world that is to come And what of Heaven is to be seen in you VVhat of Heaven in your judgments Do you conform to the world to come in that Christians you see here how the world judgeth of things and persons but Do you think we shall have in Heaven that judgment of things that the men of the world have now If you ask How we shall judg of things here who are yet on Earth and not in Heaven Why thâ— Word and not the World is your Rule you need not say Who shall go up into Heaven to bring us tidings what is the judgment of things there we have it near in the written Word Next What conformity is there to Heaven in your Affections Are they heavenly Remember the Command is Col. 3. 2. Set your affections on things above And What conformity is there in your conversation Is your conversation in Heaven The Apostle saith the conversation of a Christian should be so Phil. 3 27. What engravings of Heaven are there on your conversations What beginnings of Heaven have you in you How many are there that begin Hell on Earth and have the engravings of Hell written upon their conversations These indeed are Conformists to another World but it is that World of Darkness and not of Light that is to come But in prosecuting these Discoveries of a Nonconformity to this World for every one's better and fuller satisfaction I shall proceed by way of Enquirie those shall be of two sorts 1. Some more general 2. More particular 1. More general And so the Enquiry is this What conformity is there in you to those that are in Heaven and that inhabit Heaven If you ask Who are in Heaven The Scripture tells you That there is A God A Christ Angels Spirits of just men 1. God is in Heaven his Throne is there He dwells there in respect of the manifestation of his glorie He is said to inhabit Eternity and to dwell in that high and holy place Isa 57. 15. The enquiriâ—â—â— this God is in Heaven and What conformitie is there in you on Earth to that God who is in Heaven You are called to be like him to be holy as he is to be merciful as he is not in respect of equalitie but similitude and likeness You are called to be partakers of the Divine Nature and What is that but to be partakers of Divine Graces by which we bear his Image and so become like him You are called Children of God and Children are to resemble the Father Now try how you resemble him and by that your conformitie to him 1. Consider how God judgeth of things Here the Scripture gives us light and by it you are to see whether you judg of things as God doth He judgeth of Sin as the greatest Evil of Sinners as the greatest Enemies of Grace as most excellent of gracious ones as most precious of Heaven as most desirable of the World as most vain and contemptible Thus God in his Word declares his judgement of these things Now the Query is What conformitie there is in our judgments to this Whether we judg of things as God judgeth of them And so for the estimative facultie Whether you esteem things as God esteemeth them The godly man is described Psal 15. to be one in whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. 2. How God-like you are in your affections and What conformitie is there in yours to his The Scripture acquaints us with what God loves and with what he hates and with what he delights in The Scripture tells us what he loves That he loves righteousness loves holiness he loves uprightness he loves truth and sincerity in the inward parts Now put the question to your selves Whether you love the things which God loves The Scripture tells us what God hateth He hateth iniquitie and all the workers of iniquitie he hateth sin and all sinful ways he hateth all sin And now see what conformitie there is in your affections of hatred to this The Scripture acquaints us what it is that God delights in It tells us that he delighteth in those that fear him He delighteth in uprightness He is a God that hath pleasure in uprightness He delighteth in mercy Now Christians try what conformitie there is in you to your Heavenly Father in these things 2. Christ is in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. from whence we look for a Saviour c. We look for him from Heaven And it is an Article of our Faith That he is ascended into Heaven Though Christ be in Heaven and you on Earth yet there is to be in Christians a conformitie to Jesus Christ Christ is the Head now he is in Heaven and the members must be conformed to the Head Though he be in Heaven yet he hath left us such foot-steps on Earth in which we are to tread Those that will come to Christ in Heaven must tread in his steps on Earth and so ascend up to him Christians are still to be followers of Jesus Christ Christ is the great Master they are to follow and the grand Pattern they are to imitate The great Apostle said Be followers of me as I am of Christ Now Christians trie what conformitie there is in you to Jesus Christ and you have reason to put your selves upon the trial because the Apostle telleth us Rom. 8. 28. We are predestinated to be conformed to his Image Let me tell you there are three things wherein Christians are called to be conformable to Jesus Christ viz. Sufferings Sanctity Glory In this world we are called to be conformed to Jesus Christ in the two first when we come to Heaven we shall be made conformable to him in the latter Now the Querie lieth about the two first 1. Christians What conformitie is there in you to Jesus Christ in your Sufferings It cannot be that a Christian can be a Christian indeed but he must be a suffering Christian if it come not so high as to resisting unto blood yet it may come to bonds and imprisonments if not so high yet to scoffs nick-names reproaches for the sake of Christ Now Christians In your sufferings are you conformed to Jesus Christ Do you suffer meekly patiently rejoicingly Christ was patient in his sufferings He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and he opened not his mouth He prayed for his persecutors When he was reviled he reviled not again and in that the Apostle Petor telleth us He left us an example that we should tread in his steps 1 Pet. 2. 23. Now trie your selves whether you are like Christ or the world under sufferings It is the way of the world to return like for like railing for railing reviling for reviling to â—â—et and murmure and be impatient under their sufferings Christians Jesus Christ when he was on earth and in the days of his suffering was otherwise Now see to whom you conform in your sufferings whether to Christ or the
conformitie is there in you to them 1. We have reason to believe there is in them a longing for a full accomplishment of the number of the Elect and for a full revelation of glory They long for their own perfection and that of all the Saints This the world longs not for the coming of the Kingdom of Glory Our Saviour tells us how it was in the days of Noah they eat they drank c. and saith it would be so in the days of his Coming Now see what your conformitie is in this particular Do you mind the Glory to come Is there in you a looking for the coming of Jesus Christ 2. The Spirits in Heaven are in perfect union What ever disagreements were among the Saints on Earth yet in Heaven they all agree There Calvin and Luther Ridley and Hooper are agreed Now see what conformitie there is in you to them Is it your endeavour to preserve on Earth the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace 3. The Spirits of just men departed are with Christ enjoying his presence and rejoicing in it Tell me Do you rejoice in the thoughts of it and do you long for it and to be with Jesus Christ Thus for the general Queries 2. Consider some particular Queries and they are to enquire further what Conformists you are to another world 1. Do you speak the language of another world We read of speaking the language of Canaan We know of what Countrey a man is by the language that he speaks Is your language heavenly The Primitive Christians were charged with being affectors of Kingdoms because they spake so often of the Kingdom of God What shall we think of those whose words are either worldly or wicked To what world are they conformed 2. What life do you live Is it the life of another world Is your Conversation in Heaven And have you the engravings of Heaven on them It is sad to see that most of the world have the engravings of Hell upon their's 3. VVhat works do you Do they relate to another world or only to this Praying hearing holy meditation praising God and religious duties they relate to another world to an heavenly world that is to come How sad is is to see how many there are whose works only relate to this world or to the infernal vvorld of Darkness 4. VVhat things do you most eye and look at Are they the things of another world or of this vvorld The Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4. the last We look not upon the things that are seen c. Do you most eye and long after heavenly Glory Treasures and Possessions or Earthly 5. VVhat vvorld is it you make the greatest preparation and provision for Do you provide for that vvorld that novv is or for that that is to come VVe read of the fool in the Gospel that cheer'd himself vvith that That he had goods laid up for many years Hovv many are there that have no thoughts of another vvorld That provide for their peace and safety and contentment in this vvorld that say What shall we do to be rich but never ask What they shall do to be saved that lay up for themselves treasures on earth but lay not up treasures in heaven 6. VVhat place and vvhat vvorld do you look upon as your home Is it this vvorld or that to come If that to come then you are in this as strangers and pilgrims you lodg in it as in an Inn and you walk through it as persons unconcerned in its sinful lusts and vanities 7. What Right and Interest do you most rejoice in Is it that you have an Interest in this world or that you have an Interest in the world to come Is it in that portion you enjoy here or in that portion that God hath reserved for his in another world Is it in your Mansions here or in those that Christ hath provided in his Father's Kingdom for his 8. VVhence do you fetch all your comfort in any sad and cloudy condition Is it from this world or from the thoughts of another world where there shall be no more sorrow nor weeping nor death c. 9. VVhat promises do you most prise VVhether those that are made concerning this world or those that concern the world that is to come The Apostle telleth us That godliness hath the promises of both But he that is a Nonconformist to this world doth most highly prise the latter and would not be without them for a world to enjoy the former 10. How do you do the Civil businesses of this world Do you do them as relating to another world Do you so eat and drink and marry and use the World as those that think of Eternity and as those that shortly look for Eternity Do you so use this World as those that must shortly leave it and must go hence to live in another World It 's sad to see how many there are that live in this world as if there were no life to come nor any other World to be looked for Now Christians if you are Nonconformists to this World you use it with weaned affections as those whose time is short and are passing out of this life into another Thus much for the Evidences Whether we are Nonconformists to this World 3. Directions what to do with Considerations propounded that we may not be Conformists to this World With Means and Helps prescribed How we may be delivered from such a Conformity 1. Those that would be Nonconformists to this World must be much in comparing both Worlds together this World with that which is to come They must take a view of both Worlds and by that means they will come to discern which of the two is most worthy of their conformity to which it's most rational to conform When we have compared them together as we shall find this World not worthy to be compared with the World to come so neither worthy to be conformed to So consider what a World that is that is to come and then see how worthy that World is of a Christian's conformity The Scripture gives us some account of the World to come what a World it is and by that light we shall walk in making a description of it 1. The World to come is an Eternal World This World is but temporary this is but this present world this now world which shortly will not be As David saith of the wicked of the world Psal 37. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be thou shalt seek his place So we may say of this World Yet a little while and it will be no more and its place will not be found The great Creator set up this Earthly World to be as a Stage wherein men in their successive generations are to act their parts for some thousands of years and then God will take it down It is reserved for fire it is drawing to its end as the Apostle Peter saith The end
forth seasonable and wholesom Fruit for the Comfort and Refreshing of others which hath occasioned no doubt the Thanks-giving of many to God on your behalf And if God hath given you with a large and plentiful Estate a large Heart and open Hand to do good it is a double Blessing and lays a double Obligation upon you to be thankful Now because the best Christians need dayly Monitors to warn them of Dangers and to awaken them to Duty and the continual Exercise of their Graces give me leave as a faithful Friend to beseech you to keep in remembrance and seriously to ponder what the Apostle writes to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 17. 18 19. The more Splendid your outward Condition is the greater is the Danger you are exposed unto from the Temptatations of a Smiling Flattering World which being masked vetled are not easily known and discovered which if they were would more easily be resisted and were nothing so dangerous They that by Experience know what a tempting thing Worldly Grandeur is and have any acquaintance with their own hearts how apt they are to be taken with it cannot but acknowledg it is none of the easiest Points of that difficult Duty of Christian Self-denial for those that have arrived at the Haven of Worldly hopes to keep their Hearts humble from being lifted up with Self-admiring thoughts when their outward Greatness and Splendor invites others to applaud and admire them And indeed it will put the Faith of Christians to the greatest Stress and prove not only the Truth but the Strength thereof when in the midst of Worldly Enjoyments they can look above them to higher and better and in the midst of Worldly Greatness can live above it in the Soul-ravishing View of Heavenly Glory It must needs be then a Mercy worth the asking and a Lesson worth the learning to have our Hearts loosed from all outward Comforts before Hand and to leave and part with them in affection before we are called to part with them indeed seeing there will be a time of parting and we enjoy them on no other but partingterms and then whensoever they are taken from us or we from them the trouble of parting will not be great But to detain you no longer with an Epistle As concerning the Author of the ensuing Sermons it is needless for me to write any thing to you who were so nearly related and so sâ—â—iliarly acquainted with him to whom I doubt not his Memory is and will be precious and that true Love and due esteem you always had for his publick and profitable Labours is a sufficient Commendation of this Practical Piece to your Serious Perusal which I hope and heartily wish through the Blessing of God may prove advantagious to preserve you from Worldliness and for the promoting the power of Godliness in your Hearts and Lives that you may dayly strive after a nearer and closer Conformity to Christ your Heavenly Pattern in all his imitable Graces then shall you have no cause to repent the reading but rejoyce and bless God that by his good Providence it is brought forth to publick View wherein the Author though dead yet speaketh Your most Affectionate Kinsman in any Service of Christian Love to be commanded STEPH BAXTER THE CONTENTS THE words of the Text words either of Counsel Caution Command p. 1. Here considered as a Prohibitive Precept 1 The Act forbidden ibid. 2 The Object to which it hath relation 2 What is not forbidden Not living in the world All using of the world All converse with the men of the world ib. Two things forbidden to Christians in relation to the world Affection Imitation ib. Doct. It is the duty of Christians to be Nonconformists to this world 2 1. Explication Two things opened 1. What is meant by the world its Frame Family Here meant the Family 3 Five Reasons why the worst of the World are called the World 4 5 6. 2. What it is to be a Nonconsormist to this World 7 8 9. Wherein conformity to the World stands In 1 Approbation 2 Imitation 9 Wherein a Nonconformity stands In Judgment Affection Conversation 10 11 Not conforming to the World's Rules Examples 12 2 Confirmation 1 Reasons in general what a Christian is 1 Called from 2 Called to 1 Holiness 2 Happiness 13 14 15 2. Reasons in particular 1 Conformity to God and the World cannot consist 16 2 This World is one of a Christian's declared Enemies 17 3 Christians are predestinated to another Conformity ib. 4 What was a Christian's Rule before conversion cannot be after ib. 5 One End of Christ's living on Earth was to give us an Example to conform to ib. 6 It is a Debasement to a Christian to be a Conformist to this World 18 3 Vindication Quest Whether all conformity to this World be unlawful 19 Conformity distinguished into Civil 19 Sinful 28 Doubtful 30 Advice given concerning Doubtful Conformity ib. 4 Application 1 Information 1 What is the Character of a true Christian 32 What to judg of those who are Conformists to this World 34 3 Why Nonconformists to this World are so much hated 38 Exhortation Three things handled 1 The chief Causes of a Conformity viz. 1 Slavish fear of the World's frowns 41 2 Sinful love of the World's favours ib. Four things men naturally affect 1 To be thought some-body in the world 42 2 To be free from the world's hatred ib. 3 To have company in their way 43 4 To have Elbow-room 44 2. Discoveries whether we are Nonconformists to this world By being unlike the world 50 By being Conformists to another world 50 Enquiries hereupon made General Particular ib. 1 General Enquiry What conformity to those in Heaven 50 Quest Who are in Heaven Answ God Christ Angels The Spirits of just men made perfect ib Trials of our conforming to God in our Judging 51 Affecting ib. Conformity to Christ in Sufferings 53 Sanctity 55 To Angels In doing the will of God on Earth as they in Heaven That shewed in five particulars 57 To the Spirits of just men That shew'd in two particulars 60 2. Particular Queries 1 What Language do you speak 62 2 What Life do you live ib. 3 What Works do you do ib. 4 What things do you most look after 63 5 What world do you most provide for ib. 6 What world do you account your home ibid. 7 What Interest do you most rejoice in 64 8 From what world do you fetch all your comfort ib. 9 What Promises do you most prize ib. 10 How do you do the Civil businesses of this life ib. 3. Directions that we may be Nonconformists to this world 65 1 Compare both worlds together ib. Both worlds compared in seven particulars 65 to 71 The Question put upon this comparison Which world is most worthy of our conformity 72 2 Compare together the loss of conforming the gain of Not-conforming ib. The gain and loss of Conformity compared 71 to 78 The gain and
World 2. VVhat conformitie is there is you to Jesus Christ in respect of Sanctity and Holiness Though Jesus Christ be now in Heaven yet he hath left us his foot-steps of that wherein we are to tread He was one that went about doing good He was abundant in dutie and much in prayer He was so holy in the whole course of his life that he challenged any to convince him of sin He suffered wrong but did no wrong neither was guile found in his mouth He was conformable to his Father's will and it was his meat and drink to do it He was much in self-denial he denied himself in his dearest things he laid aside his own glory he laid down his own life for the salvation of poor sinners He was much in holy and heavenly discourse ever speaking of the Kingdom of heaven and taking occasion from earthly things to reflect on and discourse of heavenly things He was much in instructing counselling comforting his Disciples He stood up for the honour of his Father and defended the truth against all opposition All this and much more did he in the days of his flesh when he was on earth and therein left us an example He made a holy close of his life As he lived so he died VVhen the time of his suffering death drew near he betook himself to prayer Under his last sufferings he behaved himself meekly and patiently VVhen nailed to the Cross he prayed for his persecutors saying Father forgive them for they know not what they do VVhen he was giving up the Ghost he commended his Soul to God saying Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Thus Christians you see a short specimen of Christ's Sanctity when he was on Earth Now trie your conformitie to Jesus Christ who is now in Heaven Can you say My Pattern is in Heaven as Job said of his Witness Job 16. 19 My Witness is in Heaven Do you tread in those steps of holiness that Jesus Christ hath left which though we cannot exactly walk in yet Do you strive to come as near in imitating his Example as you can Remember Christians The world hath found out other ways than the way of Jesus Christ There is the way of Cain and Corah and Balaam and Esau and Ishmael in which the most of the world walk But the way wherein you are to walk is that way wherein Jesus Christ walked when he was on earth Christians are called to be in this World as Jesus Christ was in this World 3. In Heaven are Angels Angels of Light who are called holy Angels and are the Heavenly Courtiers These are some of the Inhabitants of the World that is to come Christians You are to try what conformitie there is in you to these heavenlie Spirits and whether you are conformable to Angels of Light or Angels of Darkness Those who are Nonconformists to this world hold some conformitie to those glorious Angels that inhabit the other world and the great and main conformitie to them stands in our doing the will of God on Earth as the Angels do it in Heaven it is one Petition in the Lord's Prayer Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven Now try your selves by this 1. They do the will of God Zealously with a great deal of heat fervency and intention of spirit and are therefore called Seraphims They are zealous for his work and zealous in his work Are you conformable to them in that 2. Angels do the will of God Chearfully with abundance of delight and joy and therefore they are said to have Harps to shew it is their Musick and Delight All the Services God puts them upon they go about with abundance of alacritie Now what conformitie is there in you to Angels in this When you go to dutie Do you go about it as Angels do about their work Remember the most of the world are never more sad and dull than when they are set about Heavenlie work and never so chearful as when they are out of God's work and freed from Heavenlie employments 3. Angels in Heaven do the will of God speedilie and are therefore said to have wings They never dispute the commands of God no sooner are they bid go but they go What Messages they are sent about what Work they are put upon they do and execute readily and speedily Now Christians How like Angels are you in doing the Lord's work on earth The way of the world is to move slowly as Pharoah's Chariots when the Wheels were pulled off But Christians if you are conformable to the Angels there is a readiness of mind in you to do the will of God You stand ready pressed for his Service and have your Loins girded up 4. Angels do the will and work of God with much self-denial They ascribe all to God and give him all the glorie and therefore are said to cast down their Crowns before the Throne and in Ezech. 1. 8. they are said to have hands under their wings as concealing their own abilities Now Christians see what conformitie there is in you to the Angels in this particular of Self-denial It 's the way of most of the world when they do any thing that is good to boast and be proud of it as the Pharisee of his fasting and duties But those that are conformable in this particular to the Angels in Heaven do nothing as of themselves and give all the glory to God as St. Paul did who said By the grace of God I am what I am and not I but the grace of God which is in me 5 Angels do the will and the work of God with abundance of love There is a sweet harmony and agreement among them in their Employments they do not cross or thwart one another they are obedient Servants to their Lord and are in love and unitie among themselves Ezek. 1. 9. we read of the Cherubims and the living Creatures that their wings joined one to another and they turned not when they went and they went every one straight forward they did not go one this way and another that way but do sweetly and mutually correspond in doing the will of God Now Christians What conformitie is there in you to Angels in this Do you sweetly conspire and agree together in serving God on Earth Oh that Christians were more Angel-like in this Remember Contention and Division is the way of the world and the way of carnal men the Apostle tells us so 1 Cor. 3. 3. While there are strifes and divisions among you are you not carnal and walk as men Now Christians I have shew'd you how the Angels in another world do the will of God and try your selves what conformitie there is in you on earth to them 4. In Heaven are the Spirits and Souls of just men made perfect These are in another world they are in Heaven they inherit the Promises and such the Apostle commands us to be followers of Heb. 6. 12. Now what
report of those that are godly and that are really so Christ hath some chosen precious ones in the World redeemed from the World that are not of the world whose Names are written in Heaven who are Virgins i.e. who are not defiled nor spotted with the World's corruptions and pollutions you have a description of them Rev. 14. 4 c. such as vvalk in the steps of Christ here and shall vvalk vvith Christ in vvhite hereafter Novv consider Your not conforming to the World vvill gain the good report of these What the Apostle saith Heb. 11. 2. By faith the Elders obtained a good report may I say By this Nonconformity you vvill obtain a good report from those that are truly and sincerely good Novv compare this gain vvith the fore-mentioned loss What is it to lose the good vvord of a Drunkard a Swearer a filthy wicked prophane person and to be vvell reported of by those that are holy and pious Let me tell you Next to God's Approbation the Approbation of those that are godly is most desirable What comfort vvill this give a man upon his dying-bed that all the Drunkards and Prophane persons in the Countrey commend him and speak vvell of him Our Saviour said Wo to you when all men shall speak well of you and surely then Wo to that man of vvhom none can speak vvell but only such as are vvicked 2. By not conforming to the World you vvill not only gain a good report from godly men but also from God himself let me tell you They are such as God makes high account of whom Jesus Christ highly priseth and vvhom the Angels in Heaven rejoice over Look but into Scripture and see hovv highly God commends those vvho are Nonconformists to the men of their generation The Apostle in Heb. 11. speaks of the Faith of the holy men of old as Enoch of vvhom it 's said he walked with God and of Noah who by building the Ark upon the vvarning he had from God condemned the World Let me tell you vvhat the Apostle speaks of all them there in relation to their Faith we may speak of them in relation to their Nonconformity to the world that as the Apostle saith v. 2 by Faith they obtained a good report so by their Nonconformity to the world What was Enoch but a Nonconformist What was Noah but a Nonconformist to the men of his generation What were Abraham and Isaac and Jacob but Nonconformists to the world when it is expresly said of them v. 13. that they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth that they did look after a better Countrey i.e. a heavenly one What was Moses but a Nonconformist to this World who refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season who esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt This is an eminent and high demonstration of his Nonconformity to the World And so I might speak of the rest who were all persons of whom the world was not worthy who obtained a good report from God and of whom we may say as the Apostle doth Heb. 11. 13. All these dyed in faith So all these lived and dyed Nonconformists to the World How highly and honourably doth the Lord in Scripture speak of these Nonconformists Non doubt but the men of their generation looked upon them as men singular factious humorous as such that delighted to be unlike their Neighbours But the Lord speaks of them as excellent and precious and such of whom the World was not worthy Now compare these together and see whether is better To be well reported of by the World or to be well reported of by God What though the World account such precise Fools if the Lord call such the only wise in the world It is not whom the World commends but whom God commends that are praise-worthy indeed Moses in the blessing of Joseph Deut. 33. 16. he wisheth to him the good-will of him that dwelt in the bush To have the good-will and the good-word of God is that that is most desirable in this life 3. That you may be Nonconformists to this World Be much in comparing together Rules and Patterns Those of the Word and those of the World Take a view of both and then consider these three things First Which are most worthy your conformity Secondly To which you are most obliged and engaged to conform Thirdly By your conformity to which you shall most benefit and advantage your selves First Consider whether the Rules and Examples of the Word or of the World be most worthy of your conformity So consider 1. What the World's Rules and Commands and Prescriptions are You will find them to be all corrupt erroneous base unclean unholy And you will find its Examples such likewise The Rules it hath by which it doth and acts things and by which it judgeth of things are all naught Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean saith Job And how can a filthy and unclean World prescribe Rules that are otherwise Take a survey of its Rules 1. For judging of things It makes this one of its great Rules by which it judgeth of things Whether they be Good or Evil by the suitableness or unsuitableness there is in them to sinful flesh and corrupt nature I might name many other Rules of the like nature but for brevity's sake I omit them 2. For its Rules for practice they are sinful and corrupt too I shall name you some viz. To do as the most do is one Rule To do as the greatest do is another Rule To do as our Ancestors and Fore-fathers did who lived in dark and corrupt times is another Rule To do what respects our outward ease and credit and quiet in this world that we may sleep in a whole skin is another Rule In a word To do what is good in our own eyes and to do what tends to the pleasing and gratifying of our lusts is another Rule I might name more but let these suffice Next for the World's Patterns and Examples take a view of them You will find them all corrupt and naught If you look with a right eye upon them you will find they all have ugly base sinful inscriptions on them as of Prophaneness Drunkenness Swearing Covetousness Pride Luxury Uncleanness and of all Ungodliness Atheism Indifferency in Religion Lukewarmness Denying the power of Godliness c. Such are the World's Examples And so I have shew'd you what the World's Rules for judging and practice are and what its Patterns and Examples are All naught 2. Now I shall come to shew you what the Rules and Examples of the Word are that so upon comparing them together you may see which are most worthy of your conformity As for the Rules of the Word they are holy they are pure they are perfect so are all