Ver, 16. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N. 2 2 3 receive taint from the Obje&s with which we ufually convene ; long Convene is a be- witching thing. Partly, becaufe it is of a prefent Enjoyment, we have the World in Hand, and Heaven in Hope, and think Heaven a Fancy, a Notion, and the Wòrld, Subftance. Prey.S. i 7. Riches and Honours are with me ; yea, durable Rohes and Righte- orrfnefs: The Judgment of Men, is different from the Judgment of the Word : We have a fenfible experience of the Profit of the World. Partly, becaufe it is a ferious Sin, applauded by Men. Prat. to. 3. The Wicked boaffeth of his Heart's delire, and bief feth the Covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. Men think well of it, and 4roak it with a gentle Cenfure, it is not fo foul an Aft. A Drunkard is More liable to Reproach than a Worldling. It is confiftent with the gravity and ftri &nefs of Profeffion. Religion is a ferious thing, and of all. Corruptions, it is moil incident to them that profefs Re- ligion : the difíolutenels of Luxury, will not frond with the external gravity and ftrid- nefs of Profeffion : licentious Perfons do procure fhame, and are publickly odious. Partly, becaufe it is a cloaked Sin. t Theft 2. 5. Neither at any time tiled we flattering Words, nor a Cloa4 of Covetoufnefo, God is Witnefi. It is hard to difcover it and find it out, there are Co many Evafions of Necefftty, Providence, and Provifion. It is á great part of Religion, to keep our fives unfpotted from the World, James I. 27. 2. Becaufe of the heinoulnefs and danger of it. It is called A'dultery, James 4. 4. Te Adulterers and Adaltereffes, /now ye not that the friendf ip of the World it Enmity.tpith God ? iVhofoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God. It is moft unfuitable to the matrimonial Contra& between God and the Soul, wherein God prq- poundeth hitnfelf as God Alfufhcient. Now, as if we had not enough in God, Men go a whoring to.the Creatures. It is Idolatry, Col. 3. 5. And Covetoufnef, which is Ido- latry. So, Ephef.5.5. No covetous Perfon, who is an Idolater, bath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Chri, f1, and of God. It divertcth our Trutt, robbeth God of the faireft Flower in his Crown, of his Soveraignty, the trufi and dependence of the Creature. It is Enmity with God, James 4. 4. The World is the greateft Encroacher upon God and. Grace, it robbeth God, and deftroyeth Grace. The Comforts of, Ghrillianity re- lifh not with them that love the World. It is impofûble as the fame time to look with one Eye. to Heaven, and another to the Earth. 3. Becaufe of the unfuitablenefs of it to the Divine (Mature.: It is tnoft unfuitable to the New Nature. 1 John 5.4. Whatfoever is born of God, pvercorgoet4 the World. It s unfuitable to our Hopes, God hath provided Heaven on purport to R{raty, us off from the World. God is molt liberal in this World to the worft g at Jydas. }tad the Bag.: there are Gifts for worldly Men, not for God's Favorites. Get}. 25.6. Veto the Sens of the Concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave Gifts, and fro them away from ¡bac his Son. Ifaac had the Inheritance. It is contrary to the Ai{t¡,p Chris; his whole Aim in coming and going, was to bring us to [-leaven. Heb. It. 16. Now they defre a better Country, that is an Heavenly ; wherefore God is not afbamed to be called their God, for he bath prepared for them a Country. `Ufe t. To preis us to beware the more of Worldlinefs. Chtift doth ()pee and again fay, They are not of the World. 2 Kings 5. 26. IS it a time -tu receive ,gony, and to receive Garments, and Olive yards, and Vine- yards, and Sheep, and Oxen, and 1;1en- fervants, and Maid-fervants ? Efpecially in there Times, in which fo many mifcarry by worldly Praaices, and when God hath declared fo much of his difplealùre againli worldly Great- nets. To this end, a. Confider your Condition, you are Strangers and Pilgrims. David was a King, yet not at home in the World. Pfal. 39. 12. 1 am a Stranger, and a Sojourner with thee, as all my Fathers were. We never read that Abraham made any Purchafe, but of a Grave 5 Cain built a City. We are gone hence to morrow, and who would hang a Room in an Inn ? 2. We are called to better Things. t Theff.2. II, 12../ís ye.know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a Father doth his Children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who bath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory. It 4 not for Prin- ces to embrace the Dunghil. Who would believe that a Man raking in a Dunghil, or natty Ditch, were Heir to a Crown ? You Ihow your felves hereby to be unworthy of Heaven. 3. Take the Apoftlé s Argument. 1 Tim. 4.7. We brought nothing with us into the World, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. The Mill -wheel turneth round all day, but at Night it is in the fame place : So at Death, we are in the Came Eftate as at
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