“20. But by the mercy of God in Christ, this prison of an earthly life, is turned into a state of purification. It is made a time and place of putting off our _filthy_ garments, and of _staying_ and _sacrificing_ that man of sin that is hid under them. And God suffers the sun to shine upon us, and the elements to afford us nourishment, for no other end, but that we may all have time and opportunity to hear the call of the Son of God, to be _born again_, to be renewed by the _Holy Spirit_, and be made capable of that kingdom, from which _Lucifer_ and his angels fell.” ♦ Paragraph numbers 21‒23 skipped 24. Look at our Saviour’s sermon on the _mount_, and indeed at all his instructions, and you will find them pointing at nothing else on our _side_, but a _denial_ of ourselves, and a _renunciation_ of the world. And indeed how could it be otherwise! For if we want a Redeemer, only because we have _wandered_ out of paradise, and could not get back to it ourselves; if we are overcome by this world, only because our first father _sought_ after it, what wonder is it that he who is to replace us in paradise, should call us to a _renunciation_ of the world? 25. * Vain man, taken with the _sound_ of heavenly things, and _prospects_ of future glory, yet at the same time a _fast friend_ to the interests of flesh and blood, would fain compound matters between God and mammon. He is very willing to acknowledge a _Saviour_, that died on the cross to save him. He is ready to receive outward _ordinances_ and _forms_ of worship, and to contend with zeal for the observance of them. He likes heaven, and future glory on these conditions. He is also ready to put on _outward morality_, to let religion polish his manners, that he may have the credit and ornament of a _prudential piety_, and a _decency_ of life. This does no hurt. But to lay the axe to the _whole root_ of our disease, to cut all those _silken cords_ asunder, which tie us to the world, and the world to us, to deny every temper and passion that cannot be made holy, wise and heavenly; to die to every gratification which keeps up, and strengthens the folly, vanity, pride, and blindness of our _fallen nature_; to leave no little morsels of sensuality, avarice and ambition for the _old man_ to feed upon, however well-covered under his mantle; this, tho’ it be the very essence of religion, is what he flies from with as much aversion as from _heresy_ and _schism_. Here he makes learned appeals to reason and common sense to judge betwixt him, and the gospel; which is just as wise, as to ask the learned _Greek_, and the worldly _Jew_, whether the _cross_ of Christ be not foolishness, and a just rock of offence: or to appeal to flesh and blood about the narrow way to that kingdom of heaven, into which itself cannot possibly have an entrance.