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
world that is to come And what of Heaven is to be seen in you VVhat of Heaven in your judgments Do you conform to the world to come in that Christians you see here how the world judgeth of things and persons but Do you think we shall have in Heaven that judgment of things that the men of the world have now If you ask How we shall judg of things here who are yet on Earth and not in Heaven Why thâ— Word and not the World is your Rule you need not say Who shall go up into Heaven to bring us tidings what is the judgment of things there we have it near in the written Word Next What conformity is there to Heaven in your Affections Are they heavenly Remember the Command is Col. 3. 2. Set your affections on things above And What conformity is there in your conversation Is your conversation in Heaven The Apostle saith the conversation of a Christian should be so Phil. 3 27. What engravings of Heaven are there on your conversations What beginnings of Heaven have you in you How many are there that begin Hell on Earth and have the engravings of Hell written upon their conversations These indeed are Conformists to another World but it is that World of Darkness and not of Light that is to come But in prosecuting these Discoveries of a Nonconformity to this World for every one's better and fuller satisfaction I shall proceed by way of Enquirie those shall be of two sorts 1. Some more general 2. More particular 1. More general And so the Enquiry is this What conformity is there in you to those that are in Heaven and that inhabit Heaven If you ask Who are in Heaven The Scripture tells you That there is A God A Christ Angels Spirits of just men 1. God is in Heaven his Throne is there He dwells there in respect of the manifestation of his glorie He is said to inhabit Eternity and to dwell in that high and holy place Isa 57. 15. The enquiriâ—â—â— this God is in Heaven and What conformitie is there in you on Earth to that God who is in Heaven You are called to be like him to be holy as he is to be merciful as he is not in respect of equalitie but similitude and likeness You are called to be partakers of the Divine Nature and What is that but to be partakers of Divine Graces by which we bear his Image and so become like him You are called Children of God and Children are to resemble the Father Now try how you resemble him and by that your conformitie to him 1. Consider how God judgeth of things Here the Scripture gives us light and by it you are to see whether you judg of things as God doth He judgeth of Sin as the greatest Evil of Sinners as the greatest Enemies of Grace as most excellent of gracious ones as most precious of Heaven as most desirable of the World as most vain and contemptible Thus God in his Word declares his judgement of these things Now the Query is What conformitie there is in our judgments to this Whether we judg of things as God judgeth of them And so for the estimative facultie Whether you esteem things as God esteemeth them The godly man is described Psal 15. to be one in whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. 2. How God-like you are in your affections and What conformitie is there in yours to his The Scripture acquaints us with what God loves and with what he hates and with what he delights in The Scripture tells us what he loves That he loves righteousness loves holiness he loves uprightness he loves truth and sincerity in the inward parts Now put the question to your selves Whether you love the things which God loves The Scripture tells us what God hateth He hateth iniquitie and all the workers of iniquitie he hateth sin and all sinful ways he hateth all sin And now see what conformitie there is in your affections of hatred to this The Scripture acquaints us what it is that God delights in It tells us that he delighteth in those that fear him He delighteth in uprightness He is a God that hath pleasure in uprightness He delighteth in mercy Now Christians try what conformitie there is in you to your Heavenly Father in these things 2. Christ is in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. from whence we look for a Saviour c. We look for him from Heaven And it is an Article of our Faith That he is ascended into Heaven Though Christ be in Heaven and you on Earth yet there is to be in Christians a conformitie to Jesus Christ Christ is the Head now he is in Heaven and the members must be conformed to the Head Though he be in Heaven yet he hath left us such foot-steps on Earth in which we are to tread Those that will come to Christ in Heaven must tread in his steps on Earth and so ascend up to him Christians are still to be followers of Jesus Christ Christ is the great Master they are to follow and the grand Pattern they are to imitate The great Apostle said Be followers of me as I am of Christ Now Christians trie what conformitie there is in you to Jesus Christ and you have reason to put your selves upon the trial because the Apostle telleth us Rom. 8. 28. We are predestinated to be conformed to his Image Let me tell you there are three things wherein Christians are called to be conformable to Jesus Christ viz. Sufferings Sanctity Glory In this world we are called to be conformed to Jesus Christ in the two first when we come to Heaven we shall be made conformable to him in the latter Now the Querie lieth about the two first 1. Christians What conformitie is there in you to Jesus Christ in your Sufferings It cannot be that a Christian can be a Christian indeed but he must be a suffering Christian if it come not so high as to resisting unto blood yet it may come to bonds and imprisonments if not so high yet to scoffs nick-names reproaches for the sake of Christ Now Christians In your sufferings are you conformed to Jesus Christ Do you suffer meekly patiently rejoicingly Christ was patient in his sufferings He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and he opened not his mouth He prayed for his persecutors When he was reviled he reviled not again and in that the Apostle Petor telleth us He left us an example that we should tread in his steps 1 Pet. 2. 23. Now trie your selves whether you are like Christ or the world under sufferings It is the way of the world to return like for like railing for railing reviling for reviling to â—â—et and murmure and be impatient under their sufferings Christians Jesus Christ when he was on earth and in the days of his suffering was otherwise Now see to whom you conform in your sufferings whether to Christ or the
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
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
World 2. VVhat conformitie is there is you to Jesus Christ in respect of Sanctity and Holiness Though Jesus Christ be now in Heaven yet he hath left us his foot-steps of that wherein we are to tread He was one that went about doing good He was abundant in dutie and much in prayer He was so holy in the whole course of his life that he challenged any to convince him of sin He suffered wrong but did no wrong neither was guile found in his mouth He was conformable to his Father's will and it was his meat and drink to do it He was much in self-denial he denied himself in his dearest things he laid aside his own glory he laid down his own life for the salvation of poor sinners He was much in holy and heavenly discourse ever speaking of the Kingdom of heaven and taking occasion from earthly things to reflect on and discourse of heavenly things He was much in instructing counselling comforting his Disciples He stood up for the honour of his Father and defended the truth against all opposition All this and much more did he in the days of his flesh when he was on earth and therein left us an example He made a holy close of his life As he lived so he died VVhen the time of his suffering death drew near he betook himself to prayer Under his last sufferings he behaved himself meekly and patiently VVhen nailed to the Cross he prayed for his persecutors saying Father forgive them for they know not what they do VVhen he was giving up the Ghost he commended his Soul to God saying Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Thus Christians you see a short specimen of Christ's Sanctity when he was on Earth Now trie your conformitie to Jesus Christ who is now in Heaven Can you say My Pattern is in Heaven as Job said of his Witness Job 16. 19 My Witness is in Heaven Do you tread in those steps of holiness that Jesus Christ hath left which though we cannot exactly walk in yet Do you strive to come as near in imitating his Example as you can Remember Christians The world hath found out other ways than the way of Jesus Christ There is the way of Cain and Corah and Balaam and Esau and Ishmael in which the most of the world walk But the way wherein you are to walk is that way wherein Jesus Christ walked when he was on earth Christians are called to be in this World as Jesus Christ was in this World 3. In Heaven are Angels Angels of Light who are called holy Angels and are the Heavenly Courtiers These are some of the Inhabitants of the World that is to come Christians You are to try what conformitie there is in you to these heavenlie Spirits and whether you are conformable to Angels of Light or Angels of Darkness Those who are Nonconformists to this world hold some conformitie to those glorious Angels that inhabit the other world and the great and main conformitie to them stands in our doing the will of God on Earth as the Angels do it in Heaven it is one Petition in the Lord's Prayer Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven Now try your selves by this 1. They do the will of God Zealously with a great deal of heat fervency and intention of spirit and are therefore called Seraphims They are zealous for his work and zealous in his work Are you conformable to them in that 2. Angels do the will of God Chearfully with abundance of delight and joy and therefore they are said to have Harps to shew it is their Musick and Delight All the Services God puts them upon they go about with abundance of alacritie Now what conformitie is there in you to Angels in this When you go to dutie Do you go about it as Angels do about their work Remember the most of the world are never more sad and dull than when they are set about Heavenlie work and never so chearful as when they are out of God's work and freed from Heavenlie employments 3. Angels in Heaven do the will of God speedilie and are therefore said to have wings They never dispute the commands of God no sooner are they bid go but they go What Messages they are sent about what Work they are put upon they do and execute readily and speedily Now Christians How like Angels are you in doing the Lord's work on earth The way of the world is to move slowly as Pharoah's Chariots when the Wheels were pulled off But Christians if you are conformable to the Angels there is a readiness of mind in you to do the will of God You stand ready pressed for his Service and have your Loins girded up 4. Angels do the will and work of God with much self-denial They ascribe all to God and give him all the glorie and therefore are said to cast down their Crowns before the Throne and in Ezech. 1. 8. they are said to have hands under their wings as concealing their own abilities Now Christians see what conformitie there is in you to the Angels in this particular of Self-denial It 's the way of most of the world when they do any thing that is good to boast and be proud of it as the Pharisee of his fasting and duties But those that are conformable in this particular to the Angels in Heaven do nothing as of themselves and give all the glory to God as St. Paul did who said By the grace of God I am what I am and not I but the grace of God which is in me 5 Angels do the will and the work of God with abundance of love There is a sweet harmony and agreement among them in their Employments they do not cross or thwart one another they are obedient Servants to their Lord and are in love and unitie among themselves Ezek. 1. 9. we read of the Cherubims and the living Creatures that their wings joined one to another and they turned not when they went and they went every one straight forward they did not go one this way and another that way but do sweetly and mutually correspond in doing the will of God Now Christians What conformitie is there in you to Angels in this Do you sweetly conspire and agree together in serving God on Earth Oh that Christians were more Angel-like in this Remember Contention and Division is the way of the world and the way of carnal men the Apostle tells us so 1 Cor. 3. 3. While there are strifes and divisions among you are you not carnal and walk as men Now Christians I have shew'd you how the Angels in another world do the will of God and try your selves what conformitie there is in you on earth to them 4. In Heaven are the Spirits and Souls of just men made perfect These are in another world they are in Heaven they inherit the Promises and such the Apostle commands us to be followers of Heb. 6. 12. Now what
conformitie is there in you to them 1. We have reason to believe there is in them a longing for a full accomplishment of the number of the Elect and for a full revelation of glory They long for their own perfection and that of all the Saints This the world longs not for the coming of the Kingdom of Glory Our Saviour tells us how it was in the days of Noah they eat they drank c. and saith it would be so in the days of his Coming Now see what your conformitie is in this particular Do you mind the Glory to come Is there in you a looking for the coming of Jesus Christ 2. The Spirits in Heaven are in perfect union What ever disagreements were among the Saints on Earth yet in Heaven they all agree There Calvin and Luther Ridley and Hooper are agreed Now see what conformitie there is in you to them Is it your endeavour to preserve on Earth the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace 3. The Spirits of just men departed are with Christ enjoying his presence and rejoicing in it Tell me Do you rejoice in the thoughts of it and do you long for it and to be with Jesus Christ Thus for the general Queries 2. Consider some particular Queries and they are to enquire further what Conformists you are to another world 1. Do you speak the language of another world We read of speaking the language of Canaan We know of what Countrey a man is by the language that he speaks Is your language heavenly The Primitive Christians were charged with being affectors of Kingdoms because they spake so often of the Kingdom of God What shall we think of those whose words are either worldly or wicked To what world are they conformed 2. What life do you live Is it the life of another world Is your Conversation in Heaven And have you the engravings of Heaven on them It is sad to see that most of the world have the engravings of Hell upon their's 3. VVhat works do you Do they relate to another world or only to this Praying hearing holy meditation praising God and religious duties they relate to another world to an heavenly world that is to come How sad is is to see how many there are whose works only relate to this world or to the infernal vvorld of Darkness 4. VVhat things do you most eye and look at Are they the things of another world or of this vvorld The Apostle saith 2 Cor. 4. the last We look not upon the things that are seen c. Do you most eye and long after heavenly Glory Treasures and Possessions or Earthly 5. VVhat vvorld is it you make the greatest preparation and provision for Do you provide for that vvorld that novv is or for that that is to come VVe read of the fool in the Gospel that cheer'd himself vvith that That he had goods laid up for many years Hovv many are there that have no thoughts of another vvorld That provide for their peace and safety and contentment in this vvorld that say What shall we do to be rich but never ask What they shall do to be saved that lay up for themselves treasures on earth but lay not up treasures in heaven 6. VVhat place and vvhat vvorld do you look upon as your home Is it this vvorld or that to come If that to come then you are in this as strangers and pilgrims you lodg in it as in an Inn and you walk through it as persons unconcerned in its sinful lusts and vanities 7. What Right and Interest do you most rejoice in Is it that you have an Interest in this world or that you have an Interest in the world to come Is it in that portion you enjoy here or in that portion that God hath reserved for his in another world Is it in your Mansions here or in those that Christ hath provided in his Father's Kingdom for his 8. VVhence do you fetch all your comfort in any sad and cloudy condition Is it from this world or from the thoughts of another world where there shall be no more sorrow nor weeping nor death c. 9. VVhat promises do you most prise VVhether those that are made concerning this world or those that concern the world that is to come The Apostle telleth us That godliness hath the promises of both But he that is a Nonconformist to this world doth most highly prise the latter and would not be without them for a world to enjoy the former 10. How do you do the Civil businesses of this world Do you do them as relating to another world Do you so eat and drink and marry and use the World as those that think of Eternity and as those that shortly look for Eternity Do you so use this World as those that must shortly leave it and must go hence to live in another World It 's sad to see how many there are that live in this world as if there were no life to come nor any other World to be looked for Now Christians if you are Nonconformists to this World you use it with weaned affections as those whose time is short and are passing out of this life into another Thus much for the Evidences Whether we are Nonconformists to this World 3. Directions what to do with Considerations propounded that we may not be Conformists to this World With Means and Helps prescribed How we may be delivered from such a Conformity 1. Those that would be Nonconformists to this World must be much in comparing both Worlds together this World with that which is to come They must take a view of both Worlds and by that means they will come to discern which of the two is most worthy of their conformity to which it's most rational to conform When we have compared them together as we shall find this World not worthy to be compared with the World to come so neither worthy to be conformed to So consider what a World that is that is to come and then see how worthy that World is of a Christian's conformity The Scripture gives us some account of the World to come what a World it is and by that light we shall walk in making a description of it 1. The World to come is an Eternal World This World is but temporary this is but this present world this now world which shortly will not be As David saith of the wicked of the world Psal 37. Yet a little while and the wicked shall not be thou shalt seek his place So we may say of this World Yet a little while and it will be no more and its place will not be found The great Creator set up this Earthly World to be as a Stage wherein men in their successive generations are to act their parts for some thousands of years and then God will take it down It is reserved for fire it is drawing to its end as the Apostle Peter saith The end
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
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
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
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
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
the Rules of the Word both for judging of things and for practice 1. For the Rules prescribed us in the Word they are all pure I might name many but among others take these three 1. The VVord teacheth us to judg of things as God judgeth of them whose judgment is according to truth the judgment of the VVorld is according to appearance and corrupt phantasie 2. The Word teacheth us to judg of things as they have relation to the Soul That that is good which is good for the Soul which tends to the making of us more Holy and Heavenly 3. The Word teacheth us to judg of things to be good or evil as they relate to a man's future and eternal state So those things to be good that concern a man's eternal well being and those things to be evil that relate to eternal misery Thus for the Rules of judging of things Next for the Rules of Practice I shall name some of many to you you will find them all holy and pure 1. Is this Doing what pleaseth God not what pleaseth men Pleasing God whom ever we displease This is a Rule in the Word for practice it telleth us We should not be the servants of men to please their sinful humours and lusts and fancies 2. To do as the best do and not as the most do where by best we mean not the best of the Parish who are accounted so for their Riches and Lands and Possessions but the best in respect of Godliness and Holiness 3. In all things we do to prefer suffering before sinning To chuse Affliction rather than Sin It gives us to consider that the least evil of Sin hath more evil in it than the greatest evil of Suffering 4. In all we do to respect more inward than outward peace To regard most peace in our own Spirits and Consciences To remember what the Martyr said There were no Stocks to the Stocks of an evil Conscience To have a care to preserve the Bird in our bosome 5. Doing good and avoiding evil though with disadvantage to our selves when the good concerns eternal life and the disadvantage only this life Thus for some of the Rules for practice Next for the Patterns and Examples that the VVord of God holds out to us You will find them all holy having the Inscriptions of Heaven and Holiness on them So it propounds to us for our imitation the Examples First Of Jesus Christ Secondly Of Holy men and such as were Followers of Jesus Christ 1. Of Jesus Christ So it holds him out to us as our great Pattern to imitate It shews us the steps of his Humility Meekness Patience Obedience Holiness Heavenliness 2. It holds out to us the Examples of Holy men for our imitation more famous in their Generation than others for their Faith Piety Patience Holiness Zeal Heb. 6. 12 Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Consider the Scripture propounds to us for our example such as inherit the Promises of God the VVorld propounds such as inherit the Threatnings of God The Word propounds to us for our examples such as now are in Heaven The VVorld propounds such who for ought we know are either in Hell or in the road-way to Hell Now Christians I have given you a brief specimen and view of the VVorld's Rules and Examples and of those of the VVord and now compare them together and judg which are most worthy of your conformity Upon your comparing them together you will find the result to be this 1. That the Rules and Examples of the VVord are more high and noble and excellent than those of the VVorld The VVorld's Rules and Examples are low and base and a Christian debaseth himself in conforming to them they are below a Christian's Calling they are below a Christian's Spirit they are below a Christian's Profession they are below a Christian's Hope and Expectation and so must needs be too low for his conformity and imitation Man is an excellent Creature he was made a little lower than the Angels so that next to the Angels he is the most noble of Creatures And God that gave Man a noble Being gave him also a noble Rule to live and walk by As God made not man to be his own End neither did he make him to be his own Rule From whom he received his Being he was to receive his Rule His Rule was the Will and Law of his Creator and herein stood his excellency in conforming to that Rule When man conformed to another Rule he lost his excellency God made man upright but as Solomon saith they have found out many inventions So God made Man excellent but having found out other Rules to conform to than those of his Creator they have lost their excellency There was a high and noble Rule for a high and noble Creature and that Rule is the Rule of the Word which contains the revealed Will of the Creator 2. You will find this upon comparing them together That the Rules and Examples of the Word are more pure and holy than those of the World Consider what is said of the Word of God and what is said of the World Of the Word of God the Scripture saith it is pure very pure as Gold tryed in the fire seven times Of the World it 's said that it is sinful evil and that it lieth in wickedness Now as the Word is so are its Rules and as the World is so are its A pure Word hath pure Rules and an impure VVorld must needs prescribe impure Rules The higher things are the purer they are VVhat is Purity but a freeness from all Contagion and touch of inferior things That Gold is impure that is mixed with dross and that Face and Garment is defiled that is spotted with dirt Consider things are pure ex contactu superiorum the higher they are and the more heavenly the more pure And things are impure ex contactu inferiorum the lower things are the more impure Now upon this account the Rules and Precepts of the VVord most needs be the purest because they are must high holy heavenly There is no scoria no dross at all in them And as for the Examples of the VVord they are holy and heavenly ones that are propounded to us for our conformity and imitation Obj. It 's true some may here except against the Examples and say What was there no dross in them Had not the best Saints their failings and corruptions Were they perfectly pure without stain or blemish Ans To this we answer That the Examples and Patterns that the VVord of God holds out to us for our imitation are as I told you before of two sorts those 1. Of Jesus Christ 2. Of Holy men 1. The Example of Jesus Christ Now his Example is without and beyond all exception it is perfectly pure He hath left us his steps to tread in and upon view of them it wil never be found that he trod
one step awry He did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth He made this challenge to his most bitter and observing Adversaries Which of you convinceth me of sin He was Jesus Christ the righteous 2. As for the Examples of Holy men against whom the Objection most lieth and of whom it must be confessed that they had their impurities yet concerning them there is this to be said 1. That though they had their impurities yet they had their purity i.e. something that was precious and excellent They were Gold though there were some dross mixed with it so that comparatively we may say they were pure The Examples of the VVorld are altogether impure they are all dross and no Gold mixed with them They are altogether corrupt and have nothing of holiness and purity in them 2. This is to be considered That God in his VVord propounding to us the Examples of Holy men for our imitation sets them out to us to be imitated by us in what was good not what was evil in them The holiest men were in some things but men they had their black as well as their bright side Now the Scripture shews us their black side only for our caution but their bright side only for our imitation In the Scripture we see Saints in their Sins and in their Graces and it is in their Graces only that they are held forth to us as Patterns for our imitation The great Apostle himself bids them to whom he writes to be followers of him as he was of Christ VVe are to eye Christ as our chiefest Pattern and to conform to the Examples of others as they are conformable to Jesus Christ Particular Saints had their particular Graces and Excellencies Thus Abraham was eminent for his Faith Job for his Patience Moses for his Meekness David for his Zeal and so for the rest And in these the Scripture propounds them to us as Patterns for our imitation in their Excellencies not in their Frailties Thus the Objection is answered And now consider what Rules and Examples are worthy of your imitation and conformity 3dly You will find this upon comparing them together That the Rules and Examples of the VVord have the greatest and best and highest approbation and in this they exceed those of the VVorld this I shall shew you in some particulars 1. They are approved of by God himself who is the Best and Greatest And needs must it be so when such Rules are of own making and such Examples of his own stamping To these God puts his Seal of Approbation but to those of the VVorld that of his dislike and condemnation 2. They are those Rules and Examples that all that are godly approve of by their dissenting from the other they have testified their approbation of these Read but the 119th Psalm and see how highly David speaks forth his approbation of the Law and Testimonies and Precepts of God and how he had chosen the way of God's Precepts And this godly men have done under the greatest persecutions and afflictions they have then testified their high approbation of the ways of God and have not accepted of deliverance upon condition of complying with the sinful ways of the VVorld so you read of those sufferers of old Heb. 11. what tortures they endured and all upon the account of Nonconformity to the world 3. They are those Rules and Examples that will one day be approved of by all both good and bad There is a day when even wicked men themselves will vote for them It is not much to be regarded what wicked men now think or speak of them while they are in their prosperity and in the hot and eager pursuit of their Lusts Alas they are not now themselves but there is a day when they will be in cool blood when they wil be themselves when they wil commend the ways of God and the Examples of those holy ones they once condemned and wil wish they had chosen the way of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob c. and not of Cain and Esau and Ishmael and such like 4. You will find this upon comparing these Rules and Examples together That those of the VVord are the safest to conform to In that conformity there is a safety for Eternity In a conformity to those of the world there is nothing but danger they are liable to be condemned with the world there is no safety in those ways wherein there is no salvation to be found They that live the life of the VVorld must expect to perish with the VVorld The Psalmist saith Psal 125. 5. As for such as turn aside to crooked paths the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity i.e. God wil deal with such as with wicked men Solomon tells us Prov. 10. 9. He that walks uprightly walks surely It is a man's conformity to the Rules and Examples of the VVord that speaks him Upright and in that lieth his safety for Eternity 5. Upon comparing them you will find That a conformity to the Rules and Examples of the VVord is that that is most becoming Christians VVhat can more become a Christian than to conform to those Rules and Examples that are most Christian and holy 1. It becomes not a Christian 's Calling He is called from the world he is called out of the world he is called to be unlike the world he is called to be an Heir of another world he is called to begin Heaven on Earth to begin it here in Grace and to enjoy it hereafter in Glory Now Christians How doth a conformity to the world agree and suit with your Calling Doth it become a man to wallow in the Mire because a Hog doth so 2. It is unbecoming a Christian's Profession As your Calling is so is your Profession holy Do but reflect upon your Baptismal-Covenant Is not the VVorld one of those things you promise to forsake and renounce And if so How can you conform to it How can you that profess your selves to be the servants of Christ be the servants of sinful men How can you that profess your selves to be of the number of those that are redeemed from the world comply with and conform to the world 3. Conformity to the world is unbecoming the Spirit of a Christian A Christian is to be one of an excellent and precious Spirit And what hath an excellent Spirit to do with base and low Rules and Examples Let me tell you there is a holy Gallantry Christians should have which should set them above such a conformity with the greatest disdain and scorn As it 's said of Caleb Numb 14. 24. He had another Spirit What have holy Spirits to do with sinful Rules And What have heavenly Spirits to do with worldly and earthly Examples 6. Upon comparing them together you will find That a Conformity to the Rules and Examples of the Word is most Consolative There is more comfort in conforming to the Word than in conforming
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