A Christian Library, Section 42
Sect. 42.
NOw all sorts of men, may be comprised, under one of these three Heads:
The Sensual.
The Rational.
The Spiritual.
For if you observe it, some men like the Moon at Full, have all their light towards earth, none towards Heaven: Others like the Moon at VVaine, or Change, have all their light to Heaven wards, none to the earth: a third sort like to the Moon in eclipse, as having no light in it self, neither towards earth, nor towards Heaven.
Touching these three degrees of comparison, you shall find, that the one exceeds the other (in wisdom) as the stars exceed one another in glory. Of which particularly.
First, There is no less difference, between the Rational and sensual, the wise and simple, the learned and unlearned, than there is between men and beasts; as Menander speaks. Or between the living and the dead, as another hath it. And yet the Rational, do not so far excel the sensual, as the spiritual excel the rational.
Sensual men are so be-nighted, and puzled with blindness, that they know no other way than the flesh leads them. It is the weight that sets all their wheels a going; the horses that draw their chariot, the very life of their corruption, the corruption of their life, without which they do nothing.
The minds of brutish men, that have been ill bred, are so drowned in sin, and sensuallity; and their spirits so frozen, and pitifully benumed with worldliness, and wicked customs, that they cannot judg aright, either of spiritual matters, or rectified reason. Yea, in matters experimental, they are of as deep a judgement as was Callico, who stuft his pillow (a brass pot) with straw, to make it soft. Or that Germain Clown, who under-took to be very ready in the ten Commandments: but being demanded by the Minister which was the first? made answer, Thou shall not eate. Or that simple Fellow, who thought Pontius Pilate must needs be a Saint, because his name was put into the Creed. They are like the Ostrich, Job …9.17. whom God hath deprived of wisdom, and to whom he hath given no part of understanding.
Which men also, are so far from receiving instruction, that they will scorn and scoff at their admonisher. As they have no reason, so they will hear none. Nor will they believe any thing, but what they see, or feell: and he that learns of none but himself, hath a fool to his teacher. Yea, such as refuse admonition, are by wise Solomon branded, for the most incorigible Fools alive; so that their knowledge is ignorance, their wisdom folly, their sight blindness. They neither consider what reason speaketh, or Religion commandeth; but what the will and appetite affecteth. For will is the axeltree, lusts and passions the wheels whereupon all their actions are carried and do run. Appetite being their Lord, Reason their servant, and Religion their slave. Whereas Religion should govern their judgement, judgment and reason their wills and affections; as Adam should have done Eve. They that are after the flesh, do minde the things of the flesh: The carnal minde is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8.5. to 9. And which leaves them without all hope of being wiser, they had rather keep conscience blind, that it may slatter them, than inform it, that it may give a just verdict against them, counting it less trouble, to believe a favorable falshood, than to examine whether it be true. So that it is impossible for fleshly minded men, to believe what sots they are, touching the good of their souls. Wherefore when we see the folly, and misery of those that serve sin and Satan, and how peevishly averse they are to their own eternal salvation, let us pity them, as being so much more worthy our commiseration, as they are more uncapable of their own misery. And so much of the First sort, namely, Sensuallists.