Fifth CONSIDERATION.

To raise the heart above the love of this world.

1 John xi. 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

NOT love the world, my ftorehouse and my

nurse, without which I could not live! What malignity in it to run us into enmity against the maker of it? Is it not a mighty houfe, furnished with rich materials, and hung with beautiful ornaments, leading us not only into the knowledge but alfo the love of him that has fo bountifully provided for us? 'Tis true the world, as it is God's creature, and the work of his hands fo wonderful and amiable, highly deferves our study and admiration; but the world, as denoting its wealth, pleasure, and honour, is fo full of danger, and laid with fuch numerous fnares, as betray them who are keen upon it into the foolish and hurtful lufts which drown men in destruction and perdition. And here is the peril ftill the greater, because the lefs fufpected; men's need of it makes them fo bold to abuse it, and then to plead neceffity for tranfgreffing of their duty. But when the rich, and great, and alluring things of this world are made my main end, and the eager addictness to them is become my fettled temper, then do they turn to the fad occafions of my dangerous falling, and the confidence of my fafety will but the fooner betray me into mifery. Such is the deceitfulness of riches, Matt. xiii. 22. to blind the guilty, and make them think they are doing things praife-worthy. And then none is the mifer nor the worldling, no body loves the world, though almoft every one dotes upon it, and is greedy of gain, (peradventure none of the

G 3

moft

most honeft,) but can fell his integrity even for a fmall piece of money, and pawn his foul to get the world. Here then it concerns me to examine myfelf, and narrowly fearch my heart, whether I am not all for fparing and faving, and fit hatching over the world's good as if it were the chief good, ready to coin false doctrine for the faving of fome other coin; and, when I have most of the world's good, do the leaft good with it; fetting the worldly intereft above that of my Saviour, and, while he has the name, Mammon goes away with the love and fervice; catching at him for a fhift, but enjoying the creatures with all my heart. O how much then do I need to be weaned from the world's breafts, while I lie fucking in to please my flefh that which is like to be the poifon of my foul? And what should fo terrify me out of fuch predominant love of the world, as that it is inconfiftent with the love of God? For as no man can serve, fo neither can he love, God and Mammon, the love commanding the fervice, fo that what we are moft taken with we are moft ready to do even any thing for it. And here I cannot parcel out myself between God and his rival, where there is fuch a contrariety that the friendship of the world is enmity with God, James iv. 4. So much at my peril it is to have the world as the Ifraelites bad their quails, with the wrath of God, to weary myself in this world only to be undone in the next, and then for a whole eternity bewail and curfe the folly. Never may I fo venture my foul in taking the dead hold of this world, but dread its friendship more than all its enmity, and be fo crucified to it that I may be above the peril to be undone by it.

And, if I well confider, what fhall I find fo charming in it to entangle my heart with it? Nothing but what is below the love of a precious im

mortal

mortal foul, made for the eternal enjoyment of God and heaven; and I cannot caft a fouler contempt upon it than to lay out my main concern for that vile body which is now but a bundle of filth, and will fhortly be a heap of noisome corruption. Whatever any talk of the height of living, 'tis a low fordid kind of life to be pinned down to this world. Even fome that are deep in the guilt are yet afhamed to own it. He's a man of low mean defigns that's all for back and belly, or a bargain; even the great man thus makes himself a very mean and despicable earth-worm: none more baffled in the fatisfaction and heart's eafe which he feeks, no greater ftranger to true tranquility and felicity; none more violently and quickly torn and hurried out of their beloved world, in the midst of all their rumble and ploddings, carrying nothing but the guilt and horror of their fin and folly away with them. O, may I not only reafon, but pluck my felf from the love of fuch a world which I have vowed to renounce, as the enemy of my Lord as well as of my foul! May I never affect fuch a fleshpleafing state of life as fhould lay my way with double fnares to entangle my heart. Though plenty, and neatnefs, and conveniency,. may be ufed to innocent purposes by fuch as have wisdom and grace, and 'tis no obligation of chriftianity to live fordidly when God has given me wherewithal to live handfomely, yet is it not at all confiftent with my heavenly profeffion to fill my head ftill with new projects for finer matters in this place of my pilgrimage, or further additions to that load which, peradventure, may be too heavy for me already; for here is my danger of making this world's provifions and comforts, which fhould be the stairs of ascenfion to my God, the wall of separation to bar and keep me from him.

G. 4.

O may

O may I live by faith upon God my Saviour; whofe example has ftained and flurred all the pride and glory of this world, in paffing it by with the greatest contempt; and though he had all at command, yet utterly declined it. And may I live by faith upon that other world, whither he is gone; as much furpaffing this, as the fun excels a clod of clay; looking on all for which men fo tear and fcramble here, but as the bones and fcraps, thrown under the table by my heavenly father; who has prepared for his children elsewhere, things infinitely better. And because he has provided, fo like himfelf, is not ashamed to be called their God. May I meet with fuch fellow-travellers here, as hearten on themselves and others, by keeping thofe heavenly things warm upon their hearts. And And may I use my own faith, and meditations and prayers, as the wings to help me up! fo fhall I have the beft comfort this world can give; by fitting thus loofe to it; and not troubling myself, and all about me, in the keen purfuits of it; as having in my eye and aim, that which will perfectly content me, unspeakably delight me, and never fail me.

My God! my chief, my only fatisfying and everlasting good! Amidst all the fulness and comforts of this world, I fhall be empty and uneafy; till in the enjoyment of thy bleffed felf, I am made for ever happy. Thou mighteft, Lord, leave me to perifh in my wretched choice; preferring the friendship of the world, above the love of my God. But I befeech thee, in mercy, pardon my apoftacy, and receive me gracioufly. Open before me thy heaven, to redeem me from the earth. Take my heart off the fondness for this world; crucify me to it; fave me from it, and help me, by my faith, to live above it. Yea, fo engage my heart to thyfelf,

that

that I may abound in thy love, full of defires, to be ever with the Lord; out of this foreign country, at my blessed home, in thy eternal heavenly glory. Amen.

Sixth CONSIDERATION.

To promote justice and fair-dealing.

Heb. xiii. 18. Having a good confcience, in all things willing to live honestly.

IF

F common honesty and punctual juftice be the property and virtue, for which many heathens have been famed; how black is the reproach, and how heinous the guilt upon any that own the christian name, here to betray themselves, and give the enemies of the Lord occafion to blafpheme? The wronging of my neighbour, 'tis indeed finning against the Lord, who has ftrictly forbidden it in his word. And what is all my piety without honefty, but mere hypocrify? As long as I am difhoneft and unjuft, all my beft profeffion is but a vain religion. No good confcience, if not void of offence towards men, as well as God. Acts xxiv. 16. None of my devotion will compound for any fraud or oppreffion: but by fuch injurious dealing, I fhall not only lose myself here on earth, but forfeit my title to that kingdom of heaven, which the unrighteous fhall not inherit. 1 Cor. vi. 9. O how unlike is he, for communion with the holy God, that's not fit to live amongst honeft men? As light as any may make of this matter, the Lord is the avenger of all fuch, as go beyond or defraud their brother in any matter. Thef. iv. 6. When the charge of God is, do no wrong. Jer. xxii. 3. Whoever can make light, or but a jeft, of what he fo ftrictly forbids, never let me venture upon it; not only for the infamy of knavery, and the ftab to