He

are the great jet and concern of the worldly great and worldly wise. He looketh indeed for a name, but it is for " an everlasting name, which cannot be cut off." He is not content to be happy only for a few days or years, but desires to be blessed and joyful for thousands and millions of ages to come. longs for a crown, but it is for " a crown of glory that fadeth not away." He pants for a kingdom, but it is for the kingdom of Christ and of God. He is really a person of boundless ambition; for nothing less will serve him than the infinite realms. of everlasting glory. Riches are much upon his heart; but they are the durable, the unsearchable riches of Christ. He cannot be put off with the paltry cares and thorny honours of worldly greatness; but nobly pursues, and with certainty too, the very happiness and grandeur of God himself, even that very glory which Christ received from the Father, and which, as their head, he will share with his members.

Compared with this, all the pride and glory of man appear but as stubble or falsehood, the mere dream of a shadow, a nothing. And if human greatbeliever's ideas now,

ness can appear thus in the

what will it seem when the earth itself shall be dissolved, and the Babylon of sin upon it shall be thrown down into perpetual ruins?

O what is earth, if heaven be mine?

Or what its dying toys?

I seek, I burn for wealth divine,

For God's immortal joys!

CHAPTER XIV.

On Worldly Company.

ALL things may be lawful, but all are not expedient. It may be lawful for a Christian to be much among the men of this world, and, in some cases, it may be necessary, for the discharge of lawful callings; but it is not expedient, certainly, to be more among them than is thus strictly proper and necessary. Either the Christian must enter into their spirit, or they into his, before they can be agreeable companions. If he take up their spirit, surely it will soon be to his grief and his burden. And it is very unlikely that they should come into his; unless God might bless his faithful conversation to the good of their souls. But this is seldom the case in worldly company, and especially in the company of many worldly men together. The corruptions of one will bear up and harden the corruptions of another; and he that perhaps would not have jeered alone, will scoff by sympathy with a mocking crowd. It is best to speak of spiritual things with carnal men by themselves; when common decency may force them to give a patient hearing, even though grace may not crown the discourse with a blessing. A whole herd may only trample upon your jewels, and then turn again to rend you.

That man's religion is much to be doubted of, who frequents the society of the men of this world

for satisfaction and pleasure." How can two," even two only, "walk together, unless they be agreed?" "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you," saith Christ, "out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

Can a man touch filth and not be defiled; or fire and not be hurt? How much less then can a man conform to the spirit of this world, without pollution to his soul, or without feeling the loss of that peace, if he ever had it, which the world can neither give nor take away? It is no wonder that men complain of spiritual falls and desertions, when they stand upon slippery places," and leave the presence of God for the presence of mammon.

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How can a heart, reeking from the hot dunghill of this filthy world, be offered as a sweet-smelling savour to God, or hope to be accepted with returns of his heavenly fire?

CHAPTER XV.

The Manners of the World are hurtful and hindering to Believers.

THE Apostle declared it, as his privilege, that "the world was crucified to him, and he to the world." Another Apostle says, that "whosoever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God." And Christ assures us, that "we cannot serve God

and mammon;" insomuch, that if we would ourselves to be his disciples,

cross daily, and follow him.”

66 we must take

approve

up our

This is very evident; they who are the most given to the modes of this world, and mix most with its customs and pursuits, are the least alive to God, and the least lively in the things of God. Gaiety

and foppery of dress, mimicry of worldly pride and parade, the hollow language of fashionable companies and friendships, do ill become a Christian, and never promote his true welfare. It is not indeed the custom at this day to say such things to professors; but they are not, however, the less true, or the less needful.

Poor and wretched are all these fooleries, when weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, and especially when they thrust out the enjoyment of things divine. To have gay bodily apparel with cold and naked souls; to possess fulness of bread with emptiness of grace; to enjoy much worldly company, and lose the society of God and his saints; to be esteemed polite and genteel in manners with men, and to be awkward and dumb in addresses to God, is all such a complication of folly, meanness, misery, and sin, as a Christian, in his right mind, should be amazed at and abhor.

It is for this reaBut how then are

Are we loved by the world? son, the world will love its own. we "chosen out of the world?" belong to Christ, whom the world hateth ?-This trimming between God and the world is neither for

How then can we

the comfort of our souls, nor for the credit of our profession.

Do we fear to be censured for singularity and precision? A Christian must be singular; for he is one of those who are "not to be numbered with the nations," a stranger, and a pilgrim, or passenger here; and he must be precise, neither loving the world, nor living for the world, for otherwise "the love of the Father is not in him."

On the other hand, an open and generous civility, a gentle and benevolent deportment, bespeaking sincerity of heart and holiness of life, are truly ornamental to the Christian. In avoiding the ape, a believer needs not stumble upon the bear; nor, in shunning grimace and affectation, to plunge into sourness and brutality. If meekness, patience, gentleness, good-will, and good works, will please all men, it is his duty, by these means, to study to please them. But if they expect his conformity to the world for their pleasure, and are disgusted at the transformation and renewal of his mind, as it is more than probable they will be; it is then his honour and his privilege not in this way to please them, if he would approve himself to be the servant of Christ.

Though the Christian, in one sense, must be in the world, and put his best hand to his business and affairs, according to his lot from God's providence, yet, in another sense, he must come out from the world and be separate, lest his soul be hindered and defiled. He cannot enter into the spirit of the world without injury and loss; and it is the spirit,