upontheEpi(fleof JAMBs. 445 3· That tofeelzthe friendfoip of the "World, u the ready way to Objcrvat. 3· be Gods enemy. God and che world are conrrary; he is all good, and the World lieth i>z Wicf?.!dnefs; and they command comrary .things. The world faith, Slack,.no opportunity of gain .md pleafurt'; If you will be fo peevilb .u to jfand nicely upon (onfcience, you will do nothing but draw trouble ~ponyour felvn. Now God faich, Denyyour jt!ves,tak.f upyour croj:r, renounce the World,&c. The world faith, Wilt tlJou take thy bread, and t~7 Water, and thy flefh, andgive it unto men whom thou k!zoweft not whence they be? I Sam. 2)• t 1. But God faith, Sell that ye have, and give .z!mt, provide bags that wafle not, &c. ·rwere eaoe to infl:ance in feveral fuch Contrarieties: We find by experience, thatfo far as we mingle with the world, fo far are our hearts deadened and efiranged from God ; and by die encroachment of worldly delights and vanities upon·the fpirit, the love of God decayeth. 'Iis a vain conceit to think we can ferve God and our lu(l:s too : The world and grace are incompatible, they may be together fometimes; as a ruO:y Dyal may be right by chance: But you will be put to tryal, and when God and the world come in competition, you may fee whofe friendlhip you do dellre: When a worldly man mufl: do the one or the other, you Chall fee where his heart is; he will rather offend God,, then lofe riches, pleafures or preferment; he is loth to be bound upby the curt all.owance of Confcience and Religion; and though he would gild all with a pretence of refpect-to God, yet carnal reafons overfway, and he.tal\eth the worlds part agaiHil: God. Well ; now you fee the• enmity between God and the world. 1. Think ofit feriouily, when you are about to mingle with earthly comforts and delights, and can negletl God for a litele carnal conveniency and fatisfatl:ion; this is to be an enemy to God: And can I make ' good my part againft him? He is Almighcy, and can crulh you: What are our feeble hlnds to the grafpofOn;mipotency? See Eu~ z2. 14. And he is a ~mible Enemy; When he \Vhettethhuglittering Sword, Deut.32.41. Nay if none of all this were to be feared, the tery efrrangemenc from God is puniihme,nt enough to it felf: Shall I renounce the lpve and favour.ofGod? . al'Jd altcommerce_an9 communion .between him aod me-for a little · temporal delight and pleafttre ~ God forbid. 2. Lear!) how odious ' worldlin~fs , is r 'tis diretl enmity to God, becaufe •c\s carried on . under. fly pret~~ces .; of all finsthis feemeth moll planfible : Ufually · . · ··· ~- ·- Lll . -- · we - -· 3 .
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=