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 at 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 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 betwixt _light_ and _darkness_.
15. 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 among Christians, than when they were among Heathens? Or, will you say, that the tempers and passions of the Heathen world are lost and gone?
16. 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 favours destroyed more Christians, than ever it did by the most violent persecution.
We must therefore be so far from considering the world as in a state of less enmity and opposition to Christianity, than it was in the first times of the gospel, that we must guard against it as a more dangerous enemy now, than it was in those times.
It is a greater 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. Its outward profession of Christianity makes it no longer considered as an enemy; and therefore the generality of people are easily persuaded to resign themselves up to be governed and directed by it.
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 lye by unregarded? And how unconcernedly do particular persons read them, for no other reason, but because they seem unregarded by the Christian world?
How many compliances do people make to the Christian world, without any hesitation, or remorse; which, if they had been required of them only by Heathens, would have been refused, as contrary to the holiness of Christianity?
Who could be content with seeing how contrary his life is to the _gospel_, but because he sees that he lives as the Christian world doth?
17. There is nothing therefore, that a Christian ought more constantly to guard against, than the authority of the _Christian world_.
And all the passages of scripture, which represent the world as contrary to Christianity, which require our separation from it, as from a monster of iniquity, are to be taken in the _strict sense_, in relation to the present world.
For the change that the world has undergone, has only altered its methods, but not lessened its power of destroying religion.
Whilst _pride_, _sensuality_, _covetousness_, and _ambition_, had only the authority of the _Heathen world_, Christians were thereby made more intent upon the contrary virtues. But when pride, sensuality, covetousness and ambition, have the authority of the Christian world, then private Christians are in the utmost danger, not only of being shamed out of the practice, but of losing the very notion of the piety of the gospel.
There is therefore hardly any possibility of saving yourself from the present world, but by considering it as the same _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.
Need a man do more to make his soul unfit for the mercy of God, than by being _greedy_ and _ambitious_ of honour? Yet how can you renounce this temper, without renouncing the spirit and temper of the world, in which you now live?
How can a man be made more incapable of the Spirit of Christ, than by a _wrong value_ for money; and yet how can he be more wrong in his value of it, than by following the authority of the Christian world?