2. On man's part ; and there seemeth to be a double reason — pride and envy. Pride is impatient of reproof, and envy looketh with an evil eye upon their privileges and advantages in Christ.
[1.] Pride, which is impatient of reproof. Strictness is an object reviving guilt : Heb. xi. 7, ' Noah, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his family, whereby he condemned the world.' Your lii'e is a reproof, that maketh them ashamed : John vii. 7, ' The world hateth me, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.' Every wicked man loveth another, velut fautorem, adjutatorem, et excusaforem sui criminis. One wicked man doth not put another to the blush. It is no shame to be black in a country of negroes, where all are black. Their conversation is a living reproof. Thy guilt is upbraided by their righteous works; their conversation upbraideth thy conscience ; the sense of thy guilt and negligence is revived by their righteous works, and serious diligence in heaven's way. We are impatient of a verbal reproof, much more of a real. Their holy lives beget a fear and awe : Mark vi. 20, ' Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him.' Christ saith here not only, ' I have given them thy word,' but, ' They are not of the
378 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIIT.
world/ They do not only teach things contrary to the world, but live contrary to tlie world. Many a strict preacher may be a carnal man, and the world and he may agree well enough. They look upon sermons as words spoken of course ; it is the holy conversation that enrageth most, as elephants are enraged with gorgeous apparel. They have no veil and cloak for their sins. Thieves rob in the night ; they would fain extinguish the light. The world cannot endure to be condemned by that light that shineth from the godly, as the sun is burdensome to the owl and other night-birds : John iii. 19, 20, ' This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh he to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved,'
[2.] Envy at God's favours bestowed on them : John sv. 19, ' 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 out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' Cain was not only upbraided by Abel's better sacrifice, but envied God's acceptance of him. Gen. iv. 4, 5. Joseph's parti-coloured coat and his father's favour stirred up envy in his brethren. This is the difference between envy and emulation : envy is accompanied with laziness, as emulation with industry. There is between the good, ar^adi-j epcs, a good contention, Heb. x. 24, who shall be most forward. Emulation is good, if separated from carnal aims ; but envy, which is accompanied with sloth, maketh a man malign that good which is in others. Envy hath an evil eye, it cannot look upon goodness without grief. When others are at the top of the hill, and they lie lazily at the bottom, they fret at those which are at the top ; they will not put in for the privileges of Christianity, and therefore are troubled with those that do so. Divine grace hath made a distinction, and those whom God blesseth to be objects of his love, the world chooseth to be objects of hatred.
Use 1. If the children of God hath the world's respect at any time, they have need to look to their consciences. Do not you symbolise with them in carnal practices ? Luke vi. 26, ' Cursed are you when all men speak well of you, for so they did to the false prophets.' Phocion, upon a general applause, went home, and said. Quid mail feci ? — Do not you at least let fall the majesty of your conversation ? A child of God may find external favour, as the three children did in Babylon, by God's overruling power on men's si)irits : Prov. xvi, 7, ' When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him.' The world may do it in design ; as Hannibal abstained from Fabius his fields, to render him suspected ; or else to oblige by courtesies, and gain them to their faction and party. However you have cause to look to yourselves ; it is ill to be solicited, as a chaste matron is troubled to be solicited to lust. Have not you given them some advantage ? Do not you share with them in their wickedness ? When the world's respects run out so fairly and smoothly towards you, you have cause to suspect yourselves. At least, take the more heed that you do not seek to make your conversation more pleasing, by suiting yourself to the customs and sinful courses of carnal men.
Use 2. To press all to avoid this sin and snare of death, especially
VeR, 14.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 379
in these times of dissension. Oh ! take heed, whatever you do, what- ever differences you cherish, or whatever party you stick to, that you be not guilty of hatred against the power of godliness. Let not the saints act the wicked's part. The spirit of enmity seeketh other pre- tences. Hold not communion with the wicked world in their malignity and spite against God's children.