As you could not exercise your charity, unless you met with objects; so neither could you shew, that you had _overcome_ the world, unless you had many worldly engagements to overcome. If all your _friends_ and _acquaintance_ were devout, humble, heavenly-minded, and wholly intent upon the one end of life, it would be less perfection in you to be like them: But if you are _humble_ amongst those that delight in pride, _heavenly-minded_ amongst the worldly, _sober_ amongst the intemperate, _devout_ amongst the irreligious, and labouring after _perfection_ amongst those that despise and ridicule your labours, then are you truly devoted unto God. Consider therefore, that you can have no difficulty, but such as the world lays in your way; and that perfection is never to be had, but by parting with the world. To stay therefore to be perfect till it suits with your condition in the world, is like staying to be charitable till there were no objects of charity. It is as if a man should intend to be courageous some time or other, when there is nothing left to try his courage.
XVIII. Again, you perhaps turn your eyes upon the world; you see all orders of people full of other cares and pleasures; you see the generality of _clergy_ and _laity_, learned and unlearned, your friends and acquaintance, mostly living according to the spirit that reigneth in the world; you are therefore content with such a _piety_ as you think contents great _scholars_ and _famous_ men: and it may be you cannot think that God will reject such numbers of Christians. Now all this is amusing yourself with nothing; it is only losing yourself in vain imaginations; it is making that a _rule_ which is no rule, and cheating yourself into a false satisfaction. As you are not censoriously to damn other people; so neither are you to think your own salvation secure, because you are like the generality of the world.
*The _foolish virgins_ that had provided no oil in their lamps, and so were shut out of the marriage-feast, were only thus far _foolish_, that they trusted to the _assistance_ of those that were _wise_: but you are more foolish than they; for you trust to be saved by the folly of others; you imagine yourself safe in the _negligence_, _vanity_, and _irregularity_ of the world; you take confidence in the _broad way_, because it is _broad_; you are content with yourself, because you seem to be along with _the many_, though God himself has told you, that _narrow_ is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
XIX. One word more and I have done. Think with yourself, what a happiness it is, that you have it in your power to secure a share in the glories of heaven, and make yourself one of those blessed beings that are to live with God for ever. Reflect upon the glories of bright angels, that shine about the throne of heaven. Think upon that fulness of joy, which is the state of Christ at the right hand of God; and remember that it is this same state of glory and joy that lies open for you. You are less, it may be, in worldly distinctions than many others; but as to your relation to God, you have no superior upon earth. Let your condition be what it will, let your life be ever so mean, you may make the end of it the beginning of eternal glory. Be often therefore in these reflections, that they may fill you with a wise ambition of all that glory which God in Christ hath called you to. For it is impossible to understand and feel any thing of this, without feeling your heart affected with strong desires after it. There are many things in human life which it would be in vain for you to aspire after; but the happiness of the next, the sum of all happiness, is secure and safe to you against all accidents. Here no chances or misfortunes can prevent your success; neither can the treachery of friends, nor the malice of enemies disappoint you; it is only your own false heart that can rob you of this happiness. Be but your own true friend, and then you have nothing to fear from your enemies. Do but you sincerely labour in the Lord, and then neither heighth nor depth, neither life nor death, neither men or devils, can make your labour vain.
An Extract from Mr. LAW’s SERIOUS CALL TO A HOLY LIFE.