Now, according to the spirit of this world, whose corrupt air we have all breathed, there are many things that pass for great, and honourable, and desirable, which yet are so far from being so, that the true greatness and honour of our nature consists in the not desiring them.
To abound in wealth, to have fine houses and rich cloaths, to be attended with splendour and equipage, to be beautiful in our persons, to have titles of dignity, to be above our fellow creatures, to command the bows and obeisance of other people, to be looked on with admiration, to subdue all that oppose us, to set out ourselves in as much splendour as we can, to live highly and magnificently, to eat and drink, and delight ourselves in the most costly manner, these are the great, the honourable, the desirable things, to which the spirit of the world turns the eyes of all people. And many a man is afraid of not engaging in the pursuit of them, lest the world should take him for a fool.
10. The history of the gospel, is chiefly the history of Christ’s conquest over this spirit of the world. And the number of true Christians, is only the number of those who, following the Spirit of Christ, have lived contrary to the spirit of the world.
If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Again, Whosoever is born of God, overcometh the world. Set your affections on things above, and not on things of the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. This is the language of the whole New Testament. This is the mark of Christianity; you are to be dead, that is, dead to the spirit and temper of the world, and live a new life in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
But notwithstanding the plainness of these doctrines, most Christians live and die slaves to the customs and tempers of the world.
How many people swell with pride and vanity, for such things as they would not value at all, but that they are admired in the world?
Would a man take ten years more drudgery in business, to add two horses more to his coach, but that he knows that the world admires a coach and six? How fearful are many people of having their houses poorly furnished, or themselves meanly cloathed, for this only reason, lest the world should place them amongst low and mean people?
Many a man would drop a resentment, and forgive an affront, but that he is afraid, if he should, the world would not forgive him.
How many would practise Christian temperance and sobriety, were it not for the censure which the world passes upon such a life?
Others have frequent intentions of living up to the rules of Christian perfection; but they are frighted, by considering what the world would say of them?