therein to be followers of Christ 3. Because this duty is one of the highest degrees of our obedience unto Christ observe the words so fulfil the law of Christ it is not a perfect but solidum complementum a solid or substantial fulfilling of the Law of Christ It is not said of other sincere performances that we fulfil the Law of Christ it is not said of thy praying thy hearing c. that thou dost fulfil the Law of Christ but of this duty of Love Love is the fulfilling of the Law Bearing of one anothers burdens which is an eminent act of Love is the fulfilling the Law of Christ Without this all other offices of Love are but slight superficial acts of obedience he that doth not do this nihil habet saith Calvin he hath nothing of a man nothing of a Christian nothing of a disciple of Christ nothing of Christian Love in him There is a Sect not long since risen among us calling themselves High-attainers boasting that they have attained to perfection of Holiness and therefore need not the help of ordinances But these deluded wretches do come as short of perfection as the Earth doth of Heaven but now those who do Christianly bear one anothâ—rs burdens are High-attainers indeed for they fulfil the Law of Christ I know there may be strong Love in mens hearts toward some persons without any partaking of the Love of God and the spirit of Regeneration and this Love may have something commendable in it but it is nothing in respect of Gods gracious acceptation such men do rather Love in obedience to the Law of nature than in obedience to the Law or Gospel of Christ therefore their Love loseth acceptance with the Lord. I say they love in obedience to the Law of Nature for men have some parts of the Law of Nature remain written in their hearts How men love in obedience to the Law of nature since the Fall of Adam as the Apostle sheweth even concerning the Gentiles or Heathens themselves Rom. 2.14.15 which Law I take to be more than the light of Nature for otherwise methinketh it should rather be called the Doctrine or the instructions of Nature than a Law for a Law carrieth Authority with it and a binding power but a light or a doctrine doth but only shew and teach But that which was written by Nature in the hearts of the Gentiles the Apostle saith was written as a Law and so it carried a kind of Authority over their Hearts and Consciences not only shewing them what should be done but also enclining and bowing their spirits unto â—t So at this day this law of Nature may encline the hearts of many as a law to love their Neighbors and they do it in obedience to this law of Nature that is they yield to this natural enclination of their hearts and according to it do love some persons whom their natures do encline them to love until this Law be countermanded by a stronger law the law of Sin and Corruption enclining the heart to cast off love and to entertain bitterness of spirit or the like and until it be over-born by outward occasions which tend to quench Love For this law of Nature is weak and soon loseth its authority and command I mean so far as it hath any thing good in it so far as it is a broken piece as it were of the Image of God But if we take the law of Nature for Nature corrupted which is the law of Sin that is very strong and hath a great command over the heart and is hardly resisted Now then they that have any commendable love in them towards others in their natural estate they do but herein follow the inclination of their hearts which is the same that I said before that they do it in obedience to the law of Nature not in obedience to the law of Christ Bâ—t a Christian that will approve his heart to God must love others in the name of Christ and in obedience to his Gospel which cannot be unless we partake of the love of God in Christ and have embraced Christ in the Gospel Now I coâ—ceive there may be more heat sometimes in that natural love than in this Spiritual and Christian love and especially in that sinful love which is between divers persons which deceiveth many and maketh them apt to bless themselves as if they were truly possessed of the spirit of Love because they find some strength of natural affection in themselves But a little of that heat which cometh from the Sun-beams is of more vertue and excellency than a great deal of Kitchen-fire A little of the heavenly affection of Love which is a proper heat of the spirit of Christ and floweth from the love of God apprehended by saith is more worth than a great deal of natural affection CHAP. XVII SECT I. IN the next place I shall speak of the order of our love one to another 1. We must love our own Souls next to Jesus Christ God is to be loved above all as the chief and supream good and our own Souls next as being more worth than a whole world and if the love of any thing should stand between God and our Souls we must hate that thing as our deadly enemy that seeks to rob us of our chiefest good 2. We must love our Neighbors soul next to our own soul above our own bodies 3. Among our Neighbours we must love those that are most godly the excellent of the earth those that excell in goodness In them is all my delight saith David God's Jewels must be in our account most precious one pearl is more worth than a million of pibbles God loveth all men but the riches of his lovâ— he giveth to his Saints 4. Among the godly those of our own Nation are to be especially beloved O pray for the peace of Jerusalem They shall prosper that love thee Psal 122.6 Saint Paul could even wish himself accursed for his Countrymen the Jews and for their sakes Moses could even be blotted out of the book of life As Christ came from the Jews so he came to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel in the first place 5. Among them I am to love those who are my Kindred above others who are not Nature calls for love but Grace calls for more 6. We are in a special manner to love those of our Family A Christian is to labour to make his ally his friend but especially his Wife and Children such as may be lovely and acceptable How did David mourn for his son Absalom and Abraham pray for Ishmael 7. Above all a man is to love his Wife A man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his Wife and they shall be one flesh Gen. 2.24 Husbands love your Wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Ephes 5.25 This is the order of our Love SECT II. Quest Here it may
Doubtless such men would hate Christ if he were living among them as they do the Saints 6. Because where the special Good is upon that must our special Love be bestowed It is the rule of the School-men ut simpliciter ad simpliciter sic magis ad magis et maximè ad maximeè that is If that which is simply good be to be loved then that which is better is to have more Love and that which is the best good is to have the best Love What is the best thing in man if Grace be not will ye say Riches is better than Grace then a rich Man because rich is to be preferred and loved above a Godly Man Will ye say Beauty is better than Grace then a fair Face is to be esteemed above the Beauty of Holiness Will ye say the endowments of Natural Parts is better than Grace then an Heathen Philosopher may be loved better than a Child of God Is moral Honesty better than Grace then a dunghil covered with Snow is better than an House of Marble full of Gold What are the things men love most take a survey of them all and ye shall find Gods Image in the Saints is best What doth God regard in men do you think he regardeth a rich Nabal for his Riches an exalted Haman for his Honours a voluptuous Esau for his Pleasures or an indiscreet Woman for her Beauty Do ye think he looketh upon Greatness in any respect These things are not the good he loveth but Grace only Grace is Gods own Nature and shall he turn his eyes from himself Grace is Spiritual Riches Spiritual Beauty Spiritual Honour it is all excellency in a Spiritual way therefore chiefly to be beloved Did ye see an Angel in his Glory you would say indeed he is a very lovely Creature it is Gods Image that makes him so and it is the same for Substance in a Saint on Earth Want of Love to the Saints is our own blindness because we do not conceive the worth and excellency of Grace in the Saints Swine trample upon Pearl because they know not the worth of it So wicked men slight the Godly not perceiving the worth of Grace in them 7. Because our Love to the Saints manifesteth that we are of the Communion of Saints Love is the Soul and Life of the Communion of Saints it is the bond of perfection it bindeth the Saints up in one Body it is the Corner-Stone which holdeth the sides of the Wall together it is that which makes Christs Church like his Coat without Rent It was the opinion of some Philosophers That the whole world was but one Body and that there is one Soul of the World that holdeth the parts of the World so much more there is a Spirit of Communion which uniteth the Members of it with the Spirit of Love And as the members of a Mans Body will fall asunder were there not uniting parts in them as Sinews and Muscles joyning them together so the Communion of Saints is held and maintained by the bond of Love See how diversly the Scripture sets forth the Communion of Saints by such tearms as do call for special Love They are said to be Brethren must not one Brother love another above a stranger they are said to be Members of one Body must not one Member help another Member of the same Body before others of another Body They are all said to be one Spouse of Christ all the Saints together make up the Church which is the Wife of Christ So the Saints should love one another as if there were no Saints but themselves They are all said to be made partakers of one Divine Nature Who will not love his own Flesh his own Nature better than anothers In loving the Saints thou dost but love thy self They are said to be one Houshold the Church is called The Houshold of the Faithful As in a Family there is one Boord one Bread one Cup among neer Relatives So Christians should have one Heart one Mind one Affection and should hold and cleave together Such Love there was among Christians in the Primitive times that the Heathens observing it said Oh how do the Christians love one another 8. Because we are to live with them to Eternity therefore Saints should have our chiefest Love When all the wicked of the world shall be turned into Hell be they never so great or never so dear unto us ye that are Saints ye shall lye together in Abraham's Bosom dwell together in those Mansions which Christ your Head and your Saviour hath prepared for you in the highest Heavens enjoying God together following Jesus Christ the Lamb the Bridegroom together praising God together ye shall reign with Christ together be glorified together Are your Friends rich and mighty on Earth and are the Saints poor despicable and miserable in the World yet these poor Saints shall live in Heaven with you when the cruel Nimrods of the Earth shall be turned into Hell Is there not Reason that we should love them most that are Fellow-Heirs of one and the same Kingdom our Eternal Neighbours in Heaven fellow-Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem It is a true Axiom of the Schools Societas fruitionis divinae est fundamentum charitatis ergo inter proximorum praecipua charitatis objecta sunt sancti homines i. e. The common participation of one and the same eternal Glory and Happiness is the main Foundation of Charity Therefore they infer truly that among our Neighbours the Saints are the cheifest Objects of our Love 9. Because indeed the Godly are the best men on the Earth whatsoever the World doth think of them David calleth them the excellent of the earth the Pillars of the Earth they are called Gods Jewels the Apple of Gods Eye Gods beloved Persons the more excellent they are the more to be beloved they are called the Temple of the Holy Ghost Look over the Book of the Canticles and see by what Names and Titles God calleth his Saints and then ye must needs confess they are Persons highly to be loved CHAP. XV. Sect. 1. I Come now to shew How we are to love one another The manner of our mutual-Love the Scripture sets down by two expressions 1. As thy self 2. As Christ loved us 1. In the first place Thou must love thy Neighbour as thy self 1. Who is there that wisheth not all the good that may be to himself Doth any sober man wish any harm to himself So must thou heartily desire the good of others Thus Moses wished That all the Lords people were Prophets he wished every man like unto himself So St. Paul desireth from his heart That all Israel might be saved Rom. 10.1 2. Who is not affected with his own Miseries and Afflictions So must thou when thou seest others in Misery Thou must weep with them that weep and make their Losses and Miseries to become thine own 3. Who doth not pray heartily for himself for Gods Blessing
God may be likely to endanger our Lives we must not shrink back to save our Lives SECT VIII THe Reasons hereof are these R. 1. Because the Salvation of the Brethren must bâ— preferred above all our outward things whatsoever their Souls must be preferred above our own Bodies therefore if our suffering loss of Liberty and Life be any way advantagious for their Salvation we are to endure the worst in this Life that they might gain Life eternal Our Saviour laid down his Life for their Salvation we must do so also St. Paul gladly endured any thing for the Elects sake he could wish himself to be an Anathema a Curse for the Jews his Brethren and Moses would be blotted out of the Book of Life that the Israelites might live in the presence of God A miserable wretch St. Paul was for Christs sake and for the Salvatioh of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.10 We are fools weak despised naked hungry buffeted persecuted made the off-scouring of the world God makes the like Covenant with us as Moses did with the two Tribes and half which dwelt on the other side Jordan that they should go in before their Brethren and fight for them to expell the Canaanites and when they had placed their Brethren in Canaan then they were to return and enjoy their Inheritances Thus must we hazard our Lives to bring others to Heaven if called unto it and neglect our own Lives that others might enjoy the heavenly Canaan together with us 2. Because this will wonderfully confirm the Brethren in the truth delivered to them and protessed by them otherwise our Cowardice and Apostacy may cause them to waver and draw them off from the ways of Gâ—d and be a means to destroy them for whom Christ died It is an old and a true saying Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclâ—siae That the Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church the Martyrs Blood made the Church fruitful the Christians did wax more bold through Paul's Bonds Curtius feared not to die for Rome Mencotheus for Thebes And shall not we suffer that for Christ his Saints which Pagans suffered for their Countrey Christ was the more boldly professed by the new Converts by how much St. Paul was more constant and cheerful in his sufferings for Christ and his Gospel St. Basil tells us how forty Martyrs did encourage one another to dye for Christ and his Gospel We see how prodigal Soldiers are of their Lives to shew their fidelity to their King and Countrey and shall not Christians much more be prodigal of theirs for God and his Church Let all then that would be acknowledged for Gods Children labour for so much power of Christian Love as may dispose their hearts to be content to resign up their Lives for the Glory of God and the good of others It is the want of Faith and Love that makes this seem hard and grievous to us for if these Graces were in us and did abound they would swâ—eten the bitterness of death it self and of the most grievous sufferings and enable us to overcome death and the world and to break all those cords and tyes which fasten us to this present world and the things of this life and make us so unwilling to lay down our Lives for Christ and his Church If the arms of the inner man were strengthened in the power of these two Graces all those Cords which I spake of would break asunder like those that Sampson was bound with when the Philistines came upon him Are we not Members of the same Body with the people of God and doth not one Member adventure it self to save another so should it be among the Members of the mystical Body of Christ CHAP. XVI Sect. I. THere is one great Office of Love which we must perform one to another even those that are not called to lay down their Lives for the Brethren must do this that is to bear one anothers Burdens Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 This duty is mutually to be performed to one another Thou must bear thy Brothers Burdens and he must bear thine He that expects others should ease and help him let him be willing to ease others Christians in their journey to Heaven must do like loving Travellers who have a Burthen to carry sometimes one carrieth it sometimes the other in so doing both will go on with the greater cheerfulness and with ease perform their journey To this course of Travellers as Estius conceiveth the Apostle alludeth Estius in Galat. 6.2 when he saith Bear ye one anothers burdens Calvin saith That Christians must shew their Humanity one to another which teacheth men to afford mutual help in their necessities by bearing one anothers burdens This duty concerneth every Christian it is not only the duty of strong Christians to bear the burdens of the weak but also the weak may and must bear the Burdens of the stronger Both have their Burdens the strong hath his the weak hath his both need help and ease both are subject to faint under their Burdens therefore we must bear one anothers burdens even that which lieth heavy and presseth down our Souls and Bodies There are outward Burdens and inward Burdens As to outward Burdens those that have ability must be merciful to their Brethren who are in want St. Paul biddeth Timothy to charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded c. that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate 1 Tim. 6.17.18 Do then the rich bear the Burdens of the poor when they are rich and plentiful in giving to those that are in need To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased Heb. 13.16 It is given in charge as a thing especially to be remembred and by no means to be forgotten And St. John sheweth that those who are able and relieve not their poor Brethren are void of the Love of God 1 Joh. 4.20.21 If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also Where ye see that the profession of Love to God without Love and Compassion towards others cannot stand with truth And the same Law of Love that commandeth us to love requireth us to love our Brethren and Neighbours also But with what kind of Love that the Apostle sheweth in 1 Joh. 3.18 not a Love made up of words or rooted in the tongue but a Love that is Love indeed and Love in truth a Love seated in the heart and bringing sorth the fruits of Love Quest But here it may be demanded if the want of a compassionate heart and hand towards the needy in those that are
and so become false witnesses of God because they will not joyn with them in some of their sinful practices they hate them because they go in a way contrary to them and so they hate them because they are the children of God 1 Job 3.12 as Cain hated Abel and slew him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous They are mine Adversaries saith David because I follow the thing that is good Psal 38.20 If ye were of the world saith Christ to his Disciples the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Ye are enemies to the course of the wicked world therefore the world hateth you The hatred of the world against the godly is no new nor strange thing it is a thing not to be wondered or marvelled at marvel not my brethren if the world hate you It is not new for presently after the Fall this enmity began it is not strange for God himself who is the Lord of Hosts proclaimed War between the godly the seed of the Woman and the world the seed of the Serpent The Lord himself hath sounded the Trumpet of War between the world and the godly how then can they but take the Alarum and prepare themselves to Battle not that the Lord hath either commanded the world to fight against his people or that he hath infused any malice into the men of the world but that he having put his Spirit into the hearts of the godly made them partakers of his divine Nature hath thereby made them contrary to the world even as Light to Darkness whereupon necessarily followeth the hatred and enmity of the world against them We see the truth of this in the malice of Cain against Abel Ishmael against Isaac Esau against Jacob three pair of Brethren in several ages We see it in the Egyptians and their King Pharaoh against Israel for the sufferings of Israel are called the reproach of Christ Heb. 11. This hath been the course of the world from age to age Thus did the Caldeans shew their malice to Shadrach Meshech and Abednego accusing them to Nebuchadnezzar that they might be thrown into the fiery Furnace for shunning of Idolatry Thus did the Courtiers of Darius shew their bitter and bloody malice against righteous Daniel for praying three times a day to his God craftily circumventing the King himself not privy to their drift to sign an unlawful Decree by which Daniel was ensnared that he might be cast into the Lions Den. So Haman shewed his malice against Mordecai and the whole Church of the Jews seeking their utter ruin Tobijah and Sanballat were carried with the like malicious spirit against the Church and against the restoring the worship of God at Jerusalem Antiochus Epiphanes was full of malice and rage against the Church So Herod the chief Priests and the unbelieving Jews also in the Apostles times the Roman Emperors and after them the Roman Bishops have continued this enmity and many other Popish Princes But besides these there are many Children of the world mixed with the people of God who are pricks in the eyes and thorns in the sides of the godly and upon many occasions shew their malice against them SECT II. R. ONe Reason is because the world hath had and yet hath one and the same Prince Captain and Commander from the beginning even the Devil whose hatred is restless and perpetual against the people of God Wars and troubles many times cease between Nation and Nation through the change of Kings and Captains yea sometimes there are strait Leagues of Amity and Friendship sometimes Unions as between England and Scotland c. But the Devil having usurped a Kingdom over the world by Gods permission ever since he conquered it in the Garden and so eontinuing his Tyranny over it until Christ at the last day shall utterly and finally destroy his Kingdom it is no matter of wonder no new and strange thing that the world which is in subjection under him doth continue to hate the people of God He is the Arch-enemy of God and he will inspire hatred and malice against the Children of God into the hearts of those that are in subjection to him As it is said of Cain he was of that wicked one and slew his Brother c. so it may be said of other persecutors and enemies in their several times Haman was of that wicked one Pharaoh wrs of that wicked one Jezabel was of that wicked one Herod Nero Domitian the persecuting Popes c. were of that wicked one and led by the same malicious spirit And the like may be said of any enemies which the godly have at this day either within or without the Church It is said that Xerxes the Persian wept when he view'd his mighty Army because an hundred years should not leave one of all the company alive but Xerxes himself also was taken away long ere that time But the Devil never wanteth forces and though his Instruments and Souldiers dye yet having the world under him a new generation ariseth when the old is worn out and he that is their Commander liveth still to train and stir them up unto the Warr. 2. To be hated by the world is incident to all godly men it is not thy Condition only but the Condition of all that do live godly in Christ Jesus theâ—â—hall and do suffer persecution in some degree or other some do sip others drink deeper of the Cup but every one of the Saints have tasted of it All the Prophets Christ himself and all the Apostles is it any wonder then if they do the like to thee thou art not the only Saint in the world that is hated there be as many in thy Condition as there be Saints in the world 3. Christ himself hath fore warned 〈◊〉 of this that we shall be hated of all men for his Name sake John 16.4 What reason then have wâ— to be troubled when it cometh to pasâ— Thâ— things have I told you that when the â—me shall come you may remember that I told you of them Why then should I be troubled at the world's hating me my Saviour hath told me of it aforehand I could expect no other from the world Christ like a Captain tells his Souldiers of the chance of War if ye will be Conquerors ye must endure the brunt and heat of the Battle our Saviour tells us of the worst that we might be fore-armed that in the midst of the worlds hatred we might in patience possess our souls Therefore let not Christians stand amazed like men at their wits end when they see the world malicious against them When was it otherwise When was that Golden Age wherein the world was perfectly reconciled with the people of God Some times have been more quiet than other but when did the enmity wholly cease when could it have been truly said The
and those for whom he hath provided this blessed Supper This bread of the Lord is the Childrens bread and this Cup of the Lord is filled for his Children therefore thou who dost not love the Children of God as they are his Children how canst thou take this Sacrament without great Hypocrisie The Sacrament is a Seal of our Union and Communion with Christ and his Saints So saith the Apostle concerning this Sacrament 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ Is it not a Seal of our Union and Communion with Christ and so proper to those that are truly united unto Christ and made one with him Then he addeth ver 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we all partakers of that one bread It is also a Seal of Communion between the faithful Now in eating of this one bread with the Children of God and drinking with them of the same Cup thou professest thy self to keep the Unity of the Spirit with them in the bond of peace and so to embrace them and to be joyned together with them in love for they are the people for whom this Supper is principally provided Now if thou lovest them the worse for religion and godliness sake it is great Hypocrisie and so a great pollution of the Sacrament for thee to receive it and it is the ready way to bring a Curse upon thy self instead of a Blessing and to make thee guilty of the blood of Christ instead of having thy guilt washed away by his blood CHAP. XXVI LEt me now give Arguments to encourage the Godly to suffer the Hatred of the World 1. Consider what a God ye serve for whose sake ye are hated and oppose the infinite Love of God to the worlds hatred then you need neither to care for it nor to be troubled at it Perhaps a world of wicked men hate thee yet an infinite God doth love thee an hell of Devils are combined against thee yet an infinite God standeth for thee and embraceth thee Is the hatred of the world and of hell greater than the Love of God is towards thee The worlds hatred is but of a short continuance Gods Love is an everlasting Love There are bounds set to the worlds hatred Gods Love is boundless Look up to God in Heaven when the world is in an uproar about thee and quiet thy self with this Meditation I am causlesly hated of the wicked Yet be not cast down O my Soul the Lord of Heaven loveth me and what is their hatred to His Love The world is every where railing upon me and scoffing of me but what are all the reproaches of the world to me as long as the Lord delighteth in me and approveth of my ways As David answered Micohl mocking at him dancing before the Ark It was before the Lord who delighted in me he cared not whom he displeased so long as he pleased God so the Saints need not regard the world hatred 2. God hath a special care over thee in thy greatest dangers and troubles Tertullian saith a Saint is cura Divini ingenij Gods own charge in the world he hath none to look after but the Saints Thou art the Object of the hatred of the wicked and of Gods care as long as the eyâ—s of God are upon thee what matter is it that the envious eyes of the wicked be against thee God is more watchful for thy good than they can be to do thee hurt David could sleep securely in the night although an Hâ—st of ten thousand men did encamp against him Gods care over him was an impregnable Shield 3. Consider that you have Christ a Co-partner with you in their hatred When he lived here he was hated as much as you can be and is sensible of all the wrongs that are done unto you Those Canaanites that are Thorns in thy side are Thorns in his side Those wretches which are pricks in thine Eye are pricks in the Apple of his Eye See how comfortably Christ speaks to you Be of good cheer I have overcome the world The wicked are but so many Serpents that have lost their stings though you fight with a malicious world yet you contend with a vanquished enemy which shall shortly be trodden under your feet 4. God doth over-rule their hatred sometimes he lets the wicked lose upon his Saints sometimes he binds them up Esau hated Jacob and purposed to slay him but God chain-him up and made the face of rough Esau to look like an Angel of God Wicked men are compared to Seas sometimes the Waves arise to such an height in a storm as if they would over throw and drown all before them bâ—t God hath set â—ounds to them thus far and â—o farther here shall thy proud waves stâ—y So God hath bounded the malice of the wicked Thus 〈◊〉 shall they trouble his people â—ut here shall their hatred and malice stay fain would the Devil have taken away the life oâ— Job but touch it not saith the Lord. They cannot take away an hair from your heads but what God permitteth 5. Consider how God will manifest his Love to thee in Heaven who art hated for him here how Christ will hug thee in his arms and kiss thee with the kisses of his mouth who art reviled for him here Cast up thine eyes to Heaven when thou art sensible of the world hatred and say Heaven will pay for all Call to remembrance thy future glory and then rejoyce that thou art counted worthy to be hated â—oâ— Christs sake The more the world loads thee with malice and hatred the more will God load thee with honour and glory The more marks of Christ thou dost carry about thee the higher will Christ exalt thee Our Saviour endured the Cross despising the shame for his eye was fixed upon the glory set before him Heb. 12.2 Set Heaven before thine eyes and thou wilt neither regard the best nor the worst in this present world Oh what is the hatred of this world to the love of God in Christ and that infinite mass of glory that shall be revealed CHAP. XXVII FInally let me give two or three rules for a Christians carriages in the time of the worlds hatred 1. Beware of giving just cause by thy carriage to wicked men to exasperate their hatred against thee if they hate thee let it be for Christ for Righteousness sake and for well-doing You are not hated for Christ if you give any cause to the Adversaries of Religion to revile you 1 Pet. 2 11.12 Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers they may by their good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation And 1 Pet. 3.14 If ye suffer for righteousness sake