1 592 MAKING LIGHT OF CHRIST. the world fills their mouths, their hands, their houses, their hearts, and Christ hath little more than a bare title ; to come into their company, and hear no discourse but of the world; to come into their houses, and hear and see nothing but for the world, as if this world would last forever, or would purchase them another. When I ask sometimes the ministers of the gospel how their labors suc- ceed, they tell nie, ' People continue still the same, and give up themselves wholly to the world; so that they mind not what min- isters say to them, nor will give any full entertainment to the word, and all because of the deluding world.' And O, that too many ministers themselves did not make light of that Christ whom they preach, being drawn away with the love of this world ! In a word, men of a worldly disposition do judge of things according to world- ly advantages, therefore Christ is slighted; "He is despised and rejected of men ; they hide their faces from him, and esteem him not, as seeing no beauty or comeliness in him, that they should desire him." Isai. liii. 3. 7. Christ and salvation are made light of, because men do not soberly consider of the truth and weight of these necessary things. They suffer not their minds so long to dwell upon them, till they procure a due esteem, and deeply affect their heart: did they be- lieve them, and not considerof them, how should they work! O, when men have reason given them to think and consider of the things that most concern them, and yet theywill not use it, this causeth their contempt. 8. Christ and salvation are made light of, because men were never sensible of their sin and misery, and extreme necessity of Christ and his salvation. Their eyes were never opened to see themselves as they are; nor their hearts soundly humbled in the sense of their condition. If this were done, theywould soon be brought to value a Savior : a truly broken heart can no more make light of Christ and salvation, than a hungry man of his food, or a sick man of the means that would give ease ; but till then, our words cannot have access to their hearts. While sin and misery are made light of, Christ and salvationwill be made light of; but when these are perceived an intolerable burden, then nothing will serve the turn but Christ. Till men be truly humbled, they can venture Christ and salvation for a lust, for a little worldly gain, even for less than nothing ; but when God hath illuminated them, and broken their hearts, then they must have Christ or they die: all things then are loss and dung to them, in regard of the excellent knowledge of Christ; Phil. iii. 8. When they are at once pricked in their hearts for sin and misery, then theycry out, " Men and brethren, what shall we do ?" Acts ii. 37. When they are awakened by God's judgments, as the poor jailer, then they cry
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