[2.] Because of their new birth. Man's heart naturally is addicted to the world, and runneth thither, whither the world carrieth it, even to forsaking God ; but by grace it is turned the quite contrary way : ' We have forsaken all, and followed thee,' Mat. xix. 27 ; and Ps. xlv. 10, ' Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.' It is the proper work of grace to alter the course of nature, to take us off from the world, and bring us to God by degrees, first in heart, and then in soul, and then in body. It is everywhere made an effect of the new birth : 1 John v. 4, ' He that is born of God overcometh the world.' The children of God have somewhat of the Father in them. Grace of all things cometh nearest the nature of God. Now God is our heavenly Father, therefore the children that are born of him cannot be worldly. See another place : 2 Peter i. 4, ' That by these ye might be made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.' There is something divine in a christian, therefore he cannot live as other men. When we press men to strict- ness, they "will say, We are saints, and not angels. Yea, but saints have a new nature, over and above that nature which they received from Adam, and therefore should live a heavenly life. They have a higher life which overruleth the other, the Spirit that governeth the motions of the soul. Look, as the planets have a motion of their own, by which they walk in their own path and course ; and besides, there is a rapid motion, by which they are carried about in twenty-four hours : so christians have an old nature, and an overruling nature, that carrieth them on contrary to their own motion and tendency. The soul we received from Adam looketh after the conveniency of the outward life, the decent state of the body : naturally men use their souls only as a purveyor for the body, for outward comforts and outward supports ; but when there is a new nature from Christ, the regenerate part must have its operation. In the new birth, principles of more raised and elevated nature are brought into the soul.
[3.] Because of their great and glorious hopes. They are chosen out of this world : • 2 Peter i. 4, ' Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be made partakers of a divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are in the world
384 SERMONS UrON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXIII.
througli lust.' There is an estate tliat dependetli upon the new birth. God's chikh'en cannot comphiiu for want of a child's portion ; they have promises as so many leases, a right to the inheritance in light. Now a christian, that hopethi'ur another world, should not live accord- ing to the fashions of this world : Rom. xii. 2, ' And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in the renewing of your mind.' This is an unworthy base world ; you are acquainted with a better. If a man were in a strange country, where he saw none but rude savages, that had not shame enough to cover their nalvcdness, would he conform himself to the guise of this country? We, that have other hopes, should have other lives : 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.' There is a description of a christian's life. It beseemeth worldly men to look after worldly things. Leave things that perish to men that perish. Incolcu cceli estis, non huj'us seculi. If 3'ou must not die as they die, do not live as they live, lest you are in their case at the point of death, ' who have their portion in this life,' Ps. xvii. 14. Wicked men have their whole portion in this life, because they look for no more ; no wrong is done to them, it is but their own choice. But a believer will not give God an acquittance nor discharge, having such great promises. Use 1. To show us what to judge of persons that live so as if they were of the world. You may know it by these three notes — when they do nothing worthy of their new nature, their glorious hopes, and the example of Jesus Christ.
1. Nothing worthy of the new nature. What difference is there between you and others ? The christian should be like Saul, so much higher by the head than other men. Wherein do you differ ? 1 Cor. iii. 3, ' Are ye not carnal, and walk as men ? ' Kar avOpwirov. Men of an ordinary nature, destitute of the Spirit, would do the same. Christ maketh it to be the ground of hatred, ' because they are not of the world.' The world will soon scent out him that is regenerate, he walketh so as to convince the world ; they ' declare plainly that they seek a country,' Heb. xi. 14 ; their hopes are discovered in their con- versation. They reprove the world : Heb. xi. 7, ' By faith Noah, be- ing warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world.' A carnal man justiheth the world, as Israel justified Sodom. Carnal men are called the children of this world ; the spirit of the mother is in them, the spirit of the world inclineth them, they are all for lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eye, and pride of life, to go fine, to feed high, to .shine in worldly pomp, affect honour and great places. Too many christians are baptized into this kind of spirit ; they live as if they were burn and bred here, and then they justify the carnal practices of men. Therefore what difference should there be between a christian and the world ! 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them to all excess of riot, speaking evil of you.' ]\Iortifying pleasures, denying interests upon religious reasons, this maketh the world wonder what kind of nature have these men. This showeth that there is something divine in you.