Flesh to put off the old Man, &c. and from the Promises of Assistance and Reward, and the Threats of Punishment, to prevail with him so to be: If ye live after the Flesh, &c. Ver. 13.

(2) That God affords the Assistance of his holy Spirit in fome Degree to all Men; that he enlightens the Minds of all Christians, being ready to affift and enable them to perform such an Obedience as he will gracioufly accept and reward, is the plain Doctrine of the New-Teftament. Did the

the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10. And if Chrift be in you, the body is dead because of fin; but the Spirit is life, because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raifed up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Chrift from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, * by his Spirit [Or, because of his Spirit] that dwelleth in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are debters, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if yes through the Spirit do

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to my Salvation, through your Prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. ti Pet. 1. 11. Searching what, or what manner of

He that keepeth his Commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 Joh. 4. 13. 5 Time the Spirit of Christ which

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

was in them did fignifie.-
11. P See on Acts 2. 24.

9 † Eph. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in Sins, hath quickned

† Joh. 3.34.-God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him to us together with Christ. † Rom.

† Gal. 4. 6. Because ye are Sons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts. - † Phil. 1.19. I know that this shall turn

6.4.

14.

†1 Cor. 6. 14.
See on Acts 2. 24.
13. See on Gal. 6. 8.
$ See on 1. Pet. 1. 22.

† 2 Cor. 4.

the Devil put it into the Heart of Judas to betray his Lord and Master? Does he inspire his Servants and Votaries, suggesting Evil and Wickedness to them? Can we then doubt, whether the holy Spirit puts good Motions into our Minds, inspiring us with good Thoughts and Defires? But befides this common Grace, it is manifest from this Text, and the Referen ces fet under it, that fincere and true Christians have the special Presence and Refidence of the holy Spirit vouchsafed to them, expressed here by his dwelling and abiding in them, which can import nothing less than a cons tinual Influence and Assistance, and that he is in them a powerful Principle of Spiritual Life, enabling them to refift Temptations, and to despise all the Allurements and Reproaches of the World, and patiently to bear the Afflictions which their being the faithful Servants of God exposes them to, and even to rejoice in them. By the gracious Influences of the holy Spirit, they are enabled to grow in Grace, and to become still more and more like unto God, resembling him in all his imitable Perfections. The Sense hereof may not at all times be the fame; it may be interrupted by Application to Busi ness, which our present Condition makes necessary, and a Duty; or the Mind may be clouded by Melancholy; not to infist on the Notion advanced by many spiritual Persons, that God, fometimes by Way of Tryal, somes times by Way of Punishment, conceals, as it were, himself from the Soul.

In the Acts of the Apostles, and other Places of the New Testament, by this Expreffion, The Gift of the holy Ghost, or Spirit, is meant his extraordinas ry and miraculous Gifts, whereby the Apostles and first Christians were ef fectually enabled to plant and propagate the Christian Religion. See on Ads 5. 32.

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do a mortifie the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the fons of God. 15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again d to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. (1) The Spirit it felf f beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children

a † Eph. 4. 22. That ye put off concerning the former Conversation, the old Man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lufts. † Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth; Fornication, Uncleanness, inordinate Affection, evil Concupiscence, and Covetousness, which is Idolatry:

14.

+ Gal. 5. 18. If ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the Law.

e

of

† Mar. 14. 36. He said, Abba, Fa ther, all things are possible unto thee. Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock; for it is your Fathers good 5 Pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Joh. 1. 12. As many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God.-Gal. 3. 26. Ye are all the Children of God by. 10 Faith in Jesus Christ. Gal. 4. 5, 6. That we might receive the Adoption of Sons. And because ye are Sons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of 15. his Son into your Hearts, crying, have received not the Spirit of the 15 Abba, Father. Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ himfelf.- 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath † 2 Tim. 1. 7. God hath not 20 bestowed upon us, that we should given us the Spirit of Fear; but of Power, and of Love, and ofa found Mind.

fr Cor. 2. 12. Now we

World, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

be called the Sons of God.

16. f f/2, Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also fealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our Hearts. +2

us the earnest of the Spirit.

Eph

† Ifa. 56. 5. Unto them will I give in mine House, and within 25 Cor. 5.5. -Who also hath given

my Walls, a Place, and a Name better than of Sons and of Daughters.

I.

(1) Poffibly Almighty God may, by a Voice or Whisper of the holy Spirit, give to some Perfons, and in some extraordinary Cases, an affurance that they are his Children. But such a Testimony of the Spirit is not, that I know of, promised in Scripture, and therefore is not to be expected by us. The best Evidence of our having the Spirit, and of our being the Children of God, is bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit in our Lives and Conversations, without which all other Pretences are Fruitlefs and vain. The Advancing such Opinions as put People in Expectation of the Spirit's speaking to then, may be of dangerous Consequence; for good Men not finding any fuch Voice, may be apt to fall into Despair; and it may expose others to Prefumption, and the Delusion of the evil Spirit. That the Apostle does not here encourage any such Expectation is manifest, because sucha Testimony would be the immediate Testimony of the Spirit alone; whereas the Witness the Apostle speaks of, is a Witness concurring with our Spirits, that is, our Minds and Confciences, which have therefore a Share in giving of it. See Bishop Bull's English Works Pag. 882,&c.

of God. 17. And if children, then heirs; h heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ: if to be that we fuffer with bim, that we may be also glorified together. 18. For I reckon that the * fufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19. For the earnest1 expectation of the (1) Crea

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1. 13, 14. -In whom also after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of our Inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchased Poffeffion, unto the Praise of his Glory. † Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the Day of Redemption.

17. Gal. 4. 7. Wherefore thou art no more a Servant, but a Son; and if a Son, then an Heir of God through Chrift.

h. Acts 26. 18. -That they may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and Inheritance among them that are fanctified, by Faith that is in me. Phil. 1.

†2 Tim. 2. 11, 12. 28. See on Acts 14. 22:

ture

4. 13. But rejoice in as much as ye are Partakers of Christs Sufferings; that when his Glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding 5 Joy. 1 Pet. 5. 10. The God of all Grace, who hath called us unto his eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, fettle 10 you. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall 15 see him as he is.

19 Ifa. 65. 17. Behold, I create new Heavens, and a new Earth.Ifa. 66. 22. As the new Heavens, and the new Earth, which I will

20 make, shall remain before me, faith the Lord; so shall your Seed and your Name remain. Acts 3. 21. Whom the Heaven must receive, until the Times of Reftitution of all Things, which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his holy Prophets, since the World began. † 2 Pet. 3.13. Nevertheless, we according to his Promise, look for new Heavens, and new Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness. † 1 Joh. 3.2. The Words under Ver. 18. Rev. 21. 1, 27. I saw a new Heaven, and a new Earth. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh Abomination, or maketh a Lie

18. k Mat. 5. 11, 12. Blessed are ye, when Men shall revile you, and perfecute you.- Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your Reward in Heaven. † 2 Cor. 4. 17.25 Our light Affliction, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. † 1 Pet. 1. 6, 7. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a 30 Seafon (if need be) ye are in Heaviness through manifold Temptations. That the trial of your Faith being much more precious than of Gold that perisheth, though it be tried 35 with Fire, might be found unto Praise, and Honour, and Glory, at the Appearing of Jesus Christ, †1 Pet.

(1) I once intended to have put a Note on this difficult Passage, which reaches to the End of the 23d Verse; but finding it would take up more Room than I could spare, I shall refer the Reader to the second Vol. of Dr. Lightfoot's Works, pag. 359, 1089, 1148. See likewise Dr. Whitby on these Verfes.

n

20.

ture waiteth for the manifestation of the fons of God. For the Creature was madem fubject to vanity, not willingly, but by reafon of him who hath fubjected the fame in hope : 21. Because the creature it felf also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22. For we know that the whole creation [Or, every creature] groneth, and travaileth in pain together until now: 23. And not only they, but our selves alfo, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we our felves grone within our selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24. For we are faved by hope: But hope that is feen, is not hope: what a man feeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25. But if we hope for that we fee not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26. (1) Likewise the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:

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for

is from Heaven: For we that are in this Tabernacle do grone, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, 5 that mortality might be swallowed

20. Gen. 3. 17. Unto Adam he faid, Because thou hast hearkened unto the Voice of thy Wife, and haft eaten of the Tree of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, Curfed is the Ground for thy fake; in Sorrow thalt thou eat of it all the Days of thy Life. Ifa. 24. 5, 6. The Earth allo is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof: because they have tranfgressed the Laws, changed the Ordinance, broken the everlasting Covenant. Therefore hath the Curse devoured the Earth, and they that dwell therein are defolate. - 15.

22. Jer. 12. 11. They have made it [my pleasant Portion] défolate, and being defolate, it mourneth unto me.

23. Eph. 1. 14. The Words under Ver. 16.

20

up of Life.

4. Luk. 20. 36. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the Angels, and are the Children of God, being the Children of the Resurrection.

*Luk. 21. 28. When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your Heads; for your Redemption draweth nigh. Eph. 4.30. The Words under

Ver. 16.

I.

24.
$ † 2 Cor. 5.7. † Heb. 11.
See on Joh, 20. 29.

26. † Mat. 20. 22. Jesus answered and faid, Ye know not what ye ask. Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amifs, that ye may consume it on your

P† 2 Cor. 5.2, 4. For in this we grone earnestly, defiring to be clothed upon with our House which 25 Lufts.

(1) This Verse has confiderable Difficulties in it. The Reader may find an Explication thereof in Dr. Claget's Difcourse of the Operations of the holy Spirit, Part I. Chap. V. Sect. 6. Alfo Part II. p. 46, &c. He has proved that it cannot be inferred from this Place that the holy Spirit assists Chriftians in offering extempore Prayers.