they begin to tread in his steps and imitate his ex- ampled : " as they have once borne the image of their earthly father, they now bear the image of the heavenly."
1. They indulge not a worldly spirit — [Believers are not free from the imperfections of their
former state : their constitutional or acquired habits still in some measure remain : hence one is yet too easily drawn aside to levity, another to earthly-mindedness, and all to the " sins which most easily beset them :" but this is their pain, their grief, their burthen : they desire from their inmost souls to be delivered from such a spirit : though they too often fall into it, they would not indulge it ; they would far rather have their souls nourished with spiritual blessings; and would account it an infinitely richer mercy to receive an increase of grace and peace, than to enjoy all the wealth or pleasure that the world can bestow.]
2. Nor do they affect worldly company —
[From their situations in social life they are necessitated to have much intercourse with the men of this world: but they regard the world as a physician does an hospital which it is his office to attend : they consider it as the theatre on which they are called to act ; and they endeavour to approve them- selves to God and to their fellow-creatures by a diligent dis- charge of their duty : while in it, they seek the good of those around them, and study to improve themselves by all which they see : but they take not up their abode there ; they are glad to retire from it when their work is finished : their friends and companions are selected from among another people ; their " delight is in the saints that are in the earth, and in such as excel in virtue :" they shew by their conduct that " light cannot have communion with darkness, nor Christ with Belial, nor he that believeth with an unbeliever6:" and, like Moses, they would rather suffer affliction with the people of God than participate the pleasures and honours of a court f.]
3. Nor are they engrossed with worldly pursuits —
[They are not indifferent about the things of this world, nor are they of necessity precluded from the enjoyment of them when God in his providence casts them into their lap : they may even seek these things in subordination and sub- serviency to their more important concerns. But they will not be engrossed with such mean pursuits : they will not suffer their affections to be set on such worthless objects : their
d Gal. vi. 14. e 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15. f Heb. xi. 24— 2G.