but you are infinitely more likely to be injured by them, than to impart any solid benefit to them\ They must come to you ; not you to them. To attempt to unite with them is folly and madness. You do not meet on equal terms. There is nothing that they will not say and do to draw you from God : but they will not suffer you to say or do any thing to draw them to God. They will propose to you to join with them in their amusements : but if you were to propose to them to join with you in reading the word of God and prayer, they would pro- nounce you mad. Come out then from among them and be separate, even as your Lord and Saviour did. " Ye are not of the world," says our Lord, "even as I am not of the world." Let this saying be verified in you : and let such be your love to his cross, that by means of it " the world may be crucified unto you, and you unto the world."]
2. Those who have made some progress in the Divine life —
[Do not imagine that, because the world have not hitherto prevailed to draw you back to them, you need not be on your guard against them. Remember Demas : " Remember Lot's wife." The world will never cease from their efforts, because, whilst you walk steadfastly with God, you are a reproach to them. Like Noah, you, by your Hvely faith, and practical fear, " condemn the world." Your own experience will be a sufficient warning to you in future. You have doubtless at times been drawn into a closer intimacy with the world than was expedient : and what, I would ask, has been the effect of it? Have you found the same satisfaction in their vanities that you have found in holy exercises ? Have you not found that fellowship with them has invariably tended to interrupt your fellowship with God? When you have been walking closely with God, you have known somewhat of what is meant by those words, " I will dwell in them, and walk in them :" but have you ever been taught this by communion with the world ? Your own consciousness will give the best answer to these questions. Let past experience teach you ; for it is in perfect unison with the word of God, that to be " holy, and to be harmless, you must be separate from sinners." Let your one concern then be, to " present yourselves as living sacrifices unto God, which is your reasonable service." And " be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." And be assured, that if, like the little remnant in the Church of Sardis, you keep your garments undefiled, you shall walk with God in white, ap- proved by him as conquerors, and rewarded with " a crown of glory that fadeth not away."]
i See Hagg. ii. 12, 13.