12. Alas! how small is the number of those who have a thorough knowledge of the depraved life of the old Adam, or who heartily strive against it! And yet, if ever we would rescue our souls from perdition, we must die to it and to all its restless workings. Whatever corruptions have been entailed on us by Adam, must be removed in Christ. In his humility, our pride and ambition must expire; in beholding his poverty, our thirst after earthly things must die away. The contemplation of his bitter sufferings should subdue our sensual lusts; the reproaches which he endured, and the entire resignation with which he submitted to the contempt of the world, should restrain us from the pursuit of worldly honors, and from the indulgence of anger and passion. 13. He who is thus dead to himself, will also readily die to the world, its pomps, and wealth, and honors, and pleasures, solacing himself with those higher riches, dignities, and enjoyments, to which he is admitted by faith in Christ. He becomes, indeed, “a stranger upon the earth” (Ps. 39:12), but he is the friend of Christ, and Christ will comfort his heart with the light of his countenance here, and with joy everlasting and unutterable in the world to come. Chapter XVI. A Conflict Is Constantly Maintained In The Christian Between The Spirit And The Flesh. _I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind._—ROM. 7:23. The two opposite principles in the heart of the real Christian, are spoken of by the apostle under different names, viz.: _the inward and outward man_ (2 Cor. 4:16), the _law of the mind_ and the law of the members (Rom. 7:23), and the _flesh and spirit_. “The flesh,” says he, “lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” Gal. 5:17. 2. When the Spirit conquers the flesh, then man lives in the new nature and is in God and in Christ: but when the flesh vanquishes the Spirit, and thus gains the ascendency, then man lives in the devil and in the old nature; he is under the dominion of the world, and without the kingdom of God, and, consequently, is called _carnal_. And “to be carnally minded is death.” Rom. 8:6. 3. It is according to the predominance of either of these principles (the flesh and the Spirit), that a man obtains his name in Scripture, and is called _carnal_ or _spiritual_. When the flesh and its sensual lusts are subdued, it is an indication of the strength of the spirit, and of a man’s proficiency in the inward life; but if a man be vanquished by the flesh, it betrays the weakness both of his faith and spirit.