19. For the flesh lusts after
nothing save through the soul, but the flesh is said to lust
against the spirit, when the soul with fleshly lust wrestles
against the spirit. This whole are we: and the flesh itself, which
on the departure of the soul dies, the lowest part of us is not put
away as what we are to flee from, but is laid aside as what we are
to receive again, and, after having received it, never again to
leave. But “there is sown an animal body, there shall rise again
a spiritual body.”18701870 Then from that time the flesh will
not lust after any thing against the spirit, when as itself also
shall be called spiritual, forasmuch as not only without any
opposition, but also without any need of bodily aliment,
it
shall be for ever made subject unto the spirit, to be quickened by
Christ. Therefore these two things, which are now opposed the one
to the other within us, since we exist in both, let us pray and
endeavor that they may agree. For we ought not to think the one of
them an enemy, but the fault, whereby the flesh lusteth against the
spirit: and this, when healed, will itself cease to exist, and
either substance will be safe, and no strife between either. Let us
hear the Apostle; “I know,” saith he, “that there dwelleth
not in me, that is, in my flesh, any good.”18711871 This certainly he saith; that the
fault of the flesh, in a good thing, is not good; and, when this
shall have ceased to exist, it will be flesh, but it will not be
now corrupted or faulty18721872 flesh. And yet that this pertains
to our nature the same teacher shows, by saying, first, “I know
that there dwelleth not in me,” in order to expound which, he
added, “that is, in my flesh, any good.” Therefore he saith
that his flesh is himself. It is not then itself that is our enemy:
and when its faults are resisted, itself is loved, because itself
is cared for; “For no one ever hated his own flesh,”18731873 as the
Apostle himself saith. And in another place he saith, “So then I
myself with the mind serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the
Law of sin.” Let them hear that have ears. “So then I
myself;” I with the mind, I with the flesh, but “with the mind
I serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”18741874 How
“with the flesh the law of sin?” was it at all by consenting
unto fleshly lust? Far be it! but by having there motions of
desires which he would not have, and yet had. But, by not
consenting to them, with the mind he served the Law of God, and
kept his members from becoming weapons of sins.
