78 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN HI. [SeR. XVI.
but be dotb not so efficaciously work in tbem as on tbe carnal. Tbere- ibre between tbese two sorts of people there should be a manifest and broad difference.
(2.) They have a different principle, the seed of God and corrupt nature : John iii. 6, ' That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit/ Now both correspond with their principles. It is true the principles are mixed in the regenerate, but the better part is predominant ; and therefore the acts, for the most part, suit with it, and so there is a broad difference between them and those who are only influenced by the flesh.
3. They have a different rule ; the one walk according to the law of God, wherein he hath declared his will, the other according to the course of this world. According to the law of God : Gal. vi. 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the whole Israel of God.' The other according to the course of this world: Eph. ii. 2, ' Walking after the prince of the power of the air, which worketh in the children of disobedience.' According to the fashion and example of unrenewed men, or the general and corrupt custom and example of those with whom we live ; and they conform themselves to it more than to the will of God. Now the fashions of the vain world and the strict law of the holy God are so different, that he that walketh according to the one must needs distinguish himself from the other ; there being a distinct rule, there must needs be a difterent course; the one doeth righteousness, the other committeth sin.
4. There is a different end and scope ; the one studieth to please God, the other to please themselves. The one studieth to please God : Col. i. 10, * That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ; ' 1 Thes. iv. 1, ' I exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more ; ' 2 Cor. v. 9, ' For we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.' The other to gratify their carnal desires : Rom. xiii. 14, ' And make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.' The one seek their own things, Phil, ii. 21. They spend their time in the flesh, ' to the lusts of men, not the will of God,' 1 Peter iv. 2. Now there being such a different scope, the practice must be different also.
5. There is a different event and issue ; all the world emptieth itself into heaven or hell. Now heaven and hell are much unlike, and vastly distant, and so are those that are travelling to either place : Phil. iii. 19, 20, ' For many walk, of whom I have told you, and now tell you weeping, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ : whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. But our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.' If the end be different, the way must be so also.
Use 1. Is to reprove them that profess themselves to be the people o£ God, but do not distinguish themselves from the children of the devil ; they are so like one another that there is no manifest difference to be seen. A christian never liveth up to the majesty of his profession
VeR. 10.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III, 79
till he be the world's wonder and the world's reproof : 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them into the same excess of riot' It is no strange matter to please the flesh, but it is strange to row against the stream of flesh and blood. It is no wonder to see men carnal, proud, covetous, sensual ; the wonder is to see men dead to all these things, to be humble, meek, sober, modest. It is no wonder to see men walk as men, but it is a wonder to see men walk as born of God. It is no wonder to see men court the world, but to live in a contempt of the world, and to see men ready to part with what they see and love for a God and glory which they never saw, this is the wonder. Yet such a mystery and wonder should a christian be that liveth up to his principles. Secondly, The world's reproof ; as Noah : Heb. xi. 7, ' By preparing an ark to save himself and his household, condemned the world ; ' that is, judged them for their laziness and disrespect of God's warning and impenitency, for that they repented not when God gave them time to repent. God hath told the world of the danger of sin, and showed them the way of salvation. By our diligence and seriousness in his ways, and in the use of the means prescribed to save our souls, we must condemn the world for their sloth and negligence ; otherwise, if we do not condemn the world, we justify the world, as Israel justified Sodom, Ezek. xvi. 51 ; namely, that they are not so culpable in slighting God and the offers of salvation by Christ.