The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-28
cARNAL OR SPIRITUAL.

Cn6 lmpreSSlVoC OuGrdSt WuiCH uo urdWb
between the carnal and spiritual mind
This contrast is strongly presented IN
his Epistle to the Romans. Christians
are there represented as walking mot
after the flesh. but after the Spirit
Those who walk ''after the flesh"
"nind the things of the flesh," and
those who walk "after the Spirit"
mind 'the things OF the Spirit" ITO
be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace"
1t is said Of the carnal mind that it
sis enmity against Cod" and that lit
is not subject to his law. neither indeed
can be-" 1t is also said that s'they that
are in the fesh'' and walk after the
flesh "can not please God" (Romans
viii 4-8) The two conditions-car-
nality and spiritual.ty-are not only
opposite to each other, but are the
general categories in one or the other
of which every mans real character is
described. Every man is either car
lally minded or spiritually minded;
and there.is no middle ground between
these points which Apartakes Of the
character Of neither.
The Apostle in his epistle to the Ga
latians forcibly sets forth the same
contrast between the carnal mind and
the spiritual mind. 1.-THE works Of the
flesh," he says, ARE manifest, which are
these: adultery, fornication, unclean-
ness. lasciviousness, idolatry. witch
craft, hatred, variance. emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy
ings, murders, drunkenness, revelings.
and such like" Here is list OF seven
teen forms OF caTnality, with general
reference to "like" things in human
conduct; and in regard to the whole
the Apostles doctrine is that they
which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom Of God" On thes other
hand, the fruits of the Spirit and the
"marks Of those who .'are led BY tho
Spirit" are the following: ''Love. Joy.
peace, long-suffering. gentleness, good
ness. faith, meekness, temperance. :"
Against these fruits there is no law;
and those who are Christs. and hence
bear these fruits are described a. hav.
ng "crucifed the flesh with the affec-
tions and lusts Of the flesh" (Gal 4,
19-24.)
Other Epistles OF Paul contain pas
sages Of the same general character.
There are two great facts in human his
tory underlying, these contrasted pas
sages that deserve thoughtful atten-
ton; and upon these facts we desire to
say word. iFFi0hd
What we see in one of these facts 10
the formation OF human character on
the basis OF the losoer principles and
impulses Of our nature. This is true Of
all men who have what Paul calls the
''carnal mind" Their animal appe-
tites relating to the body, and their
lower propensities and passions relat-
ing t. things temporal and visible. rule
them with absolute supremacy; and
hence, their character, however diverse
in the specific forms OF manifestation.
never rise above this plane. They may
not all be equally bad, or equally gross
in the type Of sinfulness, and yet they
all agree in having the ...carnal mind. T"
and in having a character shaped &C
cording to the lower side OF their ma
ture. They live for this world only,
and for what they can get out of it.
Things temporal absorb and control
their energies. What they can see,
and what they can enjoy while passing
through life, constitute the objective
field of their pursuits. Their activities.
their thoughts. their desires and their
pleasures run in this line, and never
pass above it. Their existence ID q
sensuous one in the sense that temporal
objects supply all the inspiration they
feel, and all the enjoyments q
which they are conscious. This sort d
sensuality is their one great lite-pris.
ciple. All such people 'mind The
things of the fesh." and walk 'aftsI
the iiesh." Sensuality and worldlinesl
make up their whole character. Thil
is Pauls anthropology in regard, Z
them; and he selects the term 'eesN
as wildly descriptive Of the fact +
The other fact is the formation O
human character on the basis Of Ii,
higher and better principles Of our No
ture--those principles which BY th,
very constitution ofe the humAa mint
were intended to bear sway. ,wtich Be
long to man as q moral and imnorta
being. to which the Bible makes IL up
/ peal, and which are always beougA
into action when the mind is '4ed b.
! the Spirit" A religious character Il
!. the Pauline sense Is coincident with tn
supremacy and prevalence OF thes
principles. Such character embodie
the elements Of the spiritual mind
God himself, and not sense, and no
simply this world. is at its basis
Thoughts OF God supply its food, an
faith in God is its right arm. Tn
things seen and temporal are deeme