(2.) Tliis mortification of our aft'ections towards these things, our love, desire, and delight, will produce a moderation of passions about them, as fear, anger, sorrow, and the like; such will men be stirred
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up unto in those changes, losses, crosses, which these things are sub- ject unto. They are apt to be tender and soft in those things; tliey take every thing to lieart; every affliction and disappointment is aggravated, as if none ahnost liad had such things befall them as themselves ; every thing puts them into a commotion. Hence are they often surprised with anger about trifles, influenced by fear in all changes, with other turbulent passions. Hence are men morose, peevish, froward, apt to be displeased and take offence on all occa- sions. The subduing of this frame, the casting out of these disposi- tions and perverse inclinations, is part of the work of faith. When the mind is weaned from the world and the things of it, it will be sedate, quiet, composed, not easily moved with the occurrences and occasions of life : it is dead unto them, and in a great measure un- concerned in them. This is that "moderation " of mind wherein the apostle would have us excel, Phil. iv. 5 ; for he would have it so emi- nent as that it might appear unto " all men," — that is, who are con- cerned in us, as relations, families, and other societies. This is that which principally renders us useful and exemplary in this world; and for the want whereof many professors fill themselves and others with disquietments, and give offence unto the world itself This is re- quired of all believers; but they will be eminent in it in whom faith works this weanedness from the world, in order unto a peculiar exer- cise of repentance.
(3.) There is required hereunto an unsolicitousness about present affairs and future events. There is nothing given us in more strict charge in the Scripture, than that we should be careful in nothing, solicitous about nothing, take no thought for to-morrow, but to com- mit all things unto the sovereign disposal of our God and Father, who hath taken all these things into his own care. But so it is come to pass, through the vanity of the minds of men, that what should be nothing unto them is almost their all. Care about things present, and solicitousness about things to come, in private and public concerns, take up most of their thoughts and contrivances. But this also will faith subdue on this occasion, where it tends unto the pro- motion of repentance, by weanedness from the world. It will bring the soul into a constant, steady, universal resignation of itself unto the pleasure of God, and satisfaction in his will. Hereon it will use the world as if it used it not, with an absolute unconcernment in it as unto what shall fall out. This is that which our Saviour presseth so at large, and with so many divine reasonings, Matt. vi. 25—34.
(4.) A constant preference of the duties of religion before and above the duties and occasions of life. These things will continually interfere if a diligent watch be not kept over them, and they will contend for preference; and their success is according to the in-
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terest and estimation which the things themselves have in om' minds. If the interest of the world be there prevalent, the occasions of it will be preferred before religious duties ; and they shall, for the most part, be put off unto such seasons wherein we have nothing else to do, and it may be fit for little else. But where the interest of spiritual things prevails it will be otherwise, according to the rule given us by our blessed Saviour, " Seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof," etc.. Matt. vi. 33.
I confess this rule is not absolute as unto all seasons and occa- sions: there may be a time wherein the observation of the Sabbath must give place to the pulling an ox or an ass out of a pit; and on all such occasions the rule is, that mercy is to be preferred before sacrifice. But, in the ordinary course of our walking before God, faith will take care that a due attendance unto all duties of religion be preferred to all the occasions of this life ; they shall not be shuffled off' on trifling pretences, nor cast into such unseasonable seasons as otherwise they will be. There also belongs unto that weanedness from this world, which is necessary unto an eminency in degrees of humiliation and repentance, watching unto prayer.
(5.) Willingness and readiness to part with all for Christ and the gospel. This is the animating principle of the great duty of taking up the cross, and self-denial therein. Without some measure of it in sincerity, we cannot be Christ's disciples; but in the present case there is an eminent degree, which Christ calls the hating of all things in comparison of him, that is required, — such a readiness as rejects with contempt all arguing against it, — such as renders the world no burden unto it in any part of our race, — such as establisheth a deter- minate resolution in the mind, that as God calls, the world and all the concernments of it should be forsaken for Christ and the gospel. Our countenances and discourses in difficulties do not argue that this resolution is prevalent in us; but so it is required in that work of faith which we are in the consideration of