Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
1 Peter 2:11
“Fleshly lusts” takes in all undue desires and use of earthly things, and all the corrupt affections of our carnal minds. To abstain from these lusts is to hate and fly from the very thoughts and first motions of them, and if surprised by these, yet to kill them there, that they bring not forth; and to suspect ourselves even in those things that are not sinful, and to keep far off from all inducements to the polluted ways of sin.
It was a high speech of a heathen, that “he was greater, and born to greater things, than to be a servant to his body.” How much more ought he that is born again to say so, being born heir to a crown that fadeth not away? Again, as the honour of a Christian’s estate is far above this baseness of serving his lusts, so the happiness and pleasantness of his estate set him above the need of the pleasures of sin.
The philosopher gives this as the reason why men are so much set upon sensual delights, because they know not the higher pleasures that are proper to the soul. We are barred fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, to the end that we may have fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ. This is to make men eat angel’s food indeed, as was said of the manna. The serving of the flesh sets man below himself, down amongst the beasts, but the consolations of the Spirit and communion with God raise him above himself, and associate him with the angels.
Seeing you are chosen and called out of the world and are here but travellers passing through to your own country, it is very reasonable that there be a difference betwixt you and the world. Conduct yourselves as becomes strangers, not glutting yourselves with their pleasures, but, as wise strangers, living warily and soberly, and still minding most of all your journey homewards, suspecting dangers in your way and so walking with holy fear, as the Hebrew word for a stranger imports.
“Fleshly lusts which war against the soul” are so far below the soul, that they cannot content or satisfy it. Sin has unspeakably abused the soul of man. These fleshly lusts are not only of no benefit to the soul, but they are its pernicious enemies; “they war against it.” This war is all made up of stratagem and sleight. They promise some contentment, and so gain consent to serve them. They embrace the soul that they may strangle it.
