We may deceive ourselves, if we please, with vain and softening comments upon these words; but they are and will be understood in their first simplicity and plainness, by every one who reads them in the same spirit that our blessed LORD spoke them. And to understand them in any lower and less significant meaning, is to let carnal wisdom explain away that doctrine, by which itself was to be destroyed.
But notwithstanding the clearness and plainness of these doctrines, which teach us thus to renounce the world, yet what a great part of christians do live and die slaves to the customs and temper of the world.
How many people swell with pride and vanity for such things as they would not know how to value at all? but that they are admired in the world.
Would a man take ten years more drudgery in business to add two horses more to his coach, but that he knows, the world most of all admires a coach and six?
To abound in wealth, to have fine houses and rich cloaths, to be attended with splendor and equipage, to be beautiful in our persons, to have titles of dignity, to be above our fellow-creatures, to command the bows and obeisance of other people, to be looked on with admiration, to pursue our enemies with revenge, to subdue all that oppose us, to set ourselves in as much splendor as we can, to live highly and magnificently, to eat and drink, and delight ourselves in the most costly manner; these are the great, the honourable, the desirable things, to which the spirit of the world turns the eyes of all people; and many a one is afraid of standing still, and not engaging in the pursuit of these things, lest the same world should take him for a _fool_.
Many a man would often drop a resentment, and forgive an affront, but that he is afraid the world would not forgive him.
How many would practice christian temperance and sobriety in its utmost extent, were it not for the censure which the world passes upon such a life?
Thus do the impressions which we have received from living in the world enslave our minds, so that we dare not attempt to be eminent in the sight of GOD, and holy angels, for fear of being little in the eyes of the world.
You will perhaps say, that the world is now become christian, at least that part of it where we live; and therefore the world is not now to be considered in that state of opposition to christianity, as when it was heathen.
It is granted, the world now professeth christianity. But will any one say, that this christian world is of the spirit of CHRIST? are its general tempers the tempers of CHRIST? are the passions of sensuality, self-love, pride, covetousness, ambition, and vain-glory, less contrary to the spirit of the gospel, now they are amongst christians, than when they were among heathens? Or will you say, that the tempers and passions of the heathen world are lost and gone?
The world is fully described to our hands by Saint _John_. “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” &c. Now will you say, that this world is become christian? But if all this still subsists, then the same world is now in being, and the same enemy to christianity that was in Saint _John_’s days.
Had you lived with our Saviour, as his true disciple, you had then been hated as he was; and if you now live in his spirit, the world will be the same enemy to you now, that it was to him then.
“If ye were of the world, (saith our blessed LORD) the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
We are apt to lose the true meaning of these words, by considering them only as an _historical description_ of something that was the state of our Saviour and his disciples at that time. But this is reading the scripture as a _dead letter_: for they as exactly describe the state of true christians in this, and all other times, to the end of the world.
For as _true christianity_ is nothing else but the spirit of CHRIST, so whether that spirit appear in the person of CHRIST himself, or in his apostles, or followers in any age, it is the same thing: whoever hath his spirit, will be hated, despised, and condemned by the world, as he was. For the world will always love its own, and none but its own: this is as certain and unchangeable, as the contrariety between light and darkness.
When the holy JESUS saith, “If the world hate you,” he does not add by way of consolation, that it may some time or other cease its hatred, or that it will not always hate them; but he only gives this as a reason for their bearing it, “You know that it hated me, before it hated you:” signifying, that it was he, or his spirit, that by reason of its contrariety to the world, was then, and always would be hated by it.
Whether, therefore, the world outwardly professeth, or openly persecuteth christianity, it is still in the same state of contrariety to the true spirit and holiness of the gospel.