SERMON XXIII

THE FLESH AND THE

(Eighth Sunday after Trinit

ROMANS, viii. 12.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to after the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh

WHAT does walking after the

St. Paul tells us himself, in G

uses exactly the same form of words here. The works of the flesh,' 'manifest.' When a man gives way and appetites-when he cares only a his own flesh, and the pleasures wh common with the brutes, then there about the sort of life which he will the works of the flesh are manifest, w

adultery, fornication, uncleanness, 'idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, varianc 'wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, e 'ders, drunkenness, revellings, and su ugly list, my friends; and God ha

Through the Spirit. The Spirit of God and of Christ. Keep that in mind, for that is the only way, the right way, to mortify and kill in us these vices and passions, which, unless we kill them, will kill us. The only way. For men have tried other ways in old times, do try other ways now: but they fail. I could mention many plans which they have tried. But I will only mention the one which you and I are likely to try.

A young man runs wild for a few years, as young men are too apt to do: but at last he finds that ill-living does not pay. It hurts his health, his pocket, his character. He makes himself ill; he cannot get employed; he has ruin staring him in the face, from his wild living. He must mend. If he intends to keep out of the workhouse, the gaol, the grave, he must mortify the deeds of the body. He must bridle his passions, give up lying about, drinking, swearing, cheating, running after bad women: and if he has a strong will, he does it from mere selfish prudence. But is he safe? I think not, as long as he loves still the bad ways he has given up. He has given them up, not because he hates them, because he is ashamed of them, because he knows them to be hateful to God, and ruinous to his own soul: but because they do not pay. The man himself is not changed. His heart within is not converted.

heart may be as foul as ever; as fu fishness, greediness, meanness. An to him? Too often, what happene the parable, when the unclean s of him, and came back again. Th found his home swept and garnish All very neat and respectable: but was no other spirit dwelling the spirit, who could fight the unclean him out. So he took to himse spirits worse than himself-hypoc ning, covetousness, and all the smo which beset middle-aged and elde they dwell there, and so does the u youth too. Alas! How often have I seen m description would fit but too wel have kept themselves respectable till back their character in the world when they get into years, and have in life, and made money, are loo their fellows: but what are they a great scoundrels as they were thirty cunning, false, covetous, and hypo indulging, perhaps, the unclean spiri much as they dare without being fou help them! for their last state is wor

first. But that is the fruit of trying to mortify and kill their own vices by mere worldly prudence, and not by the Spirit of God, which alone can cleanse the heart of any man, or make him strong enough really to conquer and kill his sins.

And what is this Spirit of God? We may know in this way. What says our Lord in the Gospel? The tree is known by its fruits.' Then if we know the fruits of the Spirit, we shall surely know something at least of what the Spirit is like. What then says St. Paul, 'The fruit of the Spirit 'is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, 'goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' Therefore the Spirit is a loving spirit — a peaceable, a gentle, a good, a faithful, a sober and temperate spirit. And if you follow it, you will live. If you give yourself up honestly, frankly, and fully, to be led by that good spirit, and obey it when it prompts you with right feelings, you, your very self, will live. You will be what God intended you to be; you will grow as God intended you to grow; grow as Christ did, in grace; in all which is graceful, amiable, worthy of respect and love; and therefore in favour with God and man. Your character will improve and strengthen day by day; and rise day by day to fuller, stronger, healthier spiritual life. You will be able more and more to keep down low passions, evil tempers, and all the works of the

hate them more and more; for h beauty of goodness, you will se of sin. So the bad passions and t of being merely put to sleep for a up all the stronger for their rest, mortified and killed in you. They you; and you, the real you whom live and grow continually. And, in your character dragged down, dis last ruined, it will rise and progres older, in the sure and safe road of et which God bring us all in his mercy