bosome you shall sit in her lap you shall be accounted her Darlings when others shall be but her Out-casts you shall be high in the world's esteem the men of the world will speak well of you living and perhaps well of you when you are dead They will speak what a loss they have what an honest man is gone This is the most for ought I see a man gains by a conformity to this world To have the men of the world's good-will and good-word whereby a man enjoys some outward peace and quietness and freedom from trouble that as the Psalmist speaks he comes not in trouble like other men And besides all this it may be he is made partaker of some of the world's Promotions and Preferments This is the sum of vvhat a man gains by being a Conformist to this world 2. Consider What a man loseth by a Conformity to this world So consider what that loss amounts to 1. A loss of inward peace That man can have no true peace in his own spirit that walks by a Rule that is destructive to his own soul Isa 57. 27. There is no peace saith my God to the wicked And if no peace to the wicked then what peace can there be to those that conform to this world Conformity to the world may give a man some outward peace but it can never give a man that peace that is true peace which is peace within which is the peace of God and not of the world a peace passing understanding 2. Such as conform to the world lose the favour of God He that makes himself a Favourite of the world makes himself one whom God looks upon as an Enemy Jam. 4. 4. The friendship of the world is enmity with God He that is a friend to the sinful courses fashions manners and ways of the world is a professed enemy to God and God professeth himself an enemy to him How shall God love and affect favour and delight in that man who forsakes those rules and ways that he hath prescribed him to walk in and to conform to those patterns and examples which he hath proposed to him to imitate to close with those ways and to follow those examples which he hath flatly forbid us to walk in and to conform to So that every Conformist to the world is such a person as loseth the favour of God Now come and compare this gain and loss together 1. The gaining of outward and the loss of inward peace and tell me What shall it profit a man to gain worldly peace and lose inward and spiritual peace It 's peace in the soul and spirit that is the true peace Christ told his That in him they should have peace when yet in the world they should have affliction It is not peace from trouble but peace in trouble peace within when there is trouble without that is true peace A man's greatest trouble is trouble within when it is in his own spirit Prov. 18. 14. The spirit will sustain his infirmities but a wounded spirit who can bear There are the lending-parts and the borrowing-parts in the body If the lending-parts as the heart and brain c. be wounded the borrowing-parts viz. hand or foot cannot relieve them but if the borrowing-parts be wounded the lending-parts can relieve them A quiet and a peaceable Spirit and Conscience relieves against all outward troubles and helps a man to sustain all his outward infirmities But if there be trouble in the spirit outward peace and prosperity cannot relieve that Let the Winds be never so high and blustring yet they cannot make an Earth-quake but it 's wind gotten into the inwards and bowels of the earth that causeth that It is not trouble without that can trouble us while there is peace within no more than Hail-stones ratling on the Tiles of the House can hurt us while we are at a Feast in a dry and warm House Alas what is outward peace without inward Peace without when there is trouble within can give no peace to the spirit it reacheth not the leading-part The Earth may as soon give light to the Sun and a Tempest give rest to the Sea as outward and worldly peace can give rest to a wounded spirit What comfort is there in a man's being assured of freedom from the World's persecutions and to be under the apprehension of the pursuits of Eternal Wrath Now compare these two together the loss of worldly and inward peace and then consider what you gain by having peace without and losing peace within 2. Compare together the gaining of the world's favour and the losing of the favour of God and see what it will profit to be the world's Favourite and God's Enemy To have the world speak well of you and to have the Lord speak against you To have the world well pleased with us and to lye uuder the displeasure of an Almighty God To be the World's Darlings and God's Out-casts To be the World 's chosen ones and to be God's Reprobates To have the world commend us and God condemn us Surely those that have a kindness for the World's Favours do little know or consider what the Favour of God is which they lose by gaining that They little think that in his favour is life and that his favour is better than life That it is his 〈…〉 that makes Heaven and his Wrath and Displeasure that makes Hell Now compare this gain of the World's Favour with the loss of the Favour of God and see what reason you have to conform to the World 2. Consider what you lose and what you gain by not conforming to this world and compare those two together and see which doth preponderate 1. Consider what is the loss of not conforming to the world I have spoken something to this before and shall be brief in it here All the loss amounts but to something that is only outward and temporal viz. Credit a good report from the world a good repute with the world worldly peace freedom from the world's troubles and persecutions the World's Favour and its Preferments The highest it can amount to is but loss of Estate loss of Liberty loss of Life This is the sum of what a man loseth by not complying with and not conforming to the world 2. Next consider what a man shall gain by not conforming to the world This is the great thing every one is apt to enquire after If I do so what shall I get by it As Peter said Master we have left all and followed thee What shall we have So if any shall say We indeed hear that it is our duty to be Nonconformists to the World and we know such a Nonconformity is attended with many disadvantages and we would gladly know what advantages do attend such a Nonconformity and whether they over-weigh the disadvantages To satisfie such consider what such a one gains who is a Nonconformist to the World 1. He gains the love and esteem and good
the Rules of the Word both for judging of things and for practice 1. For the Rules prescribed us in the Word they are all pure I might name many but among others take these three 1. The VVord teacheth us to judg of things as God judgeth of them whose judgment is according to truth the judgment of the VVorld is according to appearance and corrupt phantasie 2. The Word teacheth us to judg of things as they have relation to the Soul That that is good which is good for the Soul which tends to the making of us more Holy and Heavenly 3. The Word teacheth us to judg of things to be good or evil as they relate to a man's future and eternal state So those things to be good that concern a man's eternal well being and those things to be evil that relate to eternal misery Thus for the Rules of judging of things Next for the Rules of Practice I shall name some of many to you you will find them all holy and pure 1. Is this Doing what pleaseth God not what pleaseth men Pleasing God whom ever we displease This is a Rule in the Word for practice it telleth us We should not be the servants of men to please their sinful humours and lusts and fancies 2. To do as the best do and not as the most do where by best we mean not the best of the Parish who are accounted so for their Riches and Lands and Possessions but the best in respect of Godliness and Holiness 3. In all things we do to prefer suffering before sinning To chuse Affliction rather than Sin It gives us to consider that the least evil of Sin hath more evil in it than the greatest evil of Suffering 4. In all we do to respect more inward than outward peace To regard most peace in our own Spirits and Consciences To remember what the Martyr said There were no Stocks to the Stocks of an evil Conscience To have a care to preserve the Bird in our bosome 5. Doing good and avoiding evil though with disadvantage to our selves when the good concerns eternal life and the disadvantage only this life Thus for some of the Rules for practice Next for the Patterns and Examples that the VVord of God holds out to us You will find them all holy having the Inscriptions of Heaven and Holiness on them So it propounds to us for our imitation the Examples First Of Jesus Christ Secondly Of Holy men and such as were Followers of Jesus Christ 1. Of Jesus Christ So it holds him out to us as our great Pattern to imitate It shews us the steps of his Humility Meekness Patience Obedience Holiness Heavenliness 2. It holds out to us the Examples of Holy men for our imitation more famous in their Generation than others for their Faith Piety Patience Holiness Zeal Heb. 6. 12 Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Consider the Scripture propounds to us for our example such as inherit the Promises of God the VVorld propounds such as inherit the Threatnings of God The Word propounds to us for our examples such as now are in Heaven The VVorld propounds such who for ought we know are either in Hell or in the road-way to Hell Now Christians I have given you a brief specimen and view of the VVorld's Rules and Examples and of those of the VVord and now compare them together and judg which are most worthy of your conformity Upon your comparing them together you will find the result to be this 1. That the Rules and Examples of the VVord are more high and noble and excellent than those of the VVorld The VVorld's Rules and Examples are low and base and a Christian debaseth himself in conforming to them they are below a Christian's Calling they are below a Christian's Spirit they are below a Christian's Profession they are below a Christian's Hope and Expectation and so must needs be too low for his conformity and imitation Man is an excellent Creature he was made a little lower than the Angels so that next to the Angels he is the most noble of Creatures And God that gave Man a noble Being gave him also a noble Rule to live and walk by As God made not man to be his own End neither did he make him to be his own Rule From whom he received his Being he was to receive his Rule His Rule was the Will and Law of his Creator and herein stood his excellency in conforming to that Rule When man conformed to another Rule he lost his excellency God made man upright but as Solomon saith they have found out many inventions So God made Man excellent but having found out other Rules to conform to than those of his Creator they have lost their excellency There was a high and noble Rule for a high and noble Creature and that Rule is the Rule of the Word which contains the revealed Will of the Creator 2. You will find this upon comparing them together That the Rules and Examples of the Word are more pure and holy than those of the World Consider what is said of the Word of God and what is said of the World Of the Word of God the Scripture saith it is pure very pure as Gold tryed in the fire seven times Of the World it 's said that it is sinful evil and that it lieth in wickedness Now as the Word is so are its Rules and as the World is so are its A pure Word hath pure Rules and an impure VVorld must needs prescribe impure Rules The higher things are the purer they are VVhat is Purity but a freeness from all Contagion and touch of inferior things That Gold is impure that is mixed with dross and that Face and Garment is defiled that is spotted with dirt Consider things are pure ex contactu superiorum the higher they are and the more heavenly the more pure And things are impure ex contactu inferiorum the lower things are the more impure Now upon this account the Rules and Precepts of the VVord most needs be the purest because they are must high holy heavenly There is no scoria no dross at all in them And as for the Examples of the VVord they are holy and heavenly ones that are propounded to us for our conformity and imitation Obj. It 's true some may here except against the Examples and say What was there no dross in them Had not the best Saints their failings and corruptions Were they perfectly pure without stain or blemish Ans To this we answer That the Examples and Patterns that the VVord of God holds out to us for our imitation are as I told you before of two sorts those 1. Of Jesus Christ 2. Of Holy men 1. The Example of Jesus Christ Now his Example is without and beyond all exception it is perfectly pure He hath left us his steps to tread in and upon view of them it wil never be found that he trod
one step awry He did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth He made this challenge to his most bitter and observing Adversaries Which of you convinceth me of sin He was Jesus Christ the righteous 2. As for the Examples of Holy men against whom the Objection most lieth and of whom it must be confessed that they had their impurities yet concerning them there is this to be said 1. That though they had their impurities yet they had their purity i.e. something that was precious and excellent They were Gold though there were some dross mixed with it so that comparatively we may say they were pure The Examples of the VVorld are altogether impure they are all dross and no Gold mixed with them They are altogether corrupt and have nothing of holiness and purity in them 2. This is to be considered That God in his VVord propounding to us the Examples of Holy men for our imitation sets them out to us to be imitated by us in what was good not what was evil in them The holiest men were in some things but men they had their black as well as their bright side Now the Scripture shews us their black side only for our caution but their bright side only for our imitation In the Scripture we see Saints in their Sins and in their Graces and it is in their Graces only that they are held forth to us as Patterns for our imitation The great Apostle himself bids them to whom he writes to be followers of him as he was of Christ VVe are to eye Christ as our chiefest Pattern and to conform to the Examples of others as they are conformable to Jesus Christ Particular Saints had their particular Graces and Excellencies Thus Abraham was eminent for his Faith Job for his Patience Moses for his Meekness David for his Zeal and so for the rest And in these the Scripture propounds them to us as Patterns for our imitation in their Excellencies not in their Frailties Thus the Objection is answered And now consider what Rules and Examples are worthy of your imitation and conformity 3dly You will find this upon comparing them together That the Rules and Examples of the VVord have the greatest and best and highest approbation and in this they exceed those of the VVorld this I shall shew you in some particulars 1. They are approved of by God himself who is the Best and Greatest And needs must it be so when such Rules are of own making and such Examples of his own stamping To these God puts his Seal of Approbation but to those of the VVorld that of his dislike and condemnation 2. They are those Rules and Examples that all that are godly approve of by their dissenting from the other they have testified their approbation of these Read but the 119th Psalm and see how highly David speaks forth his approbation of the Law and Testimonies and Precepts of God and how he had chosen the way of God's Precepts And this godly men have done under the greatest persecutions and afflictions they have then testified their high approbation of the ways of God and have not accepted of deliverance upon condition of complying with the sinful ways of the VVorld so you read of those sufferers of old Heb. 11. what tortures they endured and all upon the account of Nonconformity to the world 3. They are those Rules and Examples that will one day be approved of by all both good and bad There is a day when even wicked men themselves will vote for them It is not much to be regarded what wicked men now think or speak of them while they are in their prosperity and in the hot and eager pursuit of their Lusts Alas they are not now themselves but there is a day when they will be in cool blood when they wil be themselves when they wil commend the ways of God and the Examples of those holy ones they once condemned and wil wish they had chosen the way of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob c. and not of Cain and Esau and Ishmael and such like 4. You will find this upon comparing these Rules and Examples together That those of the VVord are the safest to conform to In that conformity there is a safety for Eternity In a conformity to those of the world there is nothing but danger they are liable to be condemned with the world there is no safety in those ways wherein there is no salvation to be found They that live the life of the VVorld must expect to perish with the VVorld The Psalmist saith Psal 125. 5. As for such as turn aside to crooked paths the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity i.e. God wil deal with such as with wicked men Solomon tells us Prov. 10. 9. He that walks uprightly walks surely It is a man's conformity to the Rules and Examples of the VVord that speaks him Upright and in that lieth his safety for Eternity 5. Upon comparing them you will find That a conformity to the Rules and Examples of the VVord is that that is most becoming Christians VVhat can more become a Christian than to conform to those Rules and Examples that are most Christian and holy 1. It becomes not a Christian 's Calling He is called from the world he is called out of the world he is called to be unlike the world he is called to be an Heir of another world he is called to begin Heaven on Earth to begin it here in Grace and to enjoy it hereafter in Glory Now Christians How doth a conformity to the world agree and suit with your Calling Doth it become a man to wallow in the Mire because a Hog doth so 2. It is unbecoming a Christian's Profession As your Calling is so is your Profession holy Do but reflect upon your Baptismal-Covenant Is not the VVorld one of those things you promise to forsake and renounce And if so How can you conform to it How can you that profess your selves to be the servants of Christ be the servants of sinful men How can you that profess your selves to be of the number of those that are redeemed from the world comply with and conform to the world 3. Conformity to the world is unbecoming the Spirit of a Christian A Christian is to be one of an excellent and precious Spirit And what hath an excellent Spirit to do with base and low Rules and Examples Let me tell you there is a holy Gallantry Christians should have which should set them above such a conformity with the greatest disdain and scorn As it 's said of Caleb Numb 14. 24. He had another Spirit What have holy Spirits to do with sinful Rules And What have heavenly Spirits to do with worldly and earthly Examples 6. Upon comparing them together you will find That a Conformity to the Rules and Examples of the Word is most Consolative There is more comfort in conforming to the Word than in conforming
to the World What comfort will the thoughts of your conforming to a sinful wicked World give you when you come to lye on your last and dying-beds What comfort will a conformity to the World reflect Oh that men would consider what will give them peace at the last Consider this you covetous Tradesmen that use false Measures and Ballances and that deal in false Wares the saying is Leight Gains make an heavy Purse but take heed they make not an heavy and accusing Conscience in the end It is the way of the World to get gain any way but never consider what the issue will be whether it will be comfort and peace at last It was the saying of a worthy Judg of this Nation to his Son when he was a dying Son I leave you but a small Estate but it was well gotten Oh that men could say so of their Estates whether great or small That they were well gotten Let the cunning covetous worldly Tradesman know That he may as well rob a man in his Shop with a mete-Yard and a pair of Ballances in his hand as a Thief doth with Sword and Pistol on the Road and although they are not alike arraigned at the Barr of Man's Tribunal yet they will be alike at the Barr of God's Tribunal And as for you prophane ones What comfort will the thoughts of your sinful pleasures delights and vanities reflect when you come to dye What pleasure will it then be to you to remember the sinful jollities and debaucheries of a fore-passed life Know this that one hour spent in communion with God will yeeld a man more solid comfort than all the days a man hath spent in the Tents of wickedness He said it that had proved it Psal 84. 10. A day in thy Courts is better than a thousand c. And let me tell you A day spent in serving God and conforming to his Will and Word doing what is well-pleasing in his sight will yeeld more comfort than a thousand spent in complying with and conforming to the sinful fashions pleasures and examples of the World Nay What sad reflections will the thoughts of such a compliance cause That proud Cardinal Wolsey when he was cast out of the favour of his Prince and was under the apprehension of approaching death said If I had been as careful of serving and pleasing God as I have been to serve and please my King he had not now forsaken me in this my misery And ere long men will wish they had been as careful in conforming to the will of God revealed in his Word as they have been to the wills of men and ways of the World and repent of it when it s too late 7. Upon comparing these together you will find That a conformity to the Rules and Examples of the Word is a Christian's Wisdom and that all Conformists to the World will at the last be found but fools as the Prophet Jer. 17. 11 saith He that getteth riches and not by right at his end shall be a fool Consider who in the end will be the veriest fools Conformists or Nonconformists to the World Deut. 4. When Moses had told the men of Israel of the Statutes of God this is one Motive he makes use of to press them to an observation of them v. 6. This will be your wisdom in the sight of the Nations Let me tell you A Conformity to the Word and a Nonconformity to the World is a Christian's Wisdom There is a day coming when those who now for not conforming to the world are accounted fools will not only be pronounced wife by the testimony of God and Christ and Angels but also by those that now esteem and call them Fools Let me tell you What is the judgment and opinion of wicked men now concerning Holiness and Holy ones will not always be their judgment they will one day be of another mind Now indeed the wisdom of God is foolishness with the world when indeed it is the wisdom of the world that is foolishness with God In the Word of God and the laws and rules which it prescribes is seen the Wisdom of God And those must needs be the wisest who conform to those Rules Conforming to the World's Rules is conforming to the World's Wisdom which indeed is conforming to the World's Wickedness and the wisest of such Conformist except they repent will ere long call themselves Fools to all Eternity Now having compared all these together tell me Whether the Rules and Examples of the Word or of the World are most worthy of your conformity Thus much for the First Secondly We come next to enquire To which you are most obliged and engaged to conform To the Word of God or to the World And here I shall put this Question to you viz. To whom you owe most whether to God or the world So I must ask you two things 1. Which hath done most for you 2. Which can do most for you 1. Which hath done most for you God or the VVorld To whom owe you your Beings VVho created you God or the world Then tell me to whom you owe your conformity To whom owe you your Redemption Who sent a Saviour into the world to dye for you and by that death to purchase pardon and peace and reconciliation and eternal salvation To whom do you owe your lives Who endued your souls with life and hath hitherto held your souls in life Or whose Mercies is it that you have not ere this been consumed Is it of the Lord's Mercy or of the World's From whom have you had protection and deliverance from dangers Whose Angels are it that have pitch'd their Tents about you God's or the World's From whom do you receive all your blessings of health wealth food raiment Is it from God or the World See by this to which you owe your conformity 2. Consider which can do most for you What can the world do for you Doth it or can it bid more for your conformity than God doth As Saul said to his Courtiers when he saw they were addicted to David's Party Can the Son of Jesse give you Vineyards or Olive-yards c. So let me ask you Can the world give you what God can All that the world can do for you doth but amount to what is temporal But can it give you that which is eternal Let me tell you It is so far from doing that that though it can give a man Honour and Riches yet it cannot give a man Contentment with them much less can it give inward comfort and peace and assurance of Eternal Glory and Happiness All this God bids for your conformity to him And now see to which you most owe your conformity Thirdly VVe are next to enquire By which you will be most advantaged whether by a conformity to God or the world To this I have spoken largely before when I shew'd you the Gain and Loss of Conformity and Nonconformity to the world