~----------------~------------------- Ch:1p.2.Secr. r. Looking unto :}efas. Book I. k_pow ye mt that the Fiend~ip of. the world is enmity with q od ? James 4• .;. Covetoufneffe in Chnihans 1s fpmtual adultery , when we have enough in God and Chrifi , and ye~ w~ defire _co make up. our happineffe in the creature, th1s 1s plame whoremg. Now there are degrees in this fpi ritual whoredome : as--- ' 'r . The minding of thisworld; ye know there may be adultery in affection, when the body is not defiled ; undeane glances are a degree of luft,fo the children ofGod may have fome worldly · glances, firagling thoughts; when · the temptation is firong , the world rnaybe greatned in their efteem and imagination. , · 2 . Thefettingof the heart upon the world; this is an high_er degree ofthis fpiritual adultery; our hearts are due and proper to Chrift now to fet them on the world, which,fhould be chaft:e and loyal to Jefus Chrift, what adultery is this { Ye can;:ot ferve Ma h 6 · God and lVfnmmon: that woman .that is not contented with one tt • • 14 husband, mufl: needs be an harlot. 3. The preferring of the world before Chrift himfelf. This is the height ofcovetoufneffe, and the height of this adultery; what, to mak_e the members of Chrift the members of an harlot ? Why worldlings ! thofe admiring thoughts are Chrifts , thofe paines are Chrifis, that love is Chrifts, that time, that care, that earneftneffe is Chrifts; they are all Chrifts, and will you give that which is Chrifts unto the world ? and preferre the world before Chrift with his own? What, live as profeffed proftitutes, that preferre every one before their husbands? how will this expofe you to the fcorne ofmen and Angels? at the lafi day they will Come pointing, andfay, This is the man that made not Na!mc p. 7 God his ftrength, but trufted in the abundance ofhis riches ; this is the Gadaren that loved his[wine more then Chrift {efus. Love not JJohn, z.IS the wor!d,faith 'John; Chrift is never precious in mans apprchen- ' . . . , fion, fo long as the world feems glorious to him. As we begin to C~t. cbrifttu zn• relijb fweetnefJ in Chrifl,(o the world begins to fe hitter to us: the ~:~::a~~ftc~~~~ more fweetnefs we tafte tn the one,the more b1tternefs we tafte in rcfcerc mund11m the other. , Bern, 3· We muft look_off the world in refpect of its !inful honours, - what is this honour but a certaine inordinate deiire to be well thought of, or well fpoken of, to be praifed, or glorified ofmen? , '- C As
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