The World Conquered

Chapter 1

14. CHAP XIV. – Further Persuasive Arguments to Press on to

Victory. -- 6 of 314 -- 1 JOHN 5:4. This is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. In this former part of the Chapter, we have a double description of them that are born of God.

Chapter 2

2. An Exposition of this Proposition. But what is this Conquest of a

Christian! And how is it obtained? Why it is a spiritual Conquest, and CHAP. I – The Text Opened -- 7 of 314 -- obtained by Faith. This is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. For the opening of the w

Chapter 3

2. Instrumentally. This is the Victory, that is, this is our arm, or our hand,

this is the weapon of our warfare, that hath gotten for us the Victory. Divers observations lie in the words; Doct. 1. The world is a Christians Enemy. A Conquest supposes a Combat, and a Combat supposes an Enemy. Doct.

Chapter 4

1. Wherein the enmity of the world against souls stands, or discovers

itself. The world is an Enemy (as before.) It pretends to be a friend, but its friendship is enmity; enmity against God, Jam. 4:4, and therefore against souls; its kindnesses are darts, its kisses are swords and arrows,

Chapter 5

3. There is no malignity in the creature properly, against man in his lapsed

state. They are yet all capable of being good and serviceable to him. 1 Tim. 4:4,5. Every creature of God is good, —it is sanctified by the Word of God, and Prayer. Riches are good, yea, and honors and pleasures may be g

Chapter 6

4. It is by accident, and not from the nature of the things, that the

creatures are become enemies to us. Sinful man is a distempered diseased creature, distempered in his mind; and hereupon he misapprehends and -- 9 of 314 -- mistakes the world; and looking for that good that is not in

Chapter 7

1. In withdrawing our affections from God as our Portion. The world by

the advantage of our distempered minds and appetites, sets up itself as our God; as our happiness or chiefest good; it proposes its self for a portion to us, and that both as a richer portion, and more suitable then God

Chapter 8

2. In withdrawing us from our Allegiance to God as our Sovereign. When

it hath once drawn away the heart, it will with ease pull away the shoulder; if God's Crown be despised, his Yoke will quickly be shaken off; we break our faith with God when once we are fallen in love with the world; if

Chapter 9

2. In withholding us from Christ. Christ comes to bring us back unto the

Father, 1 Pet. 3:18, to reduce us to our duty, and restore us to our happiness: The world that withdraws us from God, withholds us from Christ. Particularly, It holds us back from coming to Christ. It holds us in from fo

Chapter 10

1. By darkening the sight, that we cannot see, either the excellency, or the

necessity of Christ; Christ draws on Souls to him by love and fear. First he frights us in, by presenting the danger and misery that is falling upon us, and we cannot escape if we stand out. Look to thyself Sinner, this

Chapter 11

2. By deadening the sense; they can neither see nor feel: they see not the

excellency, nor can feel their need of Christ, who are drunken with these worldly vanities: they who altogether live by sense, are without sense of any but the present things: they can make a shift to [live] without Chri

Chapter 12

3. It hangs upon our hearts, and about our necks: The world hath gotten

hold of our hearts, and there it will keep its hold while it can. Its gotten so much within us, and hath so twisted and twined itself about our affections, that it will be very hard getting it off. We cannot close with C

Chapter 13

4. It will help men to excuses for their neglect of Christ. Men are ashamed

to play the Fools, but they would have something to say for it, to stop mouths withal; to stop the mouth of Conscience, to stop the mouths of Men, to stop the mouth of their Judge, if it be possible, Luk. 14:18. Those th

Chapter 14

2. The enmity of the world shows itself, in hindering the Soul from

following of Christ. If it cannot quite keep us off from Christ, it will hold us back, that Christ shall have but little service of us, 2 Tim. 2:4. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, th

Chapter 15

1. The world cuts Christ short of that service, and those fruits which he

should reap from us, Hos. 10:1. Israel is an empty vine he bringeth forth fruit to himself. Israel is an empty vine; that is, to his Lord: tis but a poor vintage, little or no fruit he brings forth to God; he is his vine

Chapter 16

1. In the spirit of the world within: the world hath a strong party within

man, which sides with it, 1 Cor. 2:12. We have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God [we] have not; we who have that spirit of God in us have not received the spirit of this world: but all o

Chapter 17

1. It doth readily take in of the World, the world never knocks but the

heart opens, the world never offers, but the hand is ready to receive; yea -- 40 of 314 -- though the terms upon which we must have it be never so unreasonable; though for every draught of pleasure, they must after dri

Chapter 18

2. Hence it is that they so greedily make out after the world, Oh what hast

do they make to be rich? How do their Souls hunger after worldly greatness? They covet greedily all the day long, Prov. 21:26. They enlarge their desire as Hell and are as death and cannot be satisfied, as it was said of

Chapter 19

1. By over rating the good things present, and under rating the good things

to come: He that looks on the world through the Devils glass, shall see it double to what it is: he gives the same prospect to us, as he did to our Lord, Matth. 4:2, shows it in its Glory; every Comet Shines as the Sun;

Chapter 20

2. By sharpening the edge of present evils, and blunting the edge of evils

to come. The afflictions of this life are made to cut deeper than the vengeance to come. The persecutions of men are more feared than the Plague of God: Satan makes his Vassals to think, there is no Heaven or Hell to tho

Chapter 21

3. By an active stimulating and pressing them on, whatever becomes of

them hereafter, to pursue the present good things, and to prevent the present evil things. If the Devil can but make the Premises take with them, That the good things present are so good, that there's nothing better, Tha

Chapter 22

1. By proposing of Objects. He brings the World in sight. Sometimes he

presents it immediately to the fancy; he raises great thoughts of heart about it; he calls the thoughts abroad with him, to take a view of the glory, and the riches, and the pleasures of his Kingdom; sets men a thinking

Chapter 23

2. By provoking the Appetite; And this he doth, not only by propounding

of Objects at all adventures, but such objects as are most suitable and taking with those he has to deal: Satan is a skillful Philosopher; he understands our -- 50 of 314 -- natures and complexions, and the several inc

Chapter 24

1. The strength of a Christian is his Faith, Mark 9:23, to him that believeth

all things are possible; there's nothing impossible to Faith, because there's nothing impossible to God: The 11th chapter to the Hebrews is a short Chronicle of the mighty Acts and Atchievements of Faith. It spoiled Deat

Chapter 25

1. It despised and rejected the prosperity of the world, v. 15. They were

not mindful of their earthly country, they had a better, a Heavenly country in their eye, and were content to be Pilgrims in this, in hope to be possessors of that better inheritance. v. 24. Moses by faith forsook the gl

Chapter 26

2. It triumphed over the power, and wrath of the world, v. 33. It subdued

Kingdoms, wrought righteousness, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness it made strong, turned to flight the -- 58 of 314 -- Armies of the Aliens; endured cruel mocking’s and scou

Chapter 27

2. The strength of Faith is Christ. Christ is the mighty one: the mighty

God, Isa. 9:6. The rock of ages, in whom is everlasting strength, Isa. 26, through Faith this mighty God is our God, this rock of ages is our rock, 1 Joh. 4:4. Ye are of God little children and have overcome them, becaus

Chapter 28

1. He hath power to prevent temptations, 1 Cor. 10:13, he will not suffer

us to be tempted above what we are able: You may conclude from the promise of Christ, to his power; he will not promise more then he can do; when he says he will not suffer us to be tempted, you may be sure he hath power

Chapter 29

2. He hath power to deaden temptations; to take off the edge of them, that

so though they come, yet they shall not enter: though Satan strikes, yet his arrows shall not stick, Gal. 6:14. By him the world is crucified to me and I am crucified to the world. Christ by his Cross hath slain the worl

Chapter 30

3. He hath power to succor those that are tempted. Though the Tempter be

let loose, and temptation come thick, and strike deep, as by reason of our imperfect mortification they may; our experiences sadly testify, how much the World is often too hard for us, how often we are entangled and led

Chapter 31

2. His Victory over the world. Christ hath power over the World to

restrain it from tempting, to deaden its temptations, to succor those that are tempted; yea more than that, he hath already overcome the World, and thereby secured our final victory, John 16:33. In the world ye shall hav

Chapter 32

1. All the Power of Christ is engaged to our help and assistance; We are

hereby interested in his Victory; Christ's Victory is our Victory; and also in his Power; he is now concerned to protect and help us: we are his own, the attempts that are made against us, are made against him; the spoil

Chapter 33

2. By virtue of this Union, there is a diffusion and shedding forth of the

strength of Christ into the soul: strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Ephes. 3:16. Believers as they have the mighty hand of Christ over them, so they have the mighty Spirit of Christ in them, whereby

Chapter 34

1. It gives a right Judgment of the world: It discovers its true value, what

the world is worth. By faith we understand, Heb. 11:3, as whence the world was, we understand its original; so what the world is, we understand its worth and its power; what it can do for us or against us; what help ther

Chapter 35

2. By Faith the soul pitches upon an eternal inheritance. Its our choosing

the good part, Luke 10:42, our laying hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. 6:12, those believers Heb. 11:14, are said to seek a country; they were not mindful of this, they confessed themselves, and were content to be strangers

Chapter 36

3. By Faith we understand that the good things present cannot further, and

the evil things present cannot hinder our eternal happiness: We are apt either to be pleased or distasted, with the various objects and occurrences we meet withal, according as they serve or cross our end. He that hath m

Chapter 37

4. By Faith we understand, that the design of temptations is to deprive us

of our Inheritance. A Believer knows, that the Devil owes him no good will, how fair soever he treats him; he sees that all his promises are cheats, that all his gifts are bribes, to corrupt us first, and then to destroy

Chapter 38

5. Faith makes experimental and fuller discoveries of the glory of that

inheritance the Soul hath pitched upon. As I said before, there's no way possible to divide the heart from this world, till you can show it a better: that’s the voice of every heart, which is said, Psal. 4:6, to be the v

Chapter 39

1. By how much the more our conversation is in heaven, by so much the

more our hearts and affections are there; we ordinarily love to be where we use to be. No such damp grows upon affection, as by distance and estrangement: when we lose our acquaintance, we lose our delight in God. Acquai

Chapter 40

2. By how much the more our hearts are in Heaven, by so much the less

are they on earth: worldly professors have all their religion in their mouths, there's little within, whatever they talk. If any man love the world the love of the father is not in aim; If any man love the Father, the lo

Chapter 41

3. When once the world hath lost our hearts, it hath lost its power over us:

who will be enticed by what he hates or slights? God and the world rule, both, by love. If God hath our love, he hath the command of all that ever we have: if we love the world, what can it not do with us? Whither can it

Chapter 42

6. Faith gives assurance of this better inheritance. Heb. 11:1. Faith is the

subsistence of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It is an evidence, not only that there is another world, and a better world then this; and that this better state may be obtained; that there is an ent

Chapter 43

1. He is actually interested in Christ's victory: he hath overcome in capite:

a believer is in Christ, and as such, whatsoever Christ hath done, as redeemer of the world, is his and for him, Joh. 16:33, aforementioned; Be ye of good comfort, I have overcome the world. Christ's victory is a believe

Chapter 44

2. He is radically endued with Christ's conquering power: he hath

overcome in causa: he hath that within him which will be the death of his enemies, he is not only interested in Christ, and what he hath done; but Christ is in him, the spirit of Christ, which is the power of the living

Chapter 45

3. He hath broken the Head design of the world: this is, to keep Christ and

the soul apart, to keep the soul from ever coming to Christ. Herein, as hath been said already, stands the deadly enmity of the world against souls, in holding them under its dominion, and thereby under the damnation of

Chapter 46

4. He is effectually marching on in the pursuit of his victory; he is

overcoming: So the word in the Text, he overcometh the world; he hath already gotten the better, and he is pressing on after a total victory; he hath his foot on the neck, and his hand still in the fight. He keeps his en

Chapter 47

1. A believer hath not so overcome the world, as to be above all need of

the world: though man lives not by bread only, as Math. 4. Yet he must have bread, yea and must work for his bread, and therefore must diligently follow his calling, wherein he may provide things honest; provide him an h

Chapter 48

2. Not so but that he is still free to use the world in his need: every

creature of God is good, good for use, being sanctified by the word of God and Prayer. 1 Tim. 4:4. Both necessaries and the abundance of the things of this life, are a blessing from God; and the free use of them, so far

Chapter 49

3. Not so, as to be forever freed from all noxious temptations of the

world: This world is an enemy still, and this enemy will be still fighting against the Soul. A Christian will never be such a conqueror here, but he must still keep on his armor, and stand upon his guard; hereafter, when

Chapter 50

4. Not so, as to be forever free from all surprises, and falls by these

temptations. The world will assault us, and in these assaults too often gets the better of us: though it cannot command us quite back from Christ, yet it may turn us aside, and much hinder us in our following of him; tho

Chapter 51

1. Victory over the world stands in our having attained to a power to

possess the things of the world, without placing our happiness in them. The Supremacy of the world is founded, in its apprehended sufficiency, to bless us and make us happy: Whilest we hold it our treasure, we resign our

Chapter 52

1. Our making God our happiness. Its vain for any man to say or think,

the world is not, who cannot truly say, The Lord is my happiness and Heritage. Its natural to man to desire happiness, and to pitch somewhere or other, where he hopes ’tis to be had: what he apprehends to be the best of

Chapter 53

2. The due limiting our desires after, and moderating our delights in the

things of this world; and a subordination of them all to our great end. If the world be not our happiness, we shall love it and seek it thereafter. The world, if it be anything to us, it must be either our end, or our me

Chapter 54

1. That in the multitudes of the thoughts he hath in his heart, and the

businesses he hath in his hand, he hath still an eye to the main. He's a discreet man that rightly understands, and duly minds his great -- 103 of 314 -- concernment: the world must be minded, the Plough must be follow

Chapter 55

2. That to this end, he overcharges not; pulls no more of business upon

him, then he can go through with, without neglecting his soul; though he must employ himself, yet he will not entangle himself in the affairs of this life, 2 Tim. 2:4. His Lord hath given him fair warning, Luke 21:34. Ta

Chapter 56

5. If business, or slothfulness ordinarily get the upper hand of duty,

whatever time be allotted for it, little enough will be bestowed on it. If we never pray but when we have list or leisure, there will be but little done; the world will either fill us with work or weary us into sloth. Th

Chapter 57

6. Resolve whatever the countermands of the world or Devil, of your busy

or weary Spirits are, to set and keep up your daily duties: if time fall short, yet let not your Souls fail of their due; be constant, be instant in prayer. If this counsel be not accepted, I look not that any other of t

Chapter 58

3. That in the multitude of his businesses he neglect not the Souls of his

Relations: He that neglecteth his families Souls, sinneth against his own Soul. Worldlings hold all they have in the same bondage with themselves; the sons of these bondmen are seldom suffered to be freemen: like the Scr

Chapter 59

1. Bring them with you before the Lord: lay them often at his feet: pray

over them; Here be my blind (Lord) and my lame, my cripples and my captives. Lord open their eyes and bring forth these prisoners out of prison: behold the Souls which thou hast given me, here they are before thee, Oh th

Chapter 60

2. Bring the Lord to them, let these poor prisoners hear of a redeemer;

make Christ known to them; and that they may accept of his redemption, make them first known to themselves? Instruct them often, make them to know their sin and their misery; the dreadful bondage that they are under at

Chapter 61

3. Bring them over to the Lord: be an Ambassador for Christ to them;

cease not to warn them to command, persuade beseech them in Christ's stead, till they consent and be reconciled to God. Be industrious, be at pains with them: lie at them from day today; bethink not your time and labor.

Chapter 62

4. That in all his dealings in the world, he have respect to truth,

righteousness, and mercy. He would not live by lying, he would not get by unrighteousness, nor save by unmercifulness. The worlds vassals must stick at nothing that will serve their turns; must lie, defraud, oppress, ext

Chapter 63

3. Victory over the world stands, in a power to use our worldly goods to

their proper ends. What is there on this side Hell, (sin only excepted) but being well used, will prove our blessing? Rom. 8:28. All things shall work together for good to them that love God. What is there on this side H

Chapter 64

4. Victory over the world stands, in a power to want the worlds good

things, and to suffer the worlds evil things, and to keep our hearts and our way, whether we prosper or suffer. Philip. 4:12. I know both how to be abased and how to abound; everywhere and in all things I am instructed,

Chapter 65

1. Self-denial under the greatest opportunities of self-seeking and self-

satisfaction. Self-denial properly, is the neglecting the interest, and the crossing the inclinations of our flesh, in order to service or the preventing of sin. Then only self-denial is a virtue, or a duty, when our all

Chapter 66

1. The circumstance of time,

[When he came to years] ‘twas not a childish folly, done when he was so young, that he knew not what he did; but when he came to age, when he came to understand himself; whilst he was a child, he suffered himself to be d

Chapter 67

2. When he was (upon the matter) newly come to age; a young man, in the

prime and vigor of his time; when he had but begun to taste the sweet of his youthful pleasures; the pleasures of this life are most taking at the first tasting, the first draught is the sweetest; when they grow more com

Chapter 68

1. Otherwise this is like to be the worst time of their lives. Such is the heat

and strength of their lusts, that nothing but a God will be a bridle to them, Jam. 3:3. Behold we put bits in the horse’s mouths. What ruling a horse without a bridle? What bridle will hold these wild horses, but the mem

Chapter 69

1. Youth is more docile and tractable. Old men are more dull and hard to

learn, more refractory and hard to be persuaded; therefore you know its the practice of men to put theirs to Schools, and to Trades, in their younger time. Prov. 20:6. Train up [a child] in the way that he shall go, and

Chapter 70

2. Youth is more vigorous and sprightly; of warm affection, and full of

action; quic quid agit valde agit, there's life in its action: it is not clogged -- 134 of 314 -- with the infirmities, nor depressed with the weakness and unwieldiness that creeps on with age. In this morning the Soul

Chapter 71

3. Young men have day before them: he that hath a long journey to go,

had need set out early; he that hath much work to do had need be at it betimes: he that goes an Apprentice to a trade when he is old, is not like to do any great matter at it; either to get any great skill, or to make an

Chapter 72

3. The first time is the acceptable time. 2 Cor. 6:2. Behold now is the

accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation. The present season is the -- 136 of 314 -- blessed season. [the accepted time] that is the time wherein you may be accepted, and which God will take well at your hands

Chapter 73

4. If the Devil hath the first time, he will endanger to have the last too. It

is seldom seen, that those that pass over their youth and their strength, in the service of sin, do ever become the servants of God at last: those that stand out against Christ, to their last day, do mostly stand it out

Chapter 74

1. That age doth often pay the scores of youth; the pains of age are often

the reward of the pleasures of youth; the wantonness of youth is often revenged by the weakness and diseases of age; men's aged bones do remember them of their wasted marrow. Sinners, though you think you can never fill

Chapter 75

2. Where sin breaks its fast and dines, it often sups and lodges, it lies

down with him in the dust. If timely repentance do not lay thy sin in the dust, when thou art young, vengeance is like to lay it down with thee in the dust when thou art old. [It shall lie down with him in the dust.] A d

Chapter 76

2. The circumstance of his education. He had been bred up from a child,

in a gallant Princely way; he knew not what belonged to a low estate: those that never had much, forsake but little when they forsake all; ’tis but a short step from a little to nothing: he can take no great harm in a fa

Chapter 77

3. The circumstance of his Obligations. Pharaoh's Daughter had strangely

obliged him, had saved his life, took him up an abject Infant, and adopted him for her Child, given him Princely breeding, and set her heart upon him as her own: and hereupon the ingenuity of his Nature could not but ple

Chapter 78

4. Circumstance. But when he went from Pharaohs Court, whither went

he? When he left the bosom of Pharaohs Daughter, to whom did he join himself? Why to a company of poor bondmen, that were laboring at the brick Kilns; and not to be a Taskmaster, or Ruler among them; but to take his lot

Chapter 79

2. Contentment in greatest straits, Phil. 4:11,12. I have learned in

whatsoever estate I am, to be content. -- 147 of 314 -- [In whatever estate] whether I have little or much, something or nothing, still content: contentment is the heart at ease, our well pleasedness with our condition

Chapter 80

2. It impeaches God's goodness and bounty. Whatever is with him in the

house, yet there's no good house-keeping: If in my Fathers house there be bread enough, yet he keeps me short enough, I have but little, the Lord's hand hath been shortened to me. As we go along, consider Brethren, wheth

Chapter 81

3. Hereupon it rebels, and will not stand to God's allowance: When God

will not satisfy, we fall to sharking and shifting for ourselves: Discontent with our lot (as I said before) lies at the bottom of all our unlawful carving for ourselves; hence is covetousness, hence is fraud, oppression

Chapter 82

4. It disgraces godliness. Whatsoever is boasted of it, that its ways are the

ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace; that the merchandise thereof is better than silver, and its gain then gold; that its a tree of life; that length of days, riches and honors, attend upon it; as Prov. 3.

Chapter 83

5. It is its own plague and punishment; it eats out and devours the good

and the comfort of all we have: the want of Mordecai’s Cap and Knee, made all the honor that Haman had in the Kings Court, to be as nothing to him. Ahab's whole Kingdom could not keep him in health while he wanted Naboth

Chapter 84

1. There is a cheerful submission in it; a resting in God's allowance, and a

well-pleasedness with our condition; let the Lord deal out to me, and keep back from me whatsoever he will; its the Lord, let him do whatsoever seems him good; God is pleased it should be thus, and therefore I am pleased

Chapter 85

2. There is satisfaction in it; satisfaction with God, Prov. 14:14. A good

man is satisfied; satisfied from himself, from within him: God is within him, and thence his satisfaction; there's no true contentment, but what's bottomed on God: Thou hast many wants, and many wishes, and many hopes; i

Chapter 86

3. Independence from the world; I mean wholly, as to matters of Religion

and Conscience: thou canst now be happy with, or without the World, and he that can be happy with, or without it, can be holy which way soever the world goes; as long as thou canst be content, thou wilt dare to be consci

Chapter 87

5. It is its own reward: Its both our duty, and our comfort. Let us be

content, this is one of those Commandments, [In] keeping whereof there is great reward: this is the sweet of thy life, contentment: this is the sauce of thy meat, the sugar of thy cup, the crop, the cream of all thy enjo

Chapter 88

1. Make God your own: Look not for content in the World, and look not

for content in God, without a propriety in him: Look not for content, and dare not to be content without God: It is a shame not to be content with God, but it is a madness to be content without God, and an interest in hi

Chapter 89

2. Advance in godliness. What is God to the contenting of a soul without

godliness? You can neither understand, nor taste of God, without godliness: Contentation arises from communion; and by how much the higher our communion with God, by so much the more full our contentment. Godliness is th

Chapter 90

3. Patience in the greatest distresses: Patience (as I have elsewhere noted)

is the flesh mortified, and the flesh mortified is the world vanquished: the flesh, while it is alive, will quickly feel; and when it smarts, twill kick and fling, and put the whole Soul into a combustion: when the world

Chapter 91

4. Humility in the height of honor: When the world can neither depress

nor sinfully exalt us, neither sink nor swell us; when it can neither beat us on the lower ground, nor on the pinnacle of the Temple. Some Christians have been highly exalted in the world; have been raised from the dust

Chapter 92

1. Generosity, A Soul abstracted from the world is a generous Soul:

eximiae virtutis, vigorous and sprightful: its a Soul restored to itself, grown up towards its original vigor, which was lost and choked in the mud of this world. It is for great action, for higher and more noble achieve

Chapter 93

2. Fortitude. By this we stand against the fury of the world: That's a

magnanimous spirit, that delights in difficulties, and despises danger; a bold soul; that not only loves to serve, but dares to suffer; that is not careful about this matter, Dan. 3. Whom none of all these things move, A

Chapter 94

1. A boldness with God. A free and confident access to God; a coming

boldly before the Throne of Grace, Heb. 4:16. And this arises from a sense of Reconciliation with God, from an inward acquaintance with God, from a conscience of uprightness before the Lord, Heb. 10:19,22. Having therefo

Chapter 95

2. Boldness in God: We were bold in our God, 1 Thes. 2:2. This boldness

stands in a firm dependence upon God, Job 13:15. Though he kill me, yet will I trust in him. A resolved Christian will depend upon God, for his counsel and conduct, Psal. 73:24. Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel: he wi

Chapter 96

3. Boldness for God: There is a boldness to which God is nominally

entitled, which is not boldness for God, but for ourselves. The bold asserting our own conceits and opinions for divine truths; the bold imposing our own inventions as the will of God; the zealous pursuing matters of rel

Chapter 97

1. When we follow God and keep his way, with the contempt of the

[greatest] advantages on the one hand, and the [sharpest] sufferings on the other; when the highest price that the World can give, cannot entice us, and the greatest mischief that the World can do, cannot force us to unf

Chapter 98

2. When we choose the greatest of sufferings, rather than little sins.

Maybe thou wouldst be afraid to run upon horrid sins; If these were the terms that were given thee, Curse God and live, Renounce thy part in Christ, forswear thy Lord, blaspheme and live; These horrid wickedness’s have t

Chapter 99

3. When we refuse the greatest advantages rather than neglect the least of

duties: When we can resolve from love, what Balaam did for fear, Numb. 22:18. If Balak would give me a house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord; to do less or more. I will not willingly fail

Chapter 100

2. A prudent boldness, that doth not espouse needless controversies, that is

wary of mistaking matters or measures; that doth not rashly and headily run upon dangers which it might without sin avoid; that doth not unwarily create itself nor needlessly provoke enemies, but fears not to meet them i

Chapter 101

5. Equanimity in all the changes of his outward condition: An equal,

steady, fixed frame, in all turns and changes. If prosperity alone, if afflictions alone, will not corrupt or discompose us, they are often made to take their turns, sometimes one, sometimes another, if that may do it. T

Chapter 102

1. Seek earnestly after a more abundant diffusion of the establishing Spirit

of grace. Let the Psalmists prayer be yours, Psal. 51:12. Uphold or establish me with thy free Spirit. The Spirit of this World, is as Reuben, Gen. 49:4. Unstable as water: the Spirit of grace is an establishing Spirit.

Chapter 103

1. The greater measures of grace are the portion of those that are the most

importunate seekers of grace. To his Saints, the Lord giveth his Spirit by measure; to some a lesser, to some a fuller measure; they have all drank in the same Spirit, but not all a like draught: our Heavenly Father will

Chapter 104

2. Those are the most established Souls, to whom grace hath abounded:

’tis not every little measure of true grace, that will bring the heart to a comfortable consistency: poor weakling Christians sadly prove, how even Disciples may be so tossed in the waves, that they know not where to fin

Chapter 105

2. Let your hearts be more strongly intent upon God; By how much the

more intensely God is minded, by so much the less impression will anything that occurs make upon our spirits; when the Scales are but just turned, every little dust falling in, will make them hover: A Bowl that runs stro

Chapter 106

3. Reckon upon nothing but God: Make sure of God, and reckon upon

nothing else: Reckon on no good thing but God, and reckon on all the troubles and miseries on this side hell: What you look for, and count upon, will work the less disturbance when it comes; count upon all losses but the

Chapter 107

4. Put your flesh upon the frequent trial of a voluntary restraint, and self-

crossing. Restrain yourselves, and you will the better endure when God straitens you: He whose flesh is ordinarily curbed by his Christian prudence, will be less moved when crossed by Divine Providence: allow not thy fle

Chapter 108

5. Lastly, Victory over the world, stands in a willingness to be gone from

this, and to take our flight to the other world, in a willingness to die: Worldly men, if they could help it, would never die; they would rather live -- 184 of 314 -- among the dead, then die into a better life; they a

Chapter 109

1. From that abhorrence of death which is implanted in the natures of all

living: And upon this account there may be even in the best of Saints an unwillingness to die: Our Lord himself, who was without sin, discovers something of it, when he cried out, Matth. 26:39. Father, if it be possible,

Chapter 110

2. From a loathness to part with their treasure here. What men have, they

cannot carry it with them, and they are loath to leave it behind them. When men die, can they carry their money with them? Can they carry their houses or Lands with them? They covet, they purchase, they build, they lay u

Chapter 111

3. From an uncertainty whither they shall go, when they go hence; what

world they shall find, when they leave this: Upon this ground I cannot blame worldlings to be afraid to die: art thou afraid? Thou mayst well enough; for whither will thy death carry thee? O the Lord knows! I know not wh

Chapter 112

1. Every Captive to the World is an unbeliever; without Christ, and in the

state of damnation: Oh think not light of your worldliness, ’tis a death token upon you, and such as marks you up with those that perish; that this is certainly so, that every worldling is an unbeliever and unconverted,

Chapter 113

1. Can that man be a believer, who is a lover of the world more than a

lover of God? Art thou a believer who lovest not? Canst thou say thou lovest God, when the better part of thine heart is with the world? Will this CHAP VII. – Use 1: The application made of the whole. -- 194 of 314 --

Chapter 114

2. Is he a believer that is not come to Christ? Coming to Christ, and

believing in Christ are the same, Joh. 6:35. Art thou come unto Christ? Whence art thou come? From the world? What, and yet thine heart still in the world? Art thou come to Christ, who art still where thou wert, when tho

Chapter 115

3. Is he a believer who hath [absolutely] chosen this world, and hath only

[conditionally] chosen Christ? Who will first seek his own things, and in the second place, the things of Christ? Who will model his Christianity into a consistency with his carnal interest? Is he a believer who will hav

Chapter 116

2. That where there is but little power over the world, there is but little

Faith. As the first Conviction will overthrow the Faith of some, and prove it a mere nullity, so this will call in question the confidence of others, and at least take them some degrees lower. There are some Professors w

Chapter 117

1. According to the truth or falsehood of our faith, so are we either

Conquerors, or Captives to the world. Every unbeliever is a Captive, every believer is a Conqueror of the world; both these have been already proved. Faith is our choosing and laying hold on another portion; our resignin

Chapter 118

2. According to the proportion of our faith, so will this victory over the

world be more complete or imperfect. We may best take the height and degree of our faith, by observing the elevation of our spirits above the earth: a low and earthly spirit, whatever show it makes, is but of little fait

Chapter 119

1. He set such a high rate on Christ, and an interest in his righteousness,

that in comparison hereof, he counted all things else but loss and dung: let this gain be loss, this earth be dung, trodden underfoot as dung, cast out as dung, so I may win Christ and be found in him.

Chapter 120

2. He unites interest in Christ, with conformity to Christ: they lie both

together in the same heart, and his Soul is making out after both in the same breath. That I may win Christ and be found in him; and that I may know -- 208 of 314 -- him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fell

Chapter 121

3. He sets his face, and bends his whole course towards the obtaining of

Christ: I follow after: I press towards the mark: and this not in his prayers only, but in his whole practice, this one thing I do: this one is all: whatever I am doing, this I am doing, I have nothing else to do, nothin

Chapter 122

4. He turns his back upon all things else: forgetting those things that are

behind: that is, not only his pharisaical righteousness, and his external privileges, to which this especially refers, but much more, all carnal and earthly things, v. 8. Yea doubtless I count all things but loss: he lea

Chapter 123

2. He proposes himself as a pattern to all believers, v. 15,17. Let us be

thus minded: I have told you my mind, come let's be all of one mind, and be ye followers together of me: let your heart be as my heart, let your conversation be as my conversation: my conversation is in Heaven, come alon

Chapter 124

3. He points with the finger at some among them, who though they

professed Christ with them, and worshiped God with them, and walked with them, yet they walked not after them: and sets this brand upon them, They are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose G

Chapter 125

1. By being the mark of the Lord upon us, 1 Joh. 3:24, he that keepeth his

commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him, hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. By the Spirit we are to understand, the graces of the Spirit; that holiness and heavenliness of mi

Chapter 126

2. By being the light of the Lord within us, whereby we are able to discern

our Lord's mark upon us, 1 Cor. 2:12. The Devil so amuses and deludes Souls, that they often know not what to make of themselves; but conclude themselves to be quite another thing then they are: and this he doth by this

Chapter 127

1. By counterfeiting Christ's mark, and setting it on his own sheep. Christ

marks his sheep especially in the heart; that's the throne of the Spirit, that's the seat of Grace, the heart; the Devil can do something to the counterfeiting of this; he can make common grace look like saving grace, he

Chapter 128

2. By palliating his own mark: Christ's mark upon thee? I but whose is

that, this earthly mind, that stands above it? O he hath a device for that too: -- 214 of 314 -- he hath a cloak for covetousness: ’tis but providence, or good husbandry; nay this gain is godliness: all this carking an

Chapter 129

3. By blurring Christ's mark that it cannot easily be seen, or known to be

his. As he can make a mere paint look like sincerity, so he can make sincerity look like hypocrisy: as many carnal confidents bless themselves in the opinion of their uprightness; so many mortified, broken, upright heart

Chapter 130

6. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: by turning your

eyes back upon what hath been already said, you may make fuller improvement of these directions, upon which I forbear any farther enlargement. To these I shall add this one general direction. Make your advantage of all t

Chapter 131

1. Improve all your duties this way: Let all your seeking’s of God be a

wrestling with the World. Put this great affair into every prayer: put it into your daily confessions, put it into your daily petitions. Carry the sense of your sore bondage into the presence of God: let the misery and t

Chapter 132

1. A fixed Rule or Standard of Religion: whereby the knowledge of God,

his Will, Worship and Ways, is preserved and propagated; to wit, the holy Scriptures, Isa. 8:20, to the Law, and to the Testimonies, &c. CHAP IX. – Direction 2: Improve Sabbaths this way. -- 231 of 314 --

Chapter 133

4. A fixed time, for instruction in the Law of God, and for his more

solemn Worship: This fixed time is the Sabbath day, Isa. 66:23. &c. The Adversaries of Religion have attempted its destruction, by heaving at these Pillars upon which it is supported; and the opposition which hath been m

Chapter 134

1. A day of separation for God. The people of God, as such, are a

separated people, separated from the lusts of men, to the Law of their God, Neh. 10:28. Ezra 6:21. In their first day, their day of Grace, they separate themselves from the evils of the World; in this day they are to sep

Chapter 135

2. It is a day for special Communion with God. The meeting of God with

his people on that day, is like unto that meeting which is promised to Moses Exod. 25:22, before the mercy seat: There will I meet thee, and commune with thee: there will I show thee all my mind, and hear all thy request

Chapter 136

3. It is a day of special provision for Souls; whereon the Lord brings forth

out of his treasury, his spiritual provisions, to keep the Soul in heart. Hunger-starved soldiers are but poor fighters; they are the weak souls whom the World hath vanquished. Sabbaths are the Souls Market days. Men hav

Chapter 137

1. In our preparation. One confessed preparatory duty is self-examination,

1 Cor. 11:28. A great security of this Idol is the secret of its tabernacle; Its covert in which it lurks unseen. Worldlings (many of them) if they knew what is within them, their Conscience would so prick, that they cou

Chapter 138

3. An abundant communication or exhibition of the blessings of the other

World. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is called, Luke 22:20. The New Testament; This cup is the New Testament in my blood. The New Testament is Heaven opened, life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel. Its

Chapter 139

1. The Sacrament is the New Testament signified: or a lively

representation of the great blessings of the covenant; it is a visible Gospel, Christ crucified before our eyes. It is a commemoration of Christ crucified; as sometimes you know dying friends bequeath unto their dear sur

Chapter 140

2. The Sacrament is the New Testament sealed: the use of a Seal is to

secure and confirm; therefore Seals are affixed to writings, bonds or covenants, to give them their full force and ratification. The writing to which this Seal is set is the Gospel; the great and precious promises, which

Chapter 141

1. God's Seal encourages us on. The Covenant of God assures, not only a

Crown to the Conqueror, but assistance to the Combatant: He will be not only the rewarder, but the helper of all those that diligently seek him: He hath said, Heb. 13:5. I will never fail thee, nor forsake thee. And here

Chapter 142

2. Our Seal engages us on. Hast thou sealed to the Lord, and not bound

thyself to him? Hast thou set thy seal to a blank? Hast thou engaged thy self to be the Lord's, and not therein to be no longer the worlds? Canst thou serve these two Masters? Is not thy renouncing the world necessarily

Chapter 143

3. The Sacrament is the New Testament blessings exhibited: The new

wine broached; this Conduit runs with Gospel Wine: Our partaking in the Sacrament, is our coming into the Garden of our Lord, to eat his pleasant fruits. We read, Cant. 2:3. I sat down under his shadow with great delight

Chapter 144

1. Righteousness. He is therefore called the Lord our righteousness, Jer.

23:6. Joh. 16:8. He shall convince the world of righteousness; that is, of the righteousness of Christ; he shall evidence and make manifest unto the world, who all lie in wickedness, that in him there is righteousness; n

Chapter 145

2. Peace. That's another fruit of Christ's blood; he hath made peace by the

blood of his Cross, Col. 1:20. He hath made peace, not only betwixt Jew and Gentile, reconciling them both into one body, but betwixt God and men, reconciling both Jew and Gentile in one body unto God, Rom. 5:1. Being ju

Chapter 146

2. The fruits of his spirit. The former fruits, righteousness and peace,

which I call the fruits of the blood of Christ, are in a sense, the fruits also of the spirit; as also these latter which I call the fruits of the spirit, are in a sense, the fruits of his blood: the spirit convinces of

Chapter 147

2. That these fruits of Christ are sweet, 1 Pet. 2:7. To them that believe he

is precious: He and all his, root and branches, tree and fruit; he is pleasant to the eye, the thoughts of Christ are precious, Psa. 104:3. My meditation of him shall be sweet. It is a pleasant thing to behold this Sun;

Chapter 148

1. How sweet have you found the fruits of the blood of Christ? Ask the

guilty if righteousness be not sweet, if pardon be not sweet, ask the prisoner if liberty be not sweet, ask the debtor how he would receive his discharge from all his debts. Dost thou know what blood guiltiness means, I

Chapter 149

2. How sweet are the fruits of his Spirit? Would it not be a pleasure to you

to be holy and humble and meek? Is not love sweet? Is not holy joy sweet? That is, is not sweetness sweet? Nay is not godly sorrow sweet? The mourning’s and melting’s for sin, have more sweetness in them then the sportin

Chapter 150

1. To the healthy Soul: that is, to the holy Soul, to the sick every pleasant

thing is bitter: is grace unsavory? Is holiness harsh to thee, doest thou find no relish in it? Are thy gourds and thy husks thy locusts and wild honey, the pleasures of thy flesh only grateful to thy palate? O thou art

Chapter 151

2. To the hungry Soul: The hungry he fills with good things, and the

hungry will relish his good things, the full Soul loathes the honey comb: canst thou not taste the sweetness? O thou art a full Soul; Satan hath filled thine heart, thou hast an heart full of dirt and trash; the Devil ha

Chapter 152

3. That these fruits of Christ are exhibited and given forth in the

sacrament. The sacrament is a communion: the Communion of the body of Christ, the Communion of the blood of Christ, 1 Cor. 10:16, wherein we come not only to see, but to receive Christ crucified, to receive of his fullne

Chapter 153

1. That the Church of Christ hath her wells of salvation: without is death

and destruction: sinners have their pits, and their pools, and their cisterns, but no wells. There is a fountain and a fountain opened Zech. 13:1, but ’tis to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: to the I

Chapter 154

2. In this Well of Salvation there is water of life: Ye shall draw [water]

that is, living water: In this water is comprehended all things belonging to life and godliness: Here is bread in this water; he that is the Rock springing in the earth, is the bread that came down from heaven, Joh. 6:48

Chapter 155

3. This water of life is [to be drawn] out of this Well of Salvation. Hence

’tis that we must come, every man with his Pitcher. Faith is our Pitcher, what need of a Pitcher if there were no water to be drawn? Unbelievers might then speed as well as believers.

Chapter 156

4. Its a joy to the Saints to work at the Well. [With joy] shall ye draw, &c.

We read, 1 Sam. 7:6, that the people of God once drew other waters, and out of another Well; they drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. The Wells were their repenting sorrow-bitten hearts, the waters were their

Chapter 157

1. They will quench our thirst after the world. The world invites as Christ,

Ho everyone [that thirsteth] come to my waters; If any man [thirst] let him come unto me and drink. God and the world are both for the empty souls; he that's empty of God, there's a man for the world; he that's empty of

Chapter 158

3. They will sharpen our weapon. We never are foiled, but when our faith

fails: This is our victory— even our faith; this weapon of our warfare is mighty through God: By how much the more our faith is exercised on God, by so much the more vigorous; believe and you shall be established, believ

Chapter 159

4. The reward is set before our eye. Rev. 2:17. To him that overcometh

will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it. Chap. 3:21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me i

Chapter 160

1. Receive all the good things of the world as Talents, for which you must

give an account: Consider yourselves as Stewards of all that you have; you have nothing under your hand, but what is your Masters, and for which you must be responsible: This is a truth written in nature, as well as in S

Chapter 161

2. Receive the prosperities of the world as temptations: What God

bestows as Talents, the Devil makes temptations; what God intends as instruments for service, the Devil makes forage and weapons of war; provision for lust which fight, against the soul, God says, Make ye friends of the

Chapter 162

1. Deception: temptation is an artifice contrived on purpose to beguile and

deceive us, Gen. 3:13. The serpent beguiled me and I did eat: ’tis a juggle, or a cheat, that carries a stinging tail under a fair face: that promises a kindness or advantage, but either hath nothing in it, or a mischief

Chapter 163

2. Infection: the heart by reason of its filth and rottenness, is apt to take

infection ('tis dangerous for persons abounding with ill humors, to come into ill airs) and temptation is as the air from a plague sore, that conveys infection: temptation does so ferment innate corruption, that it putre

Chapter 164

3. Seduction. Leading aside to errors and mistakes, to believe a lie: there

are temptations that corrupt the judgment, as well as the affections, that change the principles, as well as the dispositions. When the heart is leavened into vanity, it must have a Religion that's suited to it; its vain

Chapter 165

4. Perdition: that's the term, or Gulf, whether these streams are carrying us

down; temptation is destruction begun, and destruction is temptation finished: the Devil hath done his work, temptation hath served his turn, when it hath drowned the soul in perdition and destruction. Well now, Is not t

Chapter 166

1. Your thoughts. Where the thoughts are, the soul is, Psa. 139:8. When I

awake, I am still with thee; that is, my thoughts are presently with thee, my meditations are of thee; and where my thoughts are, there am I. When the thoughts are with God, the soul is with God, when the thoughts are in

Chapter 167

2. Hold your affections under government, Prov. 16:32. He that ruleth his

spirit, is better than he that taketh a City: and no wonder, for he hath taken the whole world captive. All victories imaginable are summed up in this one victory, the conquest of the heart. By spirit we are here to unde

Chapter 168

1. Keep yourselves in the love of God: let affection follow the conduct of

reason to Heaven, and there let it dwell, but till reason lead it down again: keep yourselves in the love of God, Jude 21, keep up a right understanding of God and that will keep up your affections; keep up your affectio

Chapter 169

2. Whatever you love in the world, let it be also your fear: fear will be

loves bridle, and reason would teach you to fear whatever you love here: nothing hath such an advantage upon us, to steal away our hearts from God as the things we love. The Lord is seldom such a looser as by his bounty,

Chapter 170

3. Set a strict watch upon your senses: By these ’tis, that Satan with all his

temptations, hath such an easy passage to our hearts: our senses are the doors of our hearts; the outlets of corruption, and the inlets of temptation; they bring the outward objects, and the inward lusts together; when t

Chapter 171

1. Seek no other things, nor any greater abundance of them, then God

allows you to seek: Buy not an house, nor a field, or a living, but make God the purchaser: go not into the fair, or the market, into the shop or over the seas, but when God sends you; drive not that trade or that bargai

Chapter 172

2. Keep and lay up no more by you, then God would have you: Say of all

you lay up, This is God's stock, this is his treasure: whatever you have, let God keep the purse: when he says, Bring no more into the treasury, stay your hand, bestow it elsewhere as he shall appoint you. Let no stolen

Chapter 173

3. Use what you have as God would have you use it: bring forth, but only

by God's order. Be good stewards; remember your account, book down all your expenses: let nothing go any way, but what you are willing should be booked, and let nothing be booked, but what you would have read in your rec

Chapter 174

1. Are you for the saving of your Souls? What are you for? For Heaven or

Hell? ’Tis the same question as, are you for Heaven or Earth? Speak friends, where would you that your lot should fall? Will you be written in the earth, or amongst the living in Jerusalem? Will you have your good things

Chapter 175

2. Is not the world an enemy to your salvation? Is salvation possible

without a victory over it? Is it not against the declared will and purpose of God? Rom. 8:30. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; whom he called, them he also justified; whom he justified, them he also glorifi

Chapter 176

3. Is this enemy invincible? Is not victory over it possible? Is it not

possible for thee to become an enemy to this world? If thou art an enemy thou art a conqueror. It's true thou hast an hard field to fight, and there's great hazard thou mayst be eternally lost by it. It hath slain so man

Chapter 177

4. Is not victory over this enemy desirable? Is not liberty desirable? Is not

life desirable? Be an enemy and live, the world kills none but its friends. Would it not be well with you, if this spirit of the world were cast out, and God had given you another spirit? Would it not be a good exchange,

Chapter 178

5. Can this victory be bought too dear? There's nothing in this world but

may be over-bought: An Army may be so weakened in the fight, that victory will not repair it; Crowns and Kingdoms may be bought too dear; all the royalties and revenues of the world may be purchased at such a rate, that

Chapter 179

6. What if this enemy should reign till death? How do you think your

worldly life will look, when you come to die? Do you think you shall then say, I have done well to be a worldling? It may be, if God should ask you now, dost thou well to be covetous? Dost thou well to be a self-seeker?

Chapter 180

1. Doth not God call you off from the world? Who is it that said, 1 Joh.

2:15. Love not the world nor the things of the world? Consider and compare these two Scriptures. 2 Cor. 5:20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be

Chapter 181

2. Do not the severities of God call you off? What mean the Judgments of

God, which he executes on the earth, but to drive us up from our cisterns to the fountain? What mean the wormwood and the gall, but to wean us from these dugs? Wherefore are our disappointments, vexations, distresses, bu

Chapter 182

2. What is there in your denial to hearken to these calls of God? Is there

anything less in it then this I will not be reconciled to God! I choose rather -- 311 of 314 -- that God be mine enemy, then that the world be not my friend; I had rather have the wormwood and the gall, then not the mi