x 30 $ E RM ON S typon Serrrl. i 5. becaufe the Evil is inward, and the Conflitution of the Body helpeth it. Sins are more dangerous than Troubles, becaufe they are aided by Nature. 2. From withgtt. The World is in Evil Place, both in regard of Sin and Mifery; we are Cure to be vexed or defiled ; to be corrupted by the Favours, or difcouraged by the Frowns of it. In the World we have a great many Enemies 5 there is the God of the World, and the Powers of the World, and the Men of the World; and the Things of the World. r. There is the God of this World. This Country in which we dwell, it is the Kingdom,of Satan, Chrilt's bitter Enemy. He is called the Prince of the World, John Ia. 31. not by Flight, but the World hath made him fo. Can God's Children live long in Peace in the Kingdom of Satan ? He cannot endure to lofe one Corner of his Empire, therefore frowns and flatters, and Peeks to corrupt or difcourage the Saints. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this World bath blinded the Eyes of them that believe not. Titles are fuited to the Matter in hand : Satan blindeth moll, as the God of this World 5 the Creature is but fuborned, Satan is at the back of it, and lieth in ambuth to furprife our Souls. Is not the Hand of Joab in all this ? The Devil is in the Snare. The World is Satan's Chefs -boatd 5 we can hardly move back, or forth, but the Devil fits out one Creature or another to attack us, either by fear, canting us to draw bock, or by the love of force worldly Creatures, alluring us out of the Lifts, wherein we Ihould walk. 2. The Powers of the World ; ufually they are fet againft Chriff, and 'therefore at the latter end of the World they (hall be broken and dallied to pieces. The World is a Country, wherein the Church is a Stranger, every Man fearing God, is like a ftrange Plant brought from a far Country, bath much ado to grow. TheWicked are like Nettlesand Thirties, that grow without ploughing or watering, becaufe they grow in their own place ; but the Soyl and Air of the World, doth not fait with the Saints; one time or other they are nipped, here is no kindly Weather for them. A Chriflian is not only a Stranger, but an Unconformift to the World ; Rom. 12.'2. And be ye not conformed to this World, but be ye transformed in the renewing of your Minds. In every Age there is fomething or other (tatted up for his Trouble and Exercife. In his Fa- ther's'Houfe he is taught todo otherwife, and this putteth him upon trouble. If God giveth the Church a little reff, it is but like a well -day out of the Fit of an Ague, to recover ftrength for the next Trial; a mortified Saint, that is drawn up to Heaven, and would live by the Laws of his Father's Houle, mutt- look for frowns : Tea, and all thofe that will live Godly in Chr J Jefus, muß fufer Perf cition, 2 Tim. 3. 12. Chriffs Grapes muff expel the Wine -pref ; all their Care Ihould be to yield good Liquor. k is 'a Statute, like the Laws of the Medea and Perfians, Ails 14.22. That through many Tribulations we muß enter into the Kingdom of God. Neither doth Experience trots that Rule; the Apoftle faith, Rom. 8. 35, 36. Who flail feparate IN from the Love of God ? (hall Tribulation, or Difirefi, or Perfecution, or Famine, or Nakedneji, or Peril, or Sword ? Is it if written, For thy fake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter. The Worldis the Slaughter-houfe and Shambles of the Saints; here Chrifl was Hain, all his Witneffes butchered. Chrifl's Lambs mull look to have their Throats cut. There is an old Enmity between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent ; it lafteth from Abel, till the Day of Judgment. Jacob's and Efau's Quarrel, began from the day of their Birth, Pfal. 129.1. Many a time have they afiïledme from ',Tooth, may Ifrael now fay; from my Youth upward, ever lince Chrift had a Seed in the World. The World would not be the World, nor you Chri- ltians, if the World did not hate you. Satan cannot change his Naiure, and the World waxeth worfe and worfe ; inftead of marvelling to fee the Children of God afffiûed and perfecuted, we Ihould marvel to fee it otherwife. If one fhould tell you, that your way lieth through a cony Country, and full of Bullies and Briars, you would think your felves to be out of the way, if you Ihould meet with nothing but green and pleafant Plains. The Road-way to Heaven, is through a howling Wilder- nefs; if you have a foot of good Land, it is God's Bleffìng. 3. The Men of the World. A Man cannot hold any Communion with them, but he (hall be the worfe for them. 1 John 5. r9. We know we are of God, and the whole World lieth in Wickednefs. The Men of the World are footy dirty Creatures, we cannot converfe with them, but they leave-their filthinefs upon us. It is hard to touch Pitch, and not to be defiled : Ails 2.40. Save your fettles from this untoward Genera - tion. We grow in a Wildernef, and there are many crooked Trees that are like to twine
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