principles. By nature we are all Arminians, Pelagians, Socinians, yea, and Athiests, without God in the world; and therefore suspect the principle that is most natural, and that is most easy for you to fall in with. Every principle that favours corrupt and depraved reason is suspicious; for the gospel is a mystery that vitiated nature cannot fathom.-There are political principles that the world is filled with. Many, for example, are of that principle, That it is better to sin than to suffer; better to make such and such compliances, than expose ourselves to the fury of men, or the loss of some worldly substance: better an uneasy conscience than an empty purse. Many are of that principle, better a bird in hand than two in the bush, as we use to speak: better a palace in Paris, a portion in this world, which we see and have among our hands, than a palace in Paradise: and hence many say, "Who will shew us any good?" and few, "Lord, lift upon us the light of thy countenance," Psal. iv. 6. We must not be conformed to the world herein.

6. We must not be conformed to the practice, course, and way of the world: "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience," Eph. ii. 2. God would have his people cross the world in their life and conversation. This was pointed out by his forbidding Israel to eat and touch some things, which other nations did eat and touch; and his allowing them to eat what other nations did not. For example; the Egyptians did eat, for the most part fish, and some few kinds of birds: but of the flesh of beasts they eat no other but only swines flesh; and this one kind of flesh is directly forbidden the Jews, Lev. xi. 7, 8. By this was pointed out, that God would have a kind of contrariety between the world, and such as make a profession of his name; and that his children must be as far from the manners of the world as may be. The way of the world is downward; he will have his people to walk upward: the course of this world is hell-ward; he will have his people's course to be heaven-ward: the world walk in the broad way; he will have his people walk in the narrow way.

In a word we are not to be conformed to the world in their thoughts, words, actions, desires, delights, loves, joys, affections, or passions. But on all these we cannot insist at the time: and must therefore proceed.

III. To the third thing proposed, which was To shew what this disconformity to the world imports. Not to multiply particulars, it fairly imports the four following things.

1. It imports more than a contrariety to the world. What is said of the flesh, may be said of the world, with respect to the believer. As the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these two are contrary one to another: so, the world fights against the believer, and the believer fights against the world; and these two are contrary one to the other: and this is the victory whereby he overcometh the world, even his faith.

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2. This disconformity to the world imports a despising of the world. They that are not conformed to the world are not in love with the world; they are not taken up with the gaudy vanities thereof. They that are saints indeed, have got a sight that makes the world appear nothing. The natural sun shines upon this world, and enlightens it: but the sun of righteousness, when he shines upon the soul, darkens this earth, and all the excellencies thereof, and makes them all appear but loss and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Hence the believer doth not admire the world: it is not silver and gold that he calls true riches; it is not worldly advancement that he calls honour; it is not carnal delight that he reckons pleasure and happiness; it is not human learning that he esteems solid wisdom: he can be rich, honourable, happy, and all without them; and all in Christ. He values worldly and earthly things no more than a picture drawn in the sand, which the least wave will wash away.

3. This disconformity to the world imports a forsaking of the world; "Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty," Psal. xlv. 10. 11. The child of God is made to forsake the world, and to come up from this world

leaning on the Beloved: this seems to be the import of that call to the church, Song iv. 8. "Come with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon; from the lions dens, and the mountains of leopards." We profess to renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh; to forsake the world, and follow Christ. Now, this forsaking of the world, viewed negatively, it is not to go out of the world by a hasty death, that were double iniquity; nor is it to vow a voluntary poverty, as the Papists do; nor is it to be idle and improvident about the things of the world: but, affirmatively, to forsake the world, is to do it in point of use; to use this world as if we used it not; that is, moderately to forsake it in point of service; we are not to be slaves to it; for, we cannot serve God and Mammon to forsake it in point of confidence; we are not to trust in, or depend upon outward enjoyments: and we are to forsake it in point of adherence, so as not to be glued to it; it should not be like the hair upon the head, or skin of the hand, which cannot be pulled off without pain: but like a hat on the head, or a glove on the hand, that we can take off when we please: we must keep a loose grip of it. And,

4. This disconformity to the world imports, an actual crucifying of the world: " God forbid, that I should glory, saith the apostle, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." The world cares not for me, and I care not for the world; the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. But I insist not, and therefore proceed,

IV. To the fourth thing, which was, to inquire why, or for what reasons, the people of God must not be conformed to the world. Why, in general, because they are of another world: they are subjects of another kingdom; they are people of another state; they are persons of another principle; they are recipients of another spirit; they are directed by another rule; and they are aiming at another world, than the rest of the world; but concerning these, and other things of this nature we will have occasion to speak upon more fully after

wards. We shall only, in the mean time, observe, that there are two great contending parties, that powerfully draw all men after them; namely, God and the world; and there is an irreconcilable enmity between them: those who are on God's side, are against the world; and those that are on the world's side, are against God; and therefore, it is the duty of all the followers of Christ not to take the world's part against him; and consequently, not to be conformed to the world. When the three children, Dan. iii. 12. refused to fall down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's image, he was full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against them, ver. 19. It is so with the men of this world; if the friends of Christ will not bow down and worship this golden image, and join in with the vanities and follies thereof, why then the worldlings run mad at them. It is true, the world would agree with the godly, if they would bow down to them but that they cannot do, they dare not do; because the Lord forbids it: "Be not conformed to the world."

Now the reasons of the doctrine may be classed under these four heads. The children of God must not be conformed to this world, 1. In respect of God. 2. In respect of the world. 3. In respect of their brethren. And, 4. In respect of themselves.

1st, In respect of God; there are many reasons might be given, why the people of God are not to be conformed to the world. For,

1. By being conformed to the world, you tempt God, and lead yourselves into temptation: if any of God's people entertain unnecessary communion with the wicked of the world, like Peter in the high-priest's hall, they tempt God, to let them fall into mischief, contrary to his express command, "Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." They run upon a dangerous precipice, where, if God take away his hand, they may fall and break all their bones.

2. By being conformed to the world, they so far forsake God, and so forsake their own mercies, and run into idolatry: hence covetousness is called idolatry; for it is making the world our God. Whatever we love

most, and serve most, and depend upon most, that we make our God; and so do we, when we love, serve, and depend upon the world so as to justle God out of doors: But, why do we dote upon the creature, or upon the world? For, whatever the world hath of good, it hath it from God. Your food, raiment, comforts and conveniencies in the world, as they are any way good to you, it is from God: and therefore, if you forsake God, and follow the world, from a desire after these things, you forsake the full fountain, and follow the fading streams; you depart even from the true good, that is in the world itself, while you go to the world for it." My people have comitted two great evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters; and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water," Jer. ii. 13.

3. God and the world are at odds; there is a disagreement between God and the world, between Christ and the world: all the time that Chrsit was in the world it mocked, reviled, opposed, and persecuted him, and at last killed him; and Christ, by his life and death, did fight against the world, and overcome it: and he hath put enmity between his people and the world. All the prophets, and apostles, and saints, in all ages, have been at hot war with the world, and contended with all the wicked in it; "They that forsake the law, praise the wicked; but such as keep the law, contend with them," Prov. xxviii 4. They have been men of contention in the world: Why? the world is in arms against their God; therefore the Lord hath sworn that he will have war with it, as with Amalek, unto all generations; and with all who shall join it; yea, or stand neutral: they are cursed, because they rise not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, Judges v. 23. Christ hath given encouragement to his people, that they shall be more than conquerors, through him who hath overcome the world.

4. The love of God, and the love of the world, are contrary!" He that loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him." God's work is, to draw our affections from the world: the world's work is, to draw our affections from God: and both God and the world seek