Use 2. To press christians not to conform to the world. It is Paul's exhortation, Rom, xii. 2, [irj cri;o-;^7;yLtaT6'^ec7^e, ' Be not conformed to the world,' It is a sad thing when christians are cast into the world's stamp and mould, to symbolise with them in practices and affections.
Two things you should take heed of — the world's spirit, and the world's courses and practices.
First, The world's spirit, A man is good or evil according to the disposition of his heart : Phil, iii. 19, ' They mind earthly things,' The apostle doth not describe carnal men there by any notorious scan- dalous sin, but by the inward frame of the spirit. This is most odious in the eyes of God ; the carnal conversation is an effect of a carnal frame of spirit. First men mind earthly things, and then in time they come to hate the gospel, and to symbolise with the world in practices : 2 Tim. iv. 10, ' Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present world ;' James iv. 4, 'Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God ? Whosoever there- fore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.'
Now the frame of the heart may be known —
1. By the working of the thoughts, counsels, and deliberations. Therefore we should observe what we think of and meditate most upon. Inventions serve affection. As the heart is, so are the thoughts and counsels. A worldly man is always thinking of the world, and framing endless projects how to grow great and high. Therefore it is said, 2 Peter ii. 14, ' They have an heart exercised with covetous practices ; ' that is, always plotting how to bring the world into their net. As the apostle would have Timothy to 'exercise himself unto godliness,' 1 Tim. iv. 7, that is, to be much in consulting and contriving how to carry on
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the holy life with most advantage ; so ' their hearts are exercised with covetous practices/ that is, with worldly purposes and thoughts. All sins do more or less discover themselves by the thoughts ; for a man will deliberate to accomplish that which he aimeth at ; and chiefly worldliness occupieth the thoughts, for it is a serious madness, full of carking and caring and vain projects. When our Saviour would repre- sent a worldling, he bringeth him in musing, Luke xii. 17, 18, ' And he thought with himself, saying, I will do thus and thus,' koX 8i€\oyl- ^6To. Verbum mire appositum, saith Beza ; for a worldly man is always framing dialogues within himself, between his reason and his carnal desires. Distractions in worship are chiefly ascribed to covet- ousness : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, ' With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness,' The prophet instances in that sin, though other lusts withdraw the heart and distract in hear- ing, as unclean glances, vainglory, &c. Words are but thoughts expressed ; there is a quick intercourse between the mind and the tongue. Now it is said, John iii. 31, ' He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth.' There is nothing of heaven in their thoughts, nothing in their language and communication, a heavy clod cannot move upward of itself. Observe the drift of your thoughts, your first and last thoughts morning and evening, what guest haunteth you in duties. When the heart is deeply engaged, the mind cannot be taken off from thinking.
2. By your esteem. When a man prizeth worldly things, when you overrate them, have too greatening thoughts of the world, the devil is at your elbow, and the spirit of the world is set a-work : ' Happy is the people that is in such a case,' Ps. cxliv. 15. What is the treasure of the soul ? Carnal men have no savour of Christ. God's people sometimes may be taken with a glittering show of worldly things, but their solid esteem is in Christ, he is their treasure ; the soul feasts itself with the riches of grace. To a' carnal heart, heavenly things are but a notion, it worketh no more than a dream ; to a gracious heart, the substance of the world is but a fancy : John xiv. 17, ' Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.' The world cannot see things that are not of great profit and benefit.
3. By the bent and resolution of the will : 1 Tim. vi. 9, ' They that will be rich,' &c. ; not is, but laill he ; James iv. 4, ' Whosoever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.' Grace is known by the full purpose of the heart : Acts xi. 23, ' He exhorted them all that, with full purpose of heart, they would cleave unto the Lord ; ' what he fixeth upon as his end and scope.
4. By a special sagacity and dexterity in the matters of the world, and a dulness in the things of God : Luke xvi. 8, ' The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.' They have ostrich's wings, not to fly, but to run. It is strange to hear how sottishly worldly-wise men will speak of religion and the ways of God ; they are dull and blockish in religion, though otherwise of great ability : Kom. xvi. 19, ' I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.'