loss of Not-conforming to the world compared 78 What a Nonconformist to the world gains 1 A good report from godly men 79 2 A good report from God himself 80 That those VVorthies mentioned Heb. 1◠lived and dyed Nonconformists to the world 81 3 Compare together the Rules and Examples of the World and of the World 82 Vpon comparing them three things considered 1 Which most worthy of our conformity 83 2 To which we are most engaged to conform ib. 3 By conforming to which they will be most advantaged ib. 1 Which are most worthy of our conformity An examination of the world's Rules for Judging Practice found to be Corrupt Naught 83 An examination of the world's Patterns and Examples and they found to be such 84 An examination of the Rules of the Word and they found to be holy and pure ib. Rules for Judging Three 85 Rules for Practice Five 86 An examination of the Patterns and Examples of the Word 87 An Objection against Scripture-Examples answered in two things 91 The result of this Comparison and the Rules and Examples of the World found to b 1 More high 88 2 More holy 89 3 Having better and higher approbation than those of the world 93 Quest By whom they are approved ib. By God himself ib. By those that are godly 94 One day by all both good and bad ib. 4 Most safe for Eternity 95 5 Most becoming a Christian 's Calling Profession Spirit 96 6 Most Consolative 97 7 A conformity to them a Christian's wisdom 100 2 To which we are most obliged to conform God or the VVorld 101 Qu. VVhich hath done most for you 102 VVhich can do most for you 103 3 By conforming to which we shall be most advantaged ib. Two things enquired into VVhich promiseth most VVhich threatneth most 104 The Motives wrapped up in the Directions 106 Eleven particular Directions that Christians may be Nonconformists to this world 106 to the end A NON-CONFORMITY Commanded and Commended Rom. 12. v. 2. And be not conformed to this world THE words considered in themselves are either words of Counsel issuing from the Apostle's Wisdom or words of Caution issuing from the Apostle's Care and Love or words of Command issuing from the Apostle's Authority Be not conformed to this world We will consider them as a prohibitive Precept wherein we have 1. The Act forbidden and that is Conformity 2. The Object to which it hath relation and that is to this world And mark it 's said to this World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to the world but to this world The Greek word taken strictly signifies the present Age of the world so as if the Apostle should say Be not conformed to this Age intimating that it was an Age wherein Sin and Corruption did more abound But we shall take it more largely so this World as distinguished from another World There is the World that now is and the World that is to come It 's said of Demas That he embraced this present world So the thing forbidden is not being in the world nor using of the world nor all converse with the men of this world but it is conformity to this world that is forbid There are two great things the Scripture forbids us in relation to the world 1. Affecting of it Love not the world 2. Imitating of it and conforming to it so here Be not conformed to this world Doct. It is the duty of Christians to be Non-conformists to this world In handling of it we shall speak to four things 1. The Explication 2. The Confirmation 3. The Vindication 4. The Application 1. For Explication so two things come to be opened I. What is meant by the world to which Christians are not to conform II. What is meant by being a Non-Conformist to this world I. What is meant by the world that Christians are not to conform to To let pass the several acceptions of the world in Scripture It may be understood either of the Frame or Family of the World 1. For the Frame so for what the world consists of so for the Heavens and Earth and the things contained in them Heb. 1. 2. By whom also he made the world So it is not here understood 2. The Family of the world so the world is taken for the persons that inhabit this lower world the Earth and so in Scripture for the wicked of the world 1 Joh. 5. 19. The world lieth in wickedness Where by the world is not understood the Frame but the Family and men of the world who by a special appellation in Scripture are stiled the men of the world Psal 17. 14. and the children of this world Luke 16. 8. And the reasons why they are called the world are these 1. The worst are the most of the world they take up most room in the world the Godly are a little Flock Who can number the dust of Atheists Swearers Drunkards Sabbath-breakers Covetous Prophane How few are those that fear an Oath to those that swear How few are those that sanctisie a Sabbath to those that prophane it How few are those that call upon the Name of the Lord to those that blaspheme his Name How few are those that fear God to those that fear him not 2. The worst are for the most part the greatest of the world they are the most flourishing part of and people in the world and they are the world's ownlings whom the world loves as our Saviour saith The world will love its own They are the Diamonds of the world and the godly are but the Pebbles They are the persons in esteem when the godly are accounted the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 off-scowring of the world They are the men that have most worldly wisdom most worldly wealth most worldly honour and therefore called the world 3. The worst are called the world in regard of affection they love the world and the things of the world They savour the things of the world and savour of the world they smell of the world as Esau's garments did of the Field The saying is Vnum quodque illud est quod amat every thing is that it loves Affections work a change especially that of love which in a manner changes one into the person or thing loved Hence it is the worst are called the world 4. The worst are called the world in respect of Conversation they are carnali conversatione Mundo dediti as an Expositor saith they are wholly addicted to and given up to the world the world is the Principle from which and the End for which they act they rise no higher in their conversation than the world their conversation is not in Heaven they do all carnally so they eat and so they drink so they live and so they dye and therefore called the world 5. The worst are called the world Because they are all for the world for the Riches and Pleasures and Profits and Vanities of this present world If they can have
but those things they care for no more They make the world their rest they must have the things of the world or else they dye Give them the things of the world and it sufficeth The things of another world they mind not they desire not they seek not after What they look after and covet lies below As the Duke of Alva when he was asked by the King of France Whether he had seen a great Eclipse that was of the Sun Replied That he had so much to do on Earth that he could not have while to look up to Heaven So it is with these a Portion in this life and in this world is the highest in their esteem as that prophane Duke of Burbon said He preferr'd his part in Paris before his part in Paradice And upon this account the worst are called the world and this is that world that is chiefly meant to which Christians are to be Non-conformists So much for the first II. Consider What it is to be a Nonformist to the world so in handling that we shall do two things 1. Shew you wherein Conformity to the world stands 2. Wherein Nonconformity stands and so shall shew you what it is to be a Conformist and a Nonconformist to this world The words in the Original are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Beza renders the Configuremini Be not configured to the world Some render them and so the Vulgar Nolite conformari Be not conformed as here in the Text. The words may be rendered Be not figured or fashioned according to this world 1 Pet. 1. 14. Not fashioning your selves c. where the word is the same in the Original with that in the Text. Having done this I now come to shew wherein 1. Conformity to the world stands Conformity supposeth and implies a pattern to which one doth conform What is Conformity but a walking or working by a Rule or Pattern out of a study and desire to imitate it So conformity to Christ stands in the imitating and following the Pattern that Christ hath left us and writing after the Copy he hath given us treading in his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Leaving us an example that we should follow his steps So conformity to the world stands in treading in the world's steps writing after the world's Copy following the world's example The world hath its Tables which it hangs forth for a pattern of Conformity to others It hath its Samplers wherein is a description of its actions for the imitation of others There is a Scheme and Figure of the world according to which it wonld have all to fashion themselves It knows that man is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Creature that is apt to imitate who will be working according to some Pattern or other and therefore hath its Patterns of all sorts which it hangs forth to gain his Conformity So then there are two things that make up conformity to the world and that make a man a Conformist to the world 1. Approbation 2. Imitation 1. Approbation when a man in his judgment approves of the world's Principles and Practises concluding that best that the most of the world say and do That the world's way of worshipping God is the best way That the world's way to Heaven is the easiest way and therefore to be chosen 2. Imitation This follows upon Approbation He likes the Copy and therefore resolves to write after it He likes the Pattern and resolves to imitate it As it is in writing we first look on it and like the Hand-writing and then there is a taking of Pen in hand to write like it In a word Conforming to the World stands in this When a man is inwardly and outwardly not what God but the world would have him to be When a man judgeth as the world judgeth thinks as the world thinks speaks as the world speaks acts as the world acts loveth as the world loveth delights as the world delights hates as the world hates When a man's carriage and disposition is the the same with the men of the world when a man maketh the rule of his life to be the sinful Manners Customs and Examples of the world and salves all with worldly distinctions and limitations II. What Nonconformity to the World is and what it is to be a Nonconformist to the World Nonconformity to the World consists of these things 1. A Nonconformity to the World in Judgment He that is a Nonconformist to the world must judg of things otherways than the world doth The world calls evil good and good evil the world puts darkness for light and light for darkness the world thinks the ways of God unequal the service of God burthensome the Servants of God fools the Ministers of God illiterate Dunces Religion it self irrational It thinks Holiness singularity and strictness and preciseness in the ways of God to be foolish scrupulosities It thinks great sins little ones and little sins to be none at all It thinks Repentance and Salvation to be the easiest things in the world and that the way to Heaven is not so hard as the Scripture makes it What a low opinion hath the world of sin judging is not to be so evil as it is What a low opinion hath the world of Grace thinking it not to be so excellent as it is What a low opinion hath the World of Christ thinking him not to be so necessary amiable and desirable as he is What a low opinion hath the world of Heavenly things and the great things of Eternity thinking them not to be of that everlasting concernment as they are What a low opinion have they of the Saints of God thinking them not to be so excellent and useful as they are What a low opinion have they of Religious Duties and Ordinances thinking them not to be so necessary sweet and heavenly as they are So this is the first thing Wherein a Christian is to be a Nonconformist to this World In point of Judgment He must judg of things otherways than the World judgeth 2. A Christian must be a Nonconformist to the World in respect of Affection He must have his Affections set upon higher objects than those things the affections of worldly men are set upon he must be unlike the world in his love desires and delight The World loves nothing but what is like it self none but those in whom it espieth its own conditions and dispositions he must be unlike the world in his sorrow grief and mourning which is for worldly crosses not for sin it mourns more for the Effect than the Cause The Affections of the World run with a byass towards the World they are all edged and pointed downwards they always face some Worldly Object And in this particular a Christian is to be a Nonconformist to the World 3. A Christian must be a Nonconformist to the World in respect of Practice A Christian must not do as the World doth he must not conform to the World in respect
of its Rules Examples He must not walk by the Rules the World walks by He must not imitate the same Patterns the life of a Christian must be a life ordered by the Rules and Examples of the Word not of the World His Principles from which he acts his Rules and Precepts by which he acts and his Ends for which he acts must be higher than the World And thus much for the Explication II. For the Confirmation of the truth of the Doctrine So consider the grounds and reasons Why Christians must be Nonconformists to the World First They are to be Nonconformists to the world in respect of their Calling A Christian's Calling and his Conformity to the world cannot consist nor stand together To make this out consider 1. What a Christian is called from 2. What a Christian is called to 1. What a Christian is called from He is called from the world he is called out of the world and so he is called from a conformity to the world John 15. 19. I have chosen you out of the world The Church is described to be a company of faithful ones chosen and called out of the world Now What is this calling out of the world It is not calling them from living in the world It is not calling them from using of the world it is not calling them from all conversing with the world but it is a calling them from conforming to the world Rev. 18. 4. Come out of her my people i. e. Have nothing to do with Babylon's Manners and sinful Customs and corrupt Forms of Worship 2. Consider what Christians are called to 2 Pet 1. 3. they are said to be called to Glory and Vertue Christians are called to Holiness and Happiness And upon this account he must not be a Conformist to this world 1. He is called to Holiness 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. Be ye holy Now Holiness consisteth not with conforming to the world the world is unclean impure unholy 1 Joh. 5. 19. The world lieth in wickedness it lies like a Beast in its own dung and filth Conforming to the world is being like the world and bearing the image of the world and so it is to bear the image of that that is unholy and unclean A Christian is called to bear another image he is called to be like God But none can bear the Image of God and the Image of the world too God is infinitely holy and he that will be like to a holy God must be unlike an unholy world Jam. 1. 27. it is there made one part of that Religion that is said to be pure and undefiled For a man to keep himself unspotted of the world which shews that the world is a bespotting and defiling thing 2 Pet. 2. 20. we read of the pollutions of the world If you look upon that Scheam and Figure of the world that St. John hath drawn 1 Joh. 2. 16. you will find whatever is in the world is all lust So Tit. 2. 12. we read of worldly lusts And if you will see what the way and course and practice of the world is you have it in 1 Pet. 4. 3. excess of Riot Drunkenness Revelling c. So then it cannot be that a Christian's being called to holiness can consist with a conforming to this world 2. Christians are called to Glory As to Holiness so to Happiness Now calling to glory and conforming to the world cannot stand together Prov. 15. 24. The way of life is above to the wise That way that leads to glory lyes above the world Those Principles from which a man acts those Rules by which a man acts and those Ends for which a man acts that acts for Heaven and seeks for Glory and Immortality are all higher Principles Rules and Ends than those of the world and far above them The world's way will never bring a man to glory it may bring a man to worldly Honour and Preferment but will never mount a man to the enjoyment of the things of that world that is to come The world hath kept many from Heaven and is still the great block and hinderance in the way to Heaven How many have the cursed courses and examples of the world undone and damned And how often doth the Scripture cautionate all to take heed of the world as a dangerous Rock against which a thousand Demaâ—â— have dashed themselves and made shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience Secondly Consider some particular grounds Why Christians are to 〈◊〉 Nonconformists to the world 1. Conformity to God and the World cannot stand together no more than the love of God and the love of the World can 1 Joh. 2. 15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him There is an antipathy and contrariety between God and the World A man is never more like God than when he is most unlike the World Now a Christian is to conform to God and Christ The first and best is said to be the Rule of the rest Christ is our highest and best Pattern Here is no serving of two Masters no conforming to two contrary Patterns He that will be a Conformist to the World must be a Non-conformist to God and Christ 2. The world is one of the declared Enemies that a Christian is to fight against worldly lusts as well as fieshly lusts fight against the soul so that conforming to the world is taking part and siding with our Enemy The Apostle saith Gal. 6. 14. The world is crucified to me and I to the world q. d. The world and I are upon equal terms of defiance I neither care for the would nor the world for me 3. Christians are predestinated to another Conformity than that to the world Rom 8. â—9 For whom he did fore-know he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son Not to the Image of the world Conformity to the world consists not with that Predestination 4. What was a Christian's Rule and Pattern before conversion cannot be his Rule after Before conversion the world was so Eph. 2. 3. The Apostle tells the Ephesians that before conversion they walked according to the course of the world 5. It was one end of Christ's living so long on earth to give us a better and a more noble Pattern and Example than what the world gave 1 Pet. 2. 21. Leaving us an example that we should follow his steps 6. It is a debasement to a Christian to be a Conformist to the world The ground of Conformity and Imitation should be to advance and better but in conforming to the world a Christian doth but degrade himself he writes after a Copy by which he cannot mend his hand It is observable in Scripture what the wicked of the world are compared to among Beasts to I yon 's Bears Wolves among Plants to Briers Thorns c. Among other living Creatures to Vipers Dogs Swine What a debasement is it for Christians to be like such
Ahaziah Is it because there is no God in Israel that thou sendest to Baal-zebub the God of Ekron So you that call your selves Christians let me ask you Why do you conform to the World and its sinful courses Is it because you are so commanded to do You see the Scripture commands the contrary Is it because you have nothing higher and better than the World to conform to Sure you have The saying is The first and best in every thing is the Rule of the rest Are you not called to a conformity to the best That God that is Optimus Maximus the Best and Greatest calls you to be like him calls you to be like his Son who is the most perfect pattern for our imitation calls you to be like his Saints who in their several generations pleased God served his Will and are fallen asleep he calls you to be like those Servants of his that are yet in the World and to be followers of them as they are of Christ He calls you out of the World and to be unlike it and to have nothing to do with it by way of conforming in the least to its sinful courses He cautionates you against such a conformity and tells you the dreadful danger of it and he hath laid down Rules in his Word by which Christians are to walk that are made up altogether of that purity and holiness of which the World is altogether void it lying as the Apostle saith in wickedness And now tell me How can he be a Christian indeed that is a Conformist to the World and such as are Conformists to the World you see have nothing to plead in that particular as if they had not better Rules to walk by and higher Patterns to imitate than those of the World He that is a Christian indeed is one that hath given up his Name to Christ and entred it into his List and how can such a one serve and fight under the Colours and Banner of the World Such forget their Baptismal Covenant one clause of which is this Renouncing and forsaking of the world Christians let me tell you There is a day a coming when the great enquiry will be Whose Image and Superscription you bear Your Conformity or Nonconformity to the world will speak that and accordingly will be your doom 3. Inform. Here we may see what is the cause why Christians that will be Christians indeed meet with so much trouble and opposition in and from the World the cause is Nonconformity to the World the ground of the quarrel between the World and them is That they are unlike the World that they will not do as the most do that they will not do as their Neighbours do that they are unlike every body that they are a company of foolish precise persons that delight to be singular This is the reason why the World and the men of it hate those that are truly godly Every thing loves its like and the unlikeness of the Saints to the World is the cause both of the World's hatred and the World's wonder at them 1 Pet. 4. 4. Wherein they think it strange that ye ruâ— not with them into the same excess of riot The Saint's strictness is the VVorld's wonder As I said before it is in this case as with the Eggs of Patridges hatched under a Hen when they are hatched they run and as soon as they can make away The VVorld is as it were the Hen under whose wings Christians are for a while hatched but when they begin to take their flight upwards then the world wonders at them And as this is the cause of the VVorld's wonder so it is the cause of the VVorld's hatred of them and of all the afflictions and persecutions they meet with in and from the world Our Saviour told his Disciples In the world you shall have affliction and gives this as the reason of it I have chosen you out of the world The world as our Saviour saith will love its own those in whom it can see its own conditions dispositions it s own Image and Superscription Likeness causeth love and upon this account it is that the world cannot but love those in whom she espies her own likenesse and cannot but hate those that are unlike and in whom she cannot see a conformity to her Hence it is that the World hath always been a Stepmother to the Saints of God using them rigidly and coarsely as those whom she did not own as hers because they owned not her by a conformity to her Christians if you be not like the World you must not think it strange if you be hated in and by the World If you have not the world's likeness you are not to expect the world's love If you walk contrary to the world you must expect that the world will walk contrary to you Your non-conforming to it is a secret condemning of the world's ways and courles and then it is not to be wondred at if the world condemn you Thus much for the Use of Information 2. Exhortation So I am now to exhort you to the duty of Non-conformity to the World and in doing this I shall acquaint you with three things First With what are some of the causes of a Conformity to this World Secondly With some discoveries whereby we may know whether we are not conformed to this World Thirdly With some directions to prevent yonr being Conformists to this World First We shall shew you some of the causes why so many are Conformists to the World and they are chiefly two 1. A base and slavish fear of the World's Frowns 2. A base and sinful love of the World's Favours And from both these proceeds that base and sinful compliance with the World and conformity to it 1. A base and slavish fear of the World's Frowns They fear the trouble they may meet with in the World if they should swim against the stream of being unlike the World Most love a Religion without trouble and although opposition be made the Attendant of true Religion following it as the shadow doth the body yet most love as a cheap Religion which may cost them nothing so such a peaceable Religion as may not disturb their worldly rest but that will suffer them to sleep in a whole skin Indeed for a man to be no more religious than the World would have him be may seem to make for his outward peace As a wise man said For that man that would deny his body no sensual pleasure and yet save his soul at last there was no place like that of Italy and no Religion like that of Rome So I say For that man that only studies his outward peace viz. a freedom from the World's malice hatred and opposition there is no Religion like the World 's And hence it is that so many comply with it and conform to it Consider there is in every one naturally a strong propensity and inclination to these four things 1.
I shall only here put you upon the consideration of two things 1. Which promiseth most 2. Which threatneth most 1. Which promiseth most the Word or the World Look over the promises of the Word and tell me whether the World can promise what God in his Word doth Can it promise you That by conforming to its Statutes and Laws it shall be well with you and your children for ever The world cannot promise you a long and happy life here much less can it promise you eternal life and happiness hereafter 2. Consider which threatneth most whose threatnings are most dreadful and terrible those of the Word or of the World It 's true the world can thunder out threatnings against those that conform not to her But tell me Is that Thunder like in terror to that thunder we hear in the word and the threatnings of it against those that conform to a wicked world The world can threaten with Bonds and Imprisonments with Fire and Faggot But God threatens with Hell and everlasting burnings As the Martyr told the Persecutor that threatned him with imprisonment Tu Carcerem ille Gehennam Thou threatnest me with a Prison but God threatens me with Hell Remember the counsel of our Saviour Matt. 10. 28. Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell And now you have heard all this consider seriously of it and tell me whether the world is worthy your conformity or whether you are at all engaged to conform to the world or whether it will be any advantage to you to conform to the world and not rather an infinite disadvantage And thus much for the Directions in general and in these Directions are wrap'd up the Motives to move us to be Nonconformists to this world I shall now close all with giving you some particular Directions as further Means and Helps against Conformity to this world and that briefly 1. Consider your natural inclinations and remember there is by nature in us a strong propensity to a conformity to the world The world is a tempting alluring bewitching thing apt to steal away our hearts as Absalom did the hearts of the men of Israel It will court invite and tempt it will flatter and fawn to gain a conformity it hath tempting rules tempting examples tempting proffers and much more to draw men into a conformity to her Now Christians you had need be watchful in this case upon considering in what danger you are to be deluded by the world and that upon two accounts 1. You live among those that are of the world and therefore apt to be infected by them as Joseph was by living in Pharoah's Court and Peter by being in the High-Priest's Hall Rivers partake of the nature of the soil through which they run and it is a difficult thing to live in the world and not to have a taste of the sins and corruptions of it 2. Remember you have even the best the remainders of corruption in you There are the remainders of self and so a love of worldly Credity of outward Ease of worldly Enjoyments and these will be as a Byas to the Bowl which will encline you toward the world and a conformity to it 2. That you may be Nonconformists to this world Grow and encrease in love to Jesus Christ The more we love Jesus Christ the less we shall love the world Any sinful compliance with the world argues either no love or litle love to Jesus Christ Love is the great worker of imitation as Hatred is of aversation Those that love Jesus Christ will live to Jesus Christ and will be such to whom the world is crucifi'd and they unto the world Such will say as St. Paul did To us to live is Christ Jesus Christ will be the All of their lives all the Rule and all the End of their living 3. That you may be Nonconformists to the world Meditate much of Christ's love to you by that you will come to know you owe all your conformity to Him Right thoughts of this will cause the world to be crucified to you and you to the world that neither the world shall care for you not you for it 4. Remember where Christ is He is no more in this world in respect of his corporal Presence he is ascended into Heaven he is there preparing Mansions for his he hath left you steps on earth in which you are to tread and in which you are to follow him if you desire to be where he is So that this considered a conformity to the world can never consist with a Christian's aims of being with Christ hereafter and to behold his glory He now being in Heaven is drawing the hearts and affections of those up to him who are to be for ever with him 5. Be much in searching the Scriptures where you may view as the Rules you are to walk by so the examples you are to imitate you will there have Glasses by which you are to dress your selves you will there find the pure example of him who was holy undefiled without spot and blemish viz. Jesus Christ You will there find the Examples of holy men who were Nonconformists to the men of their generation 6. Be much in prayer That God would deliver you from this present evil world That you may not be led into temptation but may be delivered from the evil of it Pray that God would carry you above the world and over all the good and evil of it without being infected or hurt by it 7. Remember what your condition in this world is If you profess your selves Christians then you profess your selves to be strangers and pilgrims in the world and a conformity to this world cannot consist with such a profession What have strangers to do with a conformity to that place through which they pass only as travellers and where they lodg only as pilgrims 8. Remember you are for Eternity and that you live upon the borders of it Think not so much where at present you are as where you shortly must be In every Conformist to this world there is a forgetfulness of Eternity How can those that think of an Eternal world that is drawing near to them and they to it give up themselves to a conformity to a world that is passing away Remember Eternity now calls on you and will shortly call for you 9. Encrease in Self-denyal It is the self-denying Christian that is the Nonconforming Christian to the world Such a Christian will regard neither the world's favours nor the world's frowns Such a Christian will say as Luther did I despise both the world's favour and the world's fury The self-denying Christian is one whom the world may both flatter and frown on but he stands like an immovable Rock not shaken by either 10. Encrease in the mortification of your worldly lusts Not mortifying these hath reduced some to a conformity to the world who seemed to have escaped the pollutions of it This was the undoing of Demas who forsook both his Ministry and the fellowship of St. Paul to embrace this present world and as some are of opinion became an Idol-Priest at Thessalonica upon the account of filthy lucre and worldly gain 11. Strengthen Faith whereby you will be strengthened to overcome this present evil world The Apostle tells us 1 John 5. 4. This is the victory whereby we overcome this world even our faith It will make us couragious to out-face a sinful world It is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. and will work in us a contempt of the things that are seen It will be the eye by which with Moses we shall see him that is Invisible and therby keep us from a conforming to a visible world upon greatest temptations though they be the pleasures and promotions of a Pharoah's Court. The more faith the less fear and it is base fear and cowardise that often betrays to a sinful compliance with and conformity to the world The more believing Christians are the less conforming they are to this world To close all let me mind you of what the Lord speaks to Jeremiah and that I say to all Christians concerning complying with and conforming to the world Jer. 15. 19. Therefore thus saith the Lord If thou return then will I bring thee again and thou shalt stand before me And if thou take forth the precious from the vile thou shalt be as my mouth Let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them FINIS
NON-CONFORMITY WITHOUT CONTROVERSIE FROM ROM Chap. 12. Ver. 2. SHEWING That it is every Christian's Duty To be a NONCONFORMIST to this World By BENJAMIN BAXTER Preacher of the Gospel Jer. 15. 19. Let them return unto thee but return thou not unto them John 15. 19. You are not of the world I have chosen you out of the world LONDON Printed by A.M. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible on London-Bridg 1670. READER TAke not occasion by the Title of this Book either of a pleasing or displeasing Mistake It speaketh not at all against any Conformity to the lawful Commands of lawful Governours in things Civil or Ecclesiastical but only against a Conformity to the Vices of the World Which should be no offence to any who renounceth not his Baptism in which we all renounce the World with the pomps and vanities thereof and all the sinful lusts of the flesh promising that we will not follow or be led by them He understandeth nothing of Christianity who understandeth not the enmity of the World to a life of sincere Holiness and how inconsistent the Love of the World is to the Love of God and how much the Life and Death of Christ were intended and fitted to mortifie our earthly Minds and Affections and to bring us to a holy contempt of the Pleasures and Profits and Honours of the World and that it is the office of our Faith to be our victory over the World and all this in the imitation and strength of Him who hath heartned us to the warr with this Encouragement Be of good cheer I have overcome the World They that are not Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose God is not their Belly who glory not in their shame and mind not earthly things while they are named Christians are crucified to the world and the world to them by the cross of Christ and their Political conversation is in Heaven This Subject you will find handled in this Discourse by the Reverend Author my very dear and worthy Friend with great plainness and perspicuity in a stile neither obscure dull nor tedious and in a most natural and congruous Method in which respect all the Sermons that ever I heard from him whereof some were above thirty years ago did excel other men's The Lord make it effectually serviceable to his Ends who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father To whom be glory for ever Amen Gal. 1. 4 5. Sept. 14. 1668. Ri. Baxter To the Vertuous and his much Honoured Cousins Mrs. Grace Allen Wife to Mr. William Allen Merchant Mrs. Sarah Paunsfoot Wife to Mr. Robert Paunsfoot Mrs. Hester Brear-cliff Wife to Mr. Thomas Brear-cliff Merchant all of the City of LONDON Much Honoured Cousins IT is not any Ambition to appear in Print that hath induced me to this Vndertaking Only I could not handsomly decline the Dedication of this Posthumous Piece and Presenting it to your Hands who have so clear and unquestionable a Right to it as will appear by the Sequel I presume you are not ignorant that it was really intended and designed for you by the Reverend Author now at Rest with the Lord your dear Brother and mine Who had he not been prevented by Death had done it with his own Hand but perceiving the Printing of this Book procrastinated beyond his Expectation and being dayly sensible of his near approaching and long expected Change it was his desire that I would undertake it in his behalf and indeed it was one of the last requests he made to me before he left the World I doubt not then but what I have done herein will be well construed and kindly accepted when it is done in pursuance of so honest a Design to gratifie the just reasonable Desire of so near and dear a Relation who on his Death-bed bequeath'd this Legacy as a Testimony of his unfeigned Brotherly-Love and Memorial of his real Gratitude to you his dear Dear Sisters who had not been forgetful of him but oft relieved and refreshed him by your Kind and Christian like Visits in his Low and Languishing Condition As for the Subject of the following Discourse You will easily grant it is very seasonable and needful as for all Times so especially these last and worst Times wherein Worldliness so much prevails gets ground of Godliness even in the Hearts and Lives of those that call themselves Christians whereas did they truly answer the Name they bear what would it speak else but their Conformity to Christ and not to the World The Words of the Apostle 1. Cor. 7. 29. 30 31. deserve seriously to be taken and laid to heart by every Christian Where to take us off the extreams of Joy and Sorrow in the Possessing or Parting with Earthly Relations and Worldly Comforts he tells us The fashion of this World passeth away and yet notwithstanding how do we find by Woful Experience the Hearts of too many drawn away and enticed through the Predominancy of Worldly Lusts that this is their chiefest study how to keep in with the World by Fashioning and Conforming the dayly Actions of their Lives according to the Rules and Patterns of it And herein how do they seek to out-vye and out-stripeach other with so great Emulation and Contention when their Lives and the World are hastning to an end as if it were their highest Ambition to live and dye the Werld's Favorites But certainly if there were a through and sound Belief of a Life and World to come after this present frail and transitory State of all things here below how would it turn the Stream and Current of Mens Thoughts and Affections and have a powerful Influence on their Lives and Conversations to make them more Godly less Worldly and from this very Consideration 2 Pet. 3. 11. the Apostle argues strongly for a Holy and Godly Conversation and not a Worldly Conformity But our Saviour himself hath foretoldus and therefore we may and must believe it that towards the end of the World it will be a rare thing to find true Faith Luk. 18. 8. that Victorious Grace which St. John tells us 1 Joh. 5. 4. overcometh the World and the Lusts thereof But dear Cousins I am perswaded better things of you and such as accompany Salvation You have been happy above mamy in respect of your Education having been acquainted with Sound Principles of Godliness from your tender years through the Care and Diligence of your Religious Parents And although there are too many to be found in these times between whose Principles and Practices there is little or no Conformity but the one is rather a plain Confutation of the other I hope you will never be found in that number for that precious Seed of good Principles which was sown in your Minority was not it seems burned and last but hath through Gods Blessing with a continual watering budded and brought
To be thought some-body in the World and not to be looked upon as Cyphers as No-bodies to be well accounted of well spoken of by the most of their generation Some extreamly affect the good-will and the good-word of every one and hereby are betrayed to a sinful compliance Although such should remember the saying of our Savior Wo unto you when all men speak well of you Mat. 5. 2. There is a desire in most to be as free from trouble and opposition in the World as they can Most say with Issachar Rest is good Why should I say some create trouble to my self and may chuse Why should I cross with the World and cause the World to cross with me If I do as the World doth and conform to it I need not fear its frowns And this is one cause why so many sinfully comply with and conform to the World not remembring the saying of our Saviour Matt. 5. 10. Blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake c. 3. There is in men naturally a desire to have company in their way Man is a sociable Creature and loves company Now the way of the World is the way most beaten and trodden and frequented being the way that most walk in Men naturally love not solitary paths but those in which they can see most foot-steps And upon this account it is that so many comply sinfully with the World for the sake of company not at all considering whither the broad way leads nor that prohibition Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil 4. Men naturally desire Elbow-room in their way They love ways wherein they may enjoy the most of sinful liberty and this they fancy to be only found in the way of the World they would have room for them and their lusts to march together and such a way the way of the World is the wide way as our Saviour saith that leads to destruction And hence it is that so many comply with the World not considering That it 's easier for a man to have so much Religion and Christianity as will please the World and go to Hell at last than to have so much as will please God and bring him to Heaven 2. The second cause is A strong love to and desire after the World's Favours There is an innate disposition in persons to enjoy the World's Sun-shine thinking there is a refreshment in those beams They think it sweet to sit in the World's lap to be hugg'd in the World's bosome to be embrac'd in the VVorld's arms Many love not to see others embraced and themselves cast out to see others favoured and themselves frowned on to see others the world's Darlings and they to be the world's Out-casts The world hath its temptations on both hands On the one hand there are its persecutions and threats and frowns on the other hand its preferments allurements and favours and the last of these have often proved the most powerful temptations to draw men to compliance with the world Thus it 's observed of Julian That he drew more away and made more Apostates by his Preferments than he did by his Persecutions VVe read Rev. 12. 4. that the Dragon with his tail drew the third part of the Starrs from Heaven the meaning is that many that were eminent in the Church and did shine as Starrs were drawn away and became Apostates by the tail of the Dragon i. e. by its embraces And this is one great reason why men have been brought to comply with and conform to the world And this hath ever been the world's way of tempting it first frowns and then flatters and the latter hath been found to be the most dangerous Thus was that famous Galeacius assaulred and when they saw threatnings would do nothing he was offered a great sum of Gold to return again to his former Religion and Countrey but his answer was That he preferr'd one day's communion with Christ in the Gospel before all the Gold in the world And thus it was with Luther when they saw Bulls and nothing else by way of Menace would do then they offered him a Cardinals Hat but his answer was Contemptus est à me Romanus favor furor I despise both Rome's Favours and Fury Though these stood as unshaken Mountains yet how many if not by the first yet by the last have been overcome like the Traveller who by the wind kept his Cloak closer was by the warm and alluring beams of the Sun invited to cast it off The Sun-shine of the world hath had more influence upon men to conform them to the world than all its cold and stormy blasts could have It 's Favours and Preferments hath drawn those whom its Persecutions could not drive Hence it is that so many comply with and conform to the world not remembring that there is more comfort and happiness attends those that are the world 's Cast-aways than those that are the world's Darlings Those Christ chuseth to be the objects of his love whom the world casts out as objects of her hatred Secondly Consider the trials and discoveries VVhether we are Conformists or Non-conformists to this world 1. He that is a Non-conformist to the world is one unlike the world he is unlike the world in his judgment affection conversation he doth not judg as the world judgeth of Christ of Holiness of Heaven of Saints of Sin Here is the question VVhether we differ from the world in these One said of Nero That must needs be good that Nero persecutes And so I say That must needs be evil that the world commends and good that the world condemns Try your selves by this Do you judg as the world judgeth Do you love and hate as the world loves and hates Is your conversation according to the course and conversation of the world Then you may conclude you are Conformists to the world Oh that Christians would but examine themselves seriously wherein they are unlike the world and by that they may find whether they are Non-conformists to the world I am brief in this because I have spoken more largely to it before 2. He that is a Non-conformist to this world is a Conformist to another world VVhen the Apostle saith Be not conformed to this world it implies there is another world to which we ought to conform Scripture mentions a world that now is and a world that is to come There is another world besides this present world a world that will be when this world shall be no more As I said before so I say again It is but a little while and the world present will be the world past and the world to come will be the world present all the days of Eternity Now Christians you are to be Conformists to the world that is to come there is an Earthly and a Heavenly world and the great thing you have to do is to examine what Conformity there is in you to the latter to the Heavenly
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
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
to wallow as a Sow in the mire c. Thus much for Confirmation III. The Vindication of the truth So the question is this Whether all conformity to this world be unlawful And the reason of the question is this Because the Apostle speaking of the fashion of the world 1 Cor. 7. 29. he makes Marrying and Weeping and Rejoicing and Possessing to be some of the fashions of the world So the question is Whether all conformity to the world in these its fashions be unlawful Ans We must here distinguish of the Manners Customs and Fashions of the World so they are of three sorts 1. Some are Civil 2. Some are Sinful 3. Some are Doubtful 1. There are the Civil Customs Manners and Fashions of the world and concerning them I answer That all conformity to the world in those is not unlawful as to marry to weep to rejoyce to buy and possess is not unlawful yet I must tell you that all conformity to the world even in these things is not lawful For consider Even in things that are lawful it is not lawful for a Christian to be such in the practice use and enjoyment of those things as the most of the world are and therefore the Scripture when it treats of those things which are in themselves lawful yet it sets those bounds and limits to Christians which the World observes not It calls upon Christians to have their affections set on things above the world to be sober in using the things of this world to remember while they are in this world they are almost come to the end of the world and so to use the world as those that look for another world to look upon this present world as that that will shortly be the world past and to look upon the world to come as that that will shortly be the world present all the days of Eternity I shall give you two places of Scripture wherein Christians are forbid to be Conformists to the world even in these things One is 1 Pet. 4. 7. The end of all things is at hand be ye sober The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 's diversly rendred but here it s taken for sober-mindedness Sobriety properly taken is a moderation of the Appetite about eating and drinking but here it is put for the moderation of the Affections about the world and the things of the world The sobriety there enjoined implies 1 Modesty 2 Moderation of Mind 1. Modesty of Mind So Rom. 12. 13. Let no man think more highly of himself than he ought to think but think soberly of himself c Where Sobriety is opposed to pride of heart And in this a Christian must be a Nonconformist to the world He may marry a Wife but must not be proud of a Wife he may purchase but not be proud of his Purchase he may possess but not be proud of his Possession Now this is the way of the world to be proud of all their enjoyments and in this Christians are not to conform to it 2. Moderation of Mind And so Sobriety is opposed to letting out the heart and affections too much upon the world and this is the sobriety that is called for and wherein Christians must be unlike the world It is not this that Christians are exhorted to To give over marrying and possessing and using the things of this world but to be moderate in the use of them and therein to be unlike the world And it is observable what reason the Apostle gives for this Sobriety in the place fore-mentioned viz. The end of all things is at hand An end of all the Civil Customs Fashions and Manners of the world an end of Marrying Buying Possessing an end of Building Planting Eating and Drinking an end of all Worldly Businesses Employments and Enjoyments And this he makes the reason why Christians should be sober and moderate in these things and herein to be unlike the world The other Scripture is 1 Cor. 7. 29. 30. This I say Brethren the time is short c. Consider the Corinthians had written to the Apostle to be resolved in divers cases and among others some concerning Marriage To which the Apostle gives an answer in that Chapter telling them he could not give an absolute determination what was to be done but he did suppose that this and that was best and then addeth But this I say brethren c. as if he should say The questions are difficult and the answers it may be you will find doubtful but this I can tell you of certainty without ifâ—s and and 's positively and resolvedly and of which you need not doubt Brethren the time is short Let those that have Wives be as though they had none c. The meaning is that a Christian is to have his heart above all Creature-comforts and all Creature-crosses and in this Christians are to be unlike the world Saith the Apostle Let them that have Wives be as though they had none Now he that hath a Wife hath two things 1. A great deal of comfort A Wife is a second self one that a man can make a partaker of all his contentments and who will be a sharer with him in all his crosses supposing her to be a good Wife 2. A great many cares Such saith the Apostle as are married shall have trouble in the flesh 1 Cor. 7. 28. Now when the Apostle saith That such as have Wives must be as though they had none the meaning is they must moderate their affections in that enjoyment that they be neither taken too much with the comforts nor vext too much with the crosses in a Wife And so for the rest when the Apostle speaks of weeping and rejoycing and possessing that we should be as though we wept not and rejoyced not and possessed not the meaning is that we should still remember that there are greater things to be wept for and to be rejoyced in than the things of this World and greater Possessions to be sought after than the Possessions of this life and then observe the Apostle's Motives to enforce this Exhortation 1. The time is short Tempus est contractum so Beza The time is contracted it is drawn into a narrow compass The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies such a contraction and drawing in as of Sailors as is used by Sea-men and Boat-men when they draw near to shore Some refer it to the time of life so that the Apostle's meaning is That the time of life is short Those that lived in the first Ages of the world had their lives drawn out the thread of their lives was spun out longer they by the course of Nature lived Six hundred Seven hundred Eight hundred years so they might have their thoughts more busied about the world in peopling Countreys in marrying Wives in building Cities c. the time of their life was long but now the time is short and therefore Christians are so to use the
those fashions that are either so immodest or extravagant that they become not Christianity It 's very doubtful whether we are to be of the number of those who are first in the fashion or to change from one extream to another the Scripture without doubt condemns excess in these things How many are there which spend more time in trimming and decking themselves than in serving God! VVhich gave occasion to Sir Thomas Moor to say to a Lady whom he beheld industriously curious in dressing and trimming her self O Madam how unjustly will God deal with you if he give you not Hell since you take such extraordinary pains for it Christians must know where there is in fashions an affected vanity in apparel dressing savouring of pride a conformity therein remains no more doubtful but is absolutely sinful To these fashions may be referred Painting Frizling Powdering and Black-patching of the last of which a Romanist saith That if the Divine Work-man should so six those their best contrived Patches as to remain ever immovable they would soon be ashamed to appear with such disguised deformities and all would then esteem them as indeed they are but a meer disfiguring of what they so vainly intended to beautifie and amend In the matter of Fashions Christians must know that there are some things which if they are not sin are near a-kin to sin and a conformity to these things is to be avoided according to the precept of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 22. Abstain from all appearance of evil the saying is In dubiis minimum In doubtful things its good to do the least I shall close up this of doubtful Conformity with that passage in Ezra 2. 61 62 63. There were some that upon the return from the Captivity pleaded that they were of the Priest's Line but the Register being searched and their Genealogy not found they were put by the Priesthood till there should stand up a Priest with Vrim and Thummim So it were well in these doubtful cases if Christians would avoid conformity to these things till there be more Scripture-light to warrant it What hath been attempted by some as particularly by the Author of that Book entituled Auxiliary Beauty it tends more to please Fancy than to satisfie Conscience and to warrant the practise Thus much for the Doubtful Manners and Fashions of this world APPLICATION 1. Information So you have the true Character of a true Christian He is one that is a Nonconformist to the world His motion is a Counter-motion to that of the world Though he liveth in the world yet he conforms not to the world The Apostle 2 Cor. 10. 3. distinguisheth between living in the flesh and after the flesh so there is a walking in the world and walking after the world True Christians make the sinful courses and practises of the world the object of their sorrow and lamentation but not of their imitation Thus did Noah and Lot and other holy ones in their generation they are Antipodes to the world in judgment affection conversation We read of Heathens that in their generations would not conform to the meâ— of their generation but what they did was out of singularity but what Christians do is to be out of sincerity It should be with Christians as with the Planets which have a motion of their own contrary to the wrapt motion of the Heavens whereby they are carried from East to West they have a retrograde and secret motion of their own whereby they are carried from West to East So the Children of God though they live and converse in the World yet have a motion of their own contrary to the World As some Creatures being hatched under a Hen presently flye or run away Though a Christian in the Civil things of this life seem to move as the World moves yet hath he a motion of his own Heaven-wards which the World suspects and blindly censures but understands not 2. Inform. What are we then to think of those that are Conformists to the world Is it to be thought that those will ever be accounted Christians on Scripture-account that conform to the world It 's sad to see how many call themselves Christians who when the Image and Superscription that they bear comes to be examined will be found to be only Worldlings It may be Christians in their own account and esteem but not in God's You that call your selves Christians consider whose Image and Superscription you bear Such you are as the Image is that you bear and the Pattern to which you conform True Christians are such as bear the Image of Christ and conform to the Pattern and Example of Jesus Christ and those cannot be real Christians that conform to the World It is not an outward Profession that makes a true Christian Rom. 2. 28. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly Those are not true Christians that are only so in bare proâ—ession God looks what a Christian's conformity is and what copy and pattern he writes after The Apostle speaks of some 2 Tim. 3. 5. that had a form of godliness but denied the power of it It is the power of Godliness and Christianity that speaks one to be godly and a Christian indeed And this power of godliness is a transforming power it makes those that have it God-like and so godly Christ-like and so Christians indeed So then in Christianity there are two things to be considered the Profession and the Power Now it is the power of Christianity and not the profession only that speaks us to be Christians It 's true power cannot be without profession but profession may be without the power A Tree that bears fruit must of necessity have leaves but a Tree may have leaves and yet no fruit And such a Tree not withstanding the fair flourish it makes is but barren and like the Fig-tree in the Gospel which our Saviour cursed coming to it finding leaves only and no fruit Matt. 21. 19. So then as there is a power in godliness which speaks men to be truly godly so there is a power in Christianity which must speak men to be truly Christians Now this power of Christianity doth conform and transform us into the Image of Christ As the power of godliness makes us as I said before God-like so this power of Christianity Christ like But where is a conformity to the world there is a power whereby men are made world-like and how can those that are like the world that bear a worldly and an earthly Image and not the heavenly and that of Christ be Christians indeed It is sad to see so many call themselves Christians that are so much conformable to the world to its sinful courses fashions rules and examples as if Christianity did not hold forth higher and more excellent examples and patterns for them to imitate and higher and more heavenly rules for them to walk by To such we may say as the Prophet said to the Messengers of
of all things is at hand The World to come is an enduring-world which will to all Eternity continue when this World will be no more Christians remember you are made for Eternity and if upon this account you compare both World 's together you cannot but conclude it s the Eternal world you are to be Conformists to 2. The World to come is an Vnchangeable World its firm and fixed a Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12. 28. But this World is a changeable World and all the things of this World are changeable things All the men in the World are changeable Creatures they are all children of Change Here one Generation goeth and another cometh There is no fixedness setledness stability here Like the Moon this World hath her changes But the World to come is the World that is unchangeable As with the God of Heaven there is no variableness so it is with Heaven it self Now compare the two Worlds upon this account and see which is most worthy of your Conformity 3. The World to come is a Glorious World It is the place where Glory dwells Heaven is the House of Glory it s called the Kingdom of Glory all that inhabit it are glorious There is the place where the glorious God who inhabiteth Eternity doth and will to all Eternity make the manifestations of his Glory When we look upon the visible Heavens which are but the outside of that House and see them so glorious How glorious then are the Mansions within As for this World it is the place where Misery and Baseness dwells Now if you compare the two worlds upon this account then judg which world is most worthy of your conformity 4. The Heavenly World is a Holy World where no sin dwells It 's called the Holy Heavens Psal 20. 5. There dwells righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. We look for new Heavens and new Earth wherein dwells righteousness No unclean thing shall or can enter there The Apostate Angels for their sin and disobedience were cast out thence and shall know their place there no more to all eternity The Heavenly Jerusalem is described to be a City paved with Gold to shew among other things its purity Now this world is an unholy world Gal. 1. 4. it 's there called this present evil world It 's an evil world both in respect of Misery and in respect of Sin But in that world which is to come as there will be no suffering so no sinning The Inhabitants of that world will to all Eternity be above both Now if you compare the two worlds upon this account then judg which world is to be conformed to 5. The world to come is a Quiet and Peaceable World It 's the world of rest where there are no stirrs no troubles no disturbances no disquietments It 's the place where rest only is to be found All Christians while they are in this world must say Here is not our rest Rev. 15. 2. the world is resembled to a Sea of Glass mingled with fire A Sea of Glass to shew its brittleness and slipperiness and mingled with fire i.e. with the fire of afflictions troubles persecutions This world indeed is a Christian's Hell Now compare the two worlds together upon this account and see which is worthy of your conformity 6. The world to come is the world for which man was chiefly made Christians remember you are made for another world This world is to be but only as an Inn in which you are to lodg as strangers and travellers in your way and passage to another world Christians must say of it That here they have no abiding City but seek one that is to come and that is the world to come Man is a Creature made capable of Immortality he hath an immortal Soul and this shews he was made for another world The Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 15. 19 If in this life only we had hope in Christ we were of all men most miserable Christians if you had been made only for this life and had your hopes only in this world and did not expect and hope for the great things of another life and world that is to come you were of all men most miserable Remember you were made for this End To glorifie God and to enjoy him to all Eternity And this shews that then you must be made for another world VVhere can you serve him for ever and enjoy him for ever but in another world To sing praises and Hallelujahs to God will be the work of Saints in the Heavenly world There they shall praise God to all Eternity and shew what eternal debtors they are to Mercy and Free-grace And then for the other chief End of man which is The enjoyment of God for ever where can that be but in another world The eternal fruition of God and Christ must be in a world that is Eternal which is that world that is to come Now Christians consider what you do here in relation to serving of God is but the beginning of that work we have to do in Heaven and what you enjoy of God here is but only a taste of that we shall enjoy of him in another world Now upon this account consider Christians what world is worthy of your conformity 7. The world to come is the world drawing near to us and the world present is the world going from us Christ when he began to preach said The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand where by the Kingdom of Heaven is meant the Heavenly Cospel which open'd and made way to that world that is to come So let me tell you The world to come is at hand the world to come is the world to be this present world ere long will not be It is near parting with us and vve should be so vvith it Eternity is at hand and vve live upon the borders of it This vvorld hath not long to be nor vve long to be in it vvhen ye go out of it ye enter upon Eternity you go to an Eternal VVorld vvhere you must have an Eternal Being Now compare these tvvo vvorlds together upon all these accounts and judg rationally which is most vvorthy of your conformity Thus for the first Direction 2. Direction That you may be Nonconformists to this vvorld compare together the consequences of a Conformity and a Nonconformity to the vvorld Compare together the conveniences and inconveniences the advantages and disadvantages the gain and the loss that you have by conforming and not conforming to this vvorld So here are two things to be done 1. To consider VVhat you vvill gain by being Conformists to the vvorld 2. What you will lose by not conforming to the vvorld 1. Consider vvhat you vvilt gain by conforming to the world All you gain amounts but to this The World's good-will and the World's good-word If you-be a Conformist to the world you shall have the love and favour and affection of the world you shall be hugg'd in her
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