2dly.. There is a particular end that regulates the public actings of men. This in the saints is their doing the work of their generation ; that, as Noah, they may walk with God in their generation. This is their integrity as to the special course of their lives, and their parti- cular employment, — how they may fulfil the work of their generation. The special end of the men of the world is the satisfaction of one particular lust or other. "Will this increase my wealth, my power, my carnal interest in this world, my reputation for wisdom and ability, •or give me advantage to grow in this or that corrupt end in parti- cular?" This is the secret inquiry of their deceived hearts; this influ- ences and regulates all then particular actings.
[5.] As to their separation in worship, I shall only point to that one place, and leave it, 2 Cor. vi. 14-18, and chap. vii. 1, which be- longs to that discourse.
Now, I wish I had a more difficult task in hand, — I wish it were harder for me to manage any principle of conviction that we have not been prepared to meet Christ in his coming, from this consider- ation of our little difference from the world in these great things of principle, spirit, walking, ends, and worship. For, —
What a fleshly, wrathful, carnal, worldly spirit hath discovered itself in many professors ; nay, in the most ! — how little of the hum- ble, lowly, meek, loving spirit of Christ ! Many think it their glory to be unlike Christ in the spirit of their minds, — high, heady, self-full, proud, revengeful. What little difference between them and the men of the world ! How like to one another ! What oneness is found in
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them! Is this to learn Christ? to put on Christ? Is this the image of Christ that manifests itself in most professors? Nor, —
Are they at a distance from the world as to the principle of their walking and working. Do they walk by faith, and work by faith? are they guided by the wisdom that is from above? make they God their refuge? or are any men more dipped into a principle of carnal wisdom than most professors are ? To seek counsel of God, to take the law of their proceedings at his mouth, to look up to him for guidance and direction, to derive strength from the Lord Christ by believing for the work of their employments,— in how few are these things found ! Their own wisdom, their own counsel, their own con- trivance, their own abilities, shall do their work. Carnal policy and fleshly wisdom are their net and drag.
Moreover, what is our conversation? How like the world in our persons, in our families, in our spirits, callings, — in whatever the world may properly call its own! Professors have justled the men of the world out of the possession of the ways of the world. How few are found walking in a world-condemning conversation ! a gospel-glorify- ing conversation ! a fruitful, holy conversation ! We are known from the world by word more than by deed ; which is not the way that James directs us unto.
I might go through with the rest of the considerations mentioned, and manifest that there is another evil found amongst us; for as we have great differences among ourselves about little things, so we have little difference from the world in those which are great and weighty.
(3.) Consider the general miscarriage almost of all professors in things prejudicial to the advancement of the gospel. The pretence whereof we have served ourselves all along, hath been, of the further- ance, propagation, and advancement of the gospel. Our Lord Christ hath sent out light, and given opportunities suitable unto such a de- sign;— never greater advantages nor greater opportunities from the foundation of the world. If ever they be required at the hands of this generation, they will be found to have been so. Whence, then, hath it been that the work hath not gone on and prospered ? why doth it yet stick ? Hath it not been from the woful miscarriage of those who were looked on as the means and instruments of carrying it on ? Have there been a few saints in a place ? It is odds [but] that they have been at variance among themselves, and made sport for the vain multitude by their divisions ; or they have walked frowardly, provokingly, uselessly, worldly, [so] that their pretence for the gospel hath been despised because of their persons. Have they, as men concerned in the honour of Christ and the gospel, as men enjoying the blessed principle of his Spirit, laboured to be useful, fruitful, — to do good to all, to be meek, lowly, self-denying, charitable, abounding
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in good works, patient towards opposers, not reviling again, not re- turning evil for evil, bearing, suffering, committing all to Christ? Alas ! how few are there who have so walked ! Could some see be- lievers making it their business to be like Christ in the world,- — to deny themselves as he did, — to do good to all as he did, — to be patient under persecution and reproaches as he was, — to be tender, pitiful, merciful, like him, — to abide in faith and prayer as he did; what might we not expect, as to the advancement of the gospel amongst us? We complain of cold preaching among ministers, of dead and dull attendance in hearers, of contempt of the word in the most, whereby the power of the gospel is kept within narrow bounds. But the truth is, the prejudices that have been raised by the miscarriages of professors have had a greater influence unto that evil event than any of the rest. And hath this been to meet Christ in his coming ?