2. As it receiveth the Spirit, or strength from Christ, whereby to overcome the world. He died to purchase this grace for us : Gal. i. 4, *He gave himself for us, to deliver us from the present evil world;' that is, to purciiase the Spirit to dwell in our hearts for this end and purpose: 1 John iv. 4, 'Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.' We must not rest upon our own strength in our war against the world, but by faith lean upon Christ, who worketh in us by his Spirit, and beateth down Satan under our feet.
3. It prepossesseth the mind with the glory of the world to come — Moses had an eye to ' the recompense of reward,' Heb. xi. 26 ; and 2 Cor. iv. 18, ' While we look nQt to the things which are seen, but to the things which are not seen : for the things which are seen are tenv- poral, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' The more sight we have of the worth and excellency of spiritual things, the more is our esteem of the world abated, and consequently the force of th» temptation. Diversion is the cure of the soul ; while the mind is kept intent upon the greater matters of everlasting life, the heart and afi"ec-
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tions are drawn off from present things. Tlie world will not be cast out of our affections but by the real sight of something better than itself. Till faith hath opened heaven to you, and evidenced things invisible, and showed you that they are not shadows but substances, which the promise revealeth and believers expect, you will still be catching at present things as your portion. No eye can pierce so far as heaven, but faith : Heb. xi. 1, ' Faith is the evidence of things not seen.'
4. It improveth Christ's victory over the world, and applieth it foi- our comfort and encouragement: John xvi. 33, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' He overcame the world in his personal conflict, and by his death. Now the victory of Christ our head concerneth liis members ; for he did not overcomft the world for liimself, but for us: 1 Cor. xv. 57. ' But thanks be to God, who givctli us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' He overcame the world in our name, and when we arc interested in him, he raaketh us conquerors together with himself, and in all our conflicts and sufferings assureth us of a certain victory. So that his suffering people need not be dismayed with the power and policy, the threats and terroi's of the world, for though Christ will not exempt thcni from a battle and exercise, yet they are partakers of his victory by faith, and shall, abiding in liim, find they have to do with enemies already vanquished. He would have us so certain, that yet we should not be secure ; and doth so exhort us to fight, that first he promiseth the victory before we go to the battle. Non cvque glori- etur accinctus, ac discinctus.
5. Faith enlighteneth the mind to see things in another manner than the world seeth them, and maketh that evident to a christian which the world seeth not ; not only things to come, or the riches of the gloiy of the inheritance of the saints, but things present — the vanity of earthly things, that ' man in his best estate is altogether vanity,' Ps. xxxix. 5. To see it so as it begets a weanedness from the world, and maketh us ' use the world as if we used it not,' 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30. Others have empty notions, so as to be able to discourse of the vanity of the creature, but not an afi'ective sight ; eyes to see, but not a heart to see. But in faith there is not only notional apprehension, but spiritual wisdom and prudence, Eph. i. 17. It is opposed not only to ignorance, but folly — ' 0 fools, and slow of heart to believe ! ' Luke xxiv. 25. It affects us suitably to the things we know. Carnal men know all things after the flesh, and are affected with them according to their present interest. They have false practical conceits of the world, and so are enamoured upon a dream ; they do not consider, and therefore admire flesh-pleasing vanities ; they do not weigh things in the balance of reason, nor improve those general notions that they have. The sight that faith hath of the world is as the apprehensions of a dying man, serious and piercing; those that worldly men have are like the notions of a disputant.
6. It enableth us with patience to wait upon God for his salvation : Lam. iii. 26, ' It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.' Sense is all for present satisfaction, and so it undoeth the soul ; but faith can tarry God's leisure till those better things which we do expect do come in hand; and though they
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are oppressed with afflictions for a wliile. jet it is but a little while, and all shall be made up to our full content : Isa. xxviii. 16, ' He that believeth shall not make haste.' Where there is a ceitain expectation, •we can bear a little inconveniency for the present. We are but tarry- ing in the place where God hath set us for the present, till he bring us into his kingdom : Kom. viii. 25, ' That which we hope for, we do with patience wait for.' Impatience and precipitation is the cause of all mischief. What moved the Israelities to make the golden calf, but impatience in not waiting for Moses, who remained too long, according to their fancy and mind, in the mount with God ? What made the bad servant. Mat. xxiv. 48, to ' smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,' but this, ' My lord delayeth his coming ' ? Hasty men are loath to be kept in doubtful suspense. David said in ills haste, ' I am cut off,' Ps. xxxi. 2 ; and Ps. cxvi. 11, ' I said in my haste, All men are liars ;' Samuel, and all the prophets that had told him he should enjoy the kingdom. All carnal men cannot wait for the time when they shall have pleasures at God's right hand for ever- more, and therefore take up with present delights ; like those that can- not tarry till the grapes be ripe, but eat them sour and green. Solid and everlasting pleasures they cannot wait for, therefore choose the pleasures of sin, that are but for a season. A covetous man would wax rich in a day, and cannot tarry the leisure of God's providence: Prov. xx. 21, * An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed." The covetous man will not stay till God doth give crowns, and honours, and glory in his kingdom. Eevolts and apostasies from God proceed hence ; they cannot wait for God's time, and tarry for the fulfilling the promises ; finding themselves pressed and destitute, the flesh, which is tender and delicate, groweth impatient. It is tedious to suffer for a while ; but they do not consider that it is more tedious to suffer for evermore ; thence come murmur- ings, and unlawful attempts, stepping out of God's way, as if troublous waters would only heal them. As an impetuous river is always troubled and thick, so is a precipitate, impatient spirit always out of order, and ready for a snare.