A. 2. It is an evil world, as it is an en- snaring world. The world is full of snares. Company is a snare, — recreations are snares, — oaths are snares, — riches are golden snares, — Opes irritamenta malorinn. The apostle speaks of " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," 1 Jolin ii. 16. The lust of the flesh is beauty, — the lust of the eye is money, — the pride of life is honour ; these are the natural man's trinity. In mundo splei^dor opum, gloricB mnjestas, voluptatinn illecehrcp, ab ainore Dei nos astraliimt. The world is a flattering enemy ; whom it kisses, it oft betrays ; it is a silken halter ; the pleasures of the world, like o])ium, cast men into the sleep of security. Lysimachus sold his crown for a draught of water : so many part with heaven for the world. It is an ensnaring world : the king of Armenia was sent prisoner to queen Cleopatra in goldon fetters, — too many are enslaved with the world's golden fetters. The world hewitcli- ed Demas, 2 Tim. iv. 10. One of Christ's own apostles was caught with a silver bait. It is hard to drink the wine of pros|)crity, and not be giddy. Thus the worhl, through our innate corruption, is evil, as it is a snare, 1 Tim. vi. 9., " They that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare." If an angel were to live here, there were no danger of the world's ensnaring him be- cause he hath no principle within to receive the temptation, but we have a corru])t prin- ciple that suits with the temj)tation, and that makes us always in danger.
A. 3. It is an evil world as it is a dis- couraging world. It casts scorn and re- proach upon them who live virtuously. What ! Will you be holier than others, wiser than your ancestors ? The world deals with the professors of religion as San-
called * cruel mockinofs,' requires a great
ballat did with the Jews when they were building, Neh. iv. 1, 2., " He mocked the Jews, and said, Wliat do these feeble Jews ? Will they fortify themselves ? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rub- bish that are burnt ?" So the wicked world casts out squibs of reproach at the godly : What ! Will ye build for heaven ? What needs all this cost ? What profit is it to serve the Almighty ? Thus the world would pluck off our chariot-wheels when we are driving towards heaven. They are
^^, Heb. xi. 36. It a great measure of sanctity to withstand the discouragements of the world, to dance among serpents, to laugh at re- proaches, and bind them as a crown about our head.
A. 4. It is an evil world, as it is a dead- ning world. It dulls and deadneth the af- fections to lieavenly objects. The world cools holy motions, like a damp in a silver mine which puts out the light ; earthly things choke the seed of the word. A man entangled in the world is so taken up about secular concerns that he can no more mind the things above than the earth can ascend, or the elephant fly in the air ; and, even such as have grace in them, yet, wlicn their affections arc belimed with the earth, they find themselves much indisposed to medi- tation and prayer ; it is like swimming with a stone about the neck.
A. .5. It is an evil world, as it is a ma- ligning world. It df»th disgust and hate the people of (lod, John xv. 19., " Because ye are not of the world therefore the world hateth you." Hatred is — as Aristotle saith — against the whole kind. Haman's hatred was against the seed of the whole Jews. When you can find a serpent without a sting, or a leopard without spots, then you may expect to find a wicked world without hatred. The white that is shot at is piety, Ps. xxxviii. 20,, '• They are mine adversa- ries, because I follow the thing that is good." The world pretends to hate the godly for something else, but the ground ot the quarrel is holiness. The world's ha- tred is implacable ; anger may be reconcil ed, hatred cannot ; you may as well recon- cile heaven and hell, as the two seeds. If the world hated Christ, no wonder it hates
OF THE SIXTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
u-s Jolin XV. 18., "The world hated mc before it hated you." Why should any hate Christ ? This blessed dove had no gall, — this rose of Sharon did send forth a most sweet perfume ; but this shews the world's baseness, it is a Christ-hating and a saint-hating world. Had not we need to pray, deliver us from this evil world ?
A. 6. It is an evil world, as it is a deceit- ful world.
(1.) There is a deceit in dealing, Hos. xii. 7., " He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand." The Hebrew word signifies both to deceive and oppress. He who dares use deceit, will not spare to oppress.
(2.) There is a deceit in friendship : Prov. XX. 6., " But a faithful man who can find ?"
■ Trila freqvensqve via est per amici fallere nomen