And indeed the world, by professing christianity, is so far from being a less dangerous enemy than it was before, that it has by its favour destroyed more christians, than ever it did by the most violent persecution.
It is a greater and more dangerous enemy, because it has greater power over christians by its favours, riches, honours, rewards, and protections, than it had by the fire and fury of its persecutions.
It is a more dangerous enemy, by having lost its appearance of enmity. And the change that the world has undergone, has only altered its methods, but not lessened its power of destroying religion.
Christians had nothing to fear from the _heathen world_, but the loss of their lives; but the world become a friend, makes it difficult for them to save their religion.
How many consciences are kept at quiet, upon no other foundation, but because they sin under the authority of the _christian world_? How many directions of the gospel lie by unregarded, and how unconcernedly do particular persons read them? for no other reason, but because they seem unregarded by the christian world. So that there is hardly any possibility of saving yourself from the present world, but by considering it as the same wicked enemy to all true holiness, as it is represented in the scriptures; and by assuring yourself, that it is as dangerous to conform to its tempers and passions, now it is christian, as when it was heathen.
From this quarter, therefore, arises a great obstruction to a really devout life, because it cannot subsist in any person, but so far as he is dead to the world. And though human prudence seems to talk mighty wisely about the necessity of avoiding _particularities_, yet he that dares not be so weak as to be particular, will be often obliged to avoid the most substantial duties of christian piety.