CHAPTER IV.

_Shewing, how the fear of being singular, and making the world their rule of action, is a second great cause, why so few devote themselves to GOD._

ANOTHER cause why so few devote themselves to GOD, is a _fear of contempt_ from the world, and their making its modes and customs the general rule of all their actions.

The history of the gospel is chiefly the history of CHRIST’s conquest over the world. And the number of true christians, is only the number of those who following the Spirit of CHRIST, have lived, and do live, contrary to this spirit of the world.

“Whosoever is born of GOD, (says the apostle) overcometh the world. Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD.”

This is the language of the whole New Testament; this is the mark of real christianity. We are to be dead to the spirit and temper of the world, and live a new life in the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST.

It was this, that made Saint _Paul_ so passionately express himself, “GOD forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” But why does he glory? because his christian profession had called him to the honour of suffering for CHRIST, and of dying to the world, under reproach and contempt, as the LORD JESUS had died upon the cross. Hence he immediately adds, “by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Thus was the cross of CHRIST, in Saint _Paul_’s time, the glory of christians. For he elsewhere asserts, speaking of christians in general, that they are “to suffer, to be crucified, to die, and to rise with CHRIST;” or else his crucifixion, and death, and resurrection, will profit them nothing. As to his sufferings, says he, “if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.” As to his crucifixion and death, “Knowing that our old man is crucified with him. If we are dead with CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with him.” And then as to the resurrection of CHRIST, says he, “If ye be risen with CHRIST, seek those things which are above.” From all which texts it plainly appears, that our blessed LORD not only died and rose again in our stead, and as our federal head and representative, but that also if we are christians indeed, we are to be conformed to all he did and suffered for us.

It was for this reason, that the holy JESUS said of his Disciples, and of all true believers, “they are not of this world, as I am not of this world.” Because, all true believers conforming to the sufferings, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of CHRIST, live no longer after the spirit and temper of this world, but “their life is hid with CHRIST in GOD.”

How high this life is placed above the ways of the world, is wonderfully described by Saint _Paul_, in these words: “Wherefore, henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known CHRIST after the flesh; yet henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

He that feels the force and spirit of these words, can hardly bear any human interpretation of them. “Henceforth, &c.” that is, since the death and resurrection of CHRIST, the state of christianity is become so glorious a state, that we do not even consider CHRIST himself as in the flesh upon earth, but as a GOD of glory in heaven; we know and consider ourselves not barely as men in the flesh, but as fellow members of a new society, that are to have all our hearts, our tempers and conversation in heaven.

Saint _John_ plainly declares thus much: “They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them; _we are of GOD_.” This is his description of the followers of CHRIST; and it is proof enough, that no people are to be reckoned christians in reality, who in their hearts and tempers belong to this world.

Saint _Paul_ takes it for a certainty so well known to christians, that they are no longer to be considered as living in this world, that he thus argues from it, as from an undeniable principle, concerning the abolishing the rites of the _Jewish_ law: “Wherefore, if ye be dead with CHRIST from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?” Here could be no argument in this, but in the Apostle’s taking it for undeniable, that christians knew, their profession required them to have done with all the tempers and passions of this world, and to live as citizens of the _New Jerusalem_, and to have their conversation in heaven.

Our blessed LORD himself has fully determined this point, in these words, “They are not of this world, as I am not of this world.” This is the state of christianity with regard to this world. If you are not thus out of and contrary to the world, you want the distinguishing mark of christianity: You do not belong to CHRIST, but by being out of the world as he was out of it.

We may deceive ourselves, if we please, with vain and softening comments upon these words; but they are and will be understood in their first simplicity and plainness, by every one who reads them in the same spirit that our blessed LORD spoke them. And to understand them in any lower and less significant meaning, is to let carnal wisdom explain away that doctrine, by which itself was to be destroyed.

But notwithstanding the clearness and plainness of these doctrines, which teach us thus to renounce the world, yet what a great part of christians do live and die slaves to the customs and temper of the world.

How many people swell with pride and vanity for such things as they would not know how to value at all? but that they are admired in the world.

Would a man take ten years more drudgery in business to add two horses more to his coach, but that he knows, the world most of all admires a coach and six?

To abound in wealth, to have fine houses and rich cloaths, to be attended with splendor and equipage, to be beautiful in our persons, to have titles of dignity, to be above our fellow-creatures, to command the bows and obeisance of other people, to be looked on with admiration, to pursue our enemies with revenge, to subdue all that oppose us, to set ourselves in as much splendor as we can, to live highly and magnificently, to eat and drink, and delight ourselves in the most costly manner; these are the great, the honourable, the desirable things, to which the spirit of the world turns the eyes of all people; and many a one is afraid of standing still, and not engaging in the pursuit of these things, lest the same world should take him for a _fool_.

Many a man would often drop a resentment, and forgive an affront, but that he is afraid the world would not forgive him.

How many would practice christian temperance and sobriety in its utmost extent, were it not for the censure which the world passes upon such a life?

Thus do the impressions which we have received from living in the world enslave our minds, so that we dare not attempt to be eminent in the sight of GOD, and holy angels, for fear of being little in the eyes of the world.

You will perhaps say, that the world is now become christian, at least that part of it where we live; and therefore the world is not now to be considered in that state of opposition to christianity, as when it was heathen.

It is granted, the world now professeth christianity. But will any one say, that this christian world is of the spirit of CHRIST? are its general tempers the tempers of CHRIST? are the passions of sensuality, self-love, pride, covetousness, ambition, and vain-glory, less contrary to the spirit of the gospel, now they are amongst christians, than when they were among heathens? Or will you say, that the tempers and passions of the heathen world are lost and gone?

The world is fully described to our hands by Saint _John_. “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” &c. Now will you say, that this world is become christian? But if all this still subsists, then the same world is now in being, and the same enemy to christianity that was in Saint _John_’s days.

Had you lived with our Saviour, as his true disciple, you had then been hated as he was; and if you now live in his spirit, the world will be the same enemy to you now, that it was to him then.

“If ye were of the world, (saith our blessed LORD) the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

We are apt to lose the true meaning of these words, by considering them only as an _historical description_ of something that was the state of our Saviour and his disciples at that time. But this is reading the scripture as a _dead letter_: for they as exactly describe the state of true christians in this, and all other times, to the end of the world.

For as _true christianity_ is nothing else but the spirit of CHRIST, so whether that spirit appear in the person of CHRIST himself, or in his apostles, or followers in any age, it is the same thing: whoever hath his spirit, will be hated, despised, and condemned by the world, as he was. For the world will always love its own, and none but its own: this is as certain and unchangeable, as the contrariety between light and darkness.

When the holy JESUS saith, “If the world hate you,” he does not add by way of consolation, that it may some time or other cease its hatred, or that it will not always hate them; but he only gives this as a reason for their bearing it, “You know that it hated me, before it hated you:” signifying, that it was he, or his spirit, that by reason of its contrariety to the world, was then, and always would be hated by it.

Whether, therefore, the world outwardly professeth, or openly persecuteth christianity, it is still in the same state of contrariety to the true spirit and holiness of the gospel.

And indeed the world, by professing christianity, is so far from being a less dangerous enemy than it was before, that it has by its favour destroyed more christians, than ever it did by the most violent persecution.

It is a greater and more dangerous enemy, because it has greater power over christians by its favours, riches, honours, rewards, and protections, than it had by the fire and fury of its persecutions.

It is a more dangerous enemy, by having lost its appearance of enmity. And the change that the world has undergone, has only altered its methods, but not lessened its power of destroying religion.

Christians had nothing to fear from the _heathen world_, but the loss of their lives; but the world become a friend, makes it difficult for them to save their religion.

How many consciences are kept at quiet, upon no other foundation, but because they sin under the authority of the _christian world_? How many directions of the gospel lie by unregarded, and how unconcernedly do particular persons read them? for no other reason, but because they seem unregarded by the christian world. So that there is hardly any possibility of saving yourself from the present world, but by considering it as the same wicked enemy to all true holiness, as it is represented in the scriptures; and by assuring yourself, that it is as dangerous to conform to its tempers and passions, now it is christian, as when it was heathen.

From this quarter, therefore, arises a great obstruction to a really devout life, because it cannot subsist in any person, but so far as he is dead to the world. And though human prudence seems to talk mighty wisely about the necessity of avoiding _particularities_, yet he that dares not be so weak as to be particular, will be often obliged to avoid the most substantial duties of christian piety.