Worldliness

This temper of mind  hath in it a down-right repugnancy unto whole Christianity. For consider, and compare things. Here is a heart cleaving to this earth; but did Christ establish his religion to plant men in the earth ? Was it not to prepare them for heaven, and then translate them thither ? He died, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3. 18. And he hath redeemed us to God by his blood, Rev. 5. 9. And to deliver us from this present world, Gal. 1. 4. His kingdom, in the whole constitution and frame of it, is avowedly not of this world ; but terminates upon eternity, and an everlasting state. And, therefore, they that mind earthly things, are said to be enemies to the cross of Christ, Phil. 3. 18, 19. Their whole business is nothing else but fighting against, tilting at the cross ! that is, counter-acting the design for which Christ was cru cified. And can it enter into the imagination of any man, that hath not forfeited the repute of an intelligent creature, or quite lost his understanding ; or (if he retain any thing of reason) that hath not abandoned his religion, to think, that the Son of God should come down from heaven, and die on earth, to counter act himself, or only to procure, that such as we, might be rich men, be in friendship with this world, and enmity with God ? Here live, eat, drink, trade, gather wealth ; and forget who made us, and redeemed us with his blood? Was this the end for which the world was to be Christianized ? and Christianity set up among men ? And for the founding whereof, the Bead and Author of this profession died upon a cross ? What an in solent absurdity is it in such as call themselves Christians, to live in so open, continual, and direct opposition to the very end for which Christ died ! (6.) And in the mentioned case, their very frame carries with it a direct opposition, and contradiction to their own pro fession, that is, supposing they live under thegospel, and profess the Christian religion. They fight not only against Christ, even dying, but themselves. And this is that which the apostle con siders with so deep sense, and tenderness, in that mentioned, Phil. 3. IS. There are some, of whom I have told you often, jmd now tell you weeping, they are enemies to the cross of Christ-they mind earthly things. But, in opposition to men
of this character, he adds : Our conversation is in heaven. All runs into this at last, they that are Christians indeed, have their conversation in heaven. I now tell you of these earthly-minded ones, even weeping, that they unchristian themselves ! What
compassion
doth it challenge! to see men baptized into Christ's death ; to behold immortal spirits united with bodies washed with pure water, therein renouncing this world, and all its pol lutions, yet sunk into carnality ! buried in flesh ! where they should but dwell, living under the gospel, where life, and im mortality are brought to light, regardless of immortal life ; afraid to die, yet void of any inclination to the way of living for ever ! And that while they pretend to it, and do really love their death, which their profession obliges them to shun, and dread ! (Prov. 8. 36.) So are they made up of contradictions, and inconsistencies with themselves i In the forementioned context, (Phil. 3.) the way, and course of walking, which the blessed apostle observed, and lamented with tears, was such, a* none of them that took it could be supposed to avow.