SERMON II.

THE CARNAL MIND ENMITY AGAINST GOD.

ROMANS, viii. 7.

The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God.

THE Corruption of our nature is a fundamental Doctrine in the Christian System: a Doctrine, which lies so entirely at the bottom of all true Religion, and is so intimately connected with every other article of our Faith, that to obtain just and adequate conceptions of the degree, the depth, and the extent of this corruption, is a point of the utmost moment. With this view I would lead you to a particular consideration of the words of the text; which contain as clear, and compre hensive a description of human Corruption, as can be found in the Sacred Scriptures. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God." In discoursing on this passage, I shall endeavour,

I. To explain and illustrate the declaration

II. To apply the truth thus explained for our instruction in doctrine and righteousness. May He, who alone can teach our hearts, Vouchsafe us His blessing, and enable us to see what is in man!

I. I am to explain and illustrate the declaration contained in these words: "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God." The Carnal, or Fleshly Mind (for both words have the same meaning) is the same with the natural heart. It is an expression used to describe the state of the soul by nature, since the fall of our First Parents. It is "flesh." No sooner did Adam by transgression lose the Divine image, in which he had been created, but he became flesh; not only mortal in his body, and subject to disease and decay; but corrupt and carnal in his soul. And such are all who descend from him; for "that which is born of the flesh is flesh."

Let us bear then in mind, that it is not of Adam only of whom we are going to speak.. It is not his nature merely, which I am about to describe. It is not the state of heart belonging to any particular number of his children, be they more or fewer, which is here represented as carnal. No, it is the state of all his posterity. They are all " carnally-minded." The carnal mind spoken of in the text, belongs to all men naturally, without exception.

Now, of this carnal mind there are several things said in the chapter from which the text is taken, that strongly and clearly point out its evil and misery. "To be carnally-minded (says the Apostle) is death." And again, they that are in the flesh, cannot please God." And again, "if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." But there is no expression made use of, which more distinctly marks the dreadful misery of the carnal mind, than the one in the text," the Carnal mind is Enmity against God." " Enmity against God!" Do we consider what this expression means? It means, not only that man in his natural state is indisposed to spiritual things, but that he really dislikes them; not merely that he is alienated and estranged from the life of God, but that in his heart he hates God. This is surely a most aweful representation of our natural state: but let us remember that it is the representation which God, who searcheth and knoweth the heart, has Himself given us of it. He has told us, that the natural heart, the carnal mind, is enmity against Him. — The fact, my Brethren, is this. Ever since the fall of Adam, man, instead of seeking his happiness in obedience to God, seeks it in disobedience to Him. This was the original sin. Adam thought that he should be happier in breaking God's command, than in keeping it. And such has been the Universal Idolatry

ever since. The heart of men prefers the creature to the Creator, and chooses sin before holiness and hence it is justly said to be "Enmity against God."

To this Enmity it has been owing that there have been so much False Religion, Superstition, and Idolatry in the world. Men loving darkness rather than light, and not liking to retain God in their knowledge, have made to themselves gods more suited to their depraved and evil natures. This was the charge which God brought against Israel, that after all the revelations which He had given to them of His glory and perfections, they yet "thought that he was altogether such a one as themselves." And whence did this arise; but from the Enmity of the Carnal Mind?

In truth, every Revelation which God gives of Himself, excites and displays this Enmity. Men, in their natural state, hate every discovery of the true character and moral attributes of God.

They hate the Law of God: for the Law is the copy and mind of God Himself. The Holy Law of God is the expression of His Holiness. Therefore the Carnal Mind is at Enmity with the Law of God. As the Apostle says, "it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be." Consider how men speak and act in respect to the Law of God.

* Psalm 1. 21.

So long as its injunctions suit their conve nience or agree with their ideas of right, or can be interpreted as applying only to the outward conduct, so far they may profess to approve, to commend, and even perhaps to obey it. But let them be told that this Law is spiritual; that it reaches the heart, requires inward purity and universal obedience, bids them to deny themselves, to mortify the flesh, and to love God with all their soul, and mind, and strength - let them be told these things, and they instantly cry out against it as severe, and excessive, and intolerable as exacting more than it ought; as unjust and unreasonable in its demands, which they neither can nor will obey. Thus the Carnal Mind shews its enmity to the Law of God.

What are its feelings with respect to the Gospel of God? The Gospel is the most glorious revelation which God has ever made of Himself. There His Justice and Mercy, His Wisdom and Love, shine forth with the brightest lustre. There all His perfections meet together, and are exercised in entire harmony. There, in the Gospel, God appears most glorious, because there He appears most holy. To the Gospel, then, the Carnal Mind has peculiar enmity; to its holy doctrines, and humbling truths. The Gospel wounds the pride, offends the prejudices, and crosses