One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 31
SERMON XXXI. That Gods People are not of (though in) this world; Wherein is alſo ſhewed the vaſt difference between them and the men of the world.
JOH. 17.5.
I have manifeſted thy Name to thoſe that thou gaveſt me out of the world.
THE next thing conſiderable is, The deſcription of the Subject, about which Chriſt did thus imploy himſelf, and they are ſet out
1. From their original deſcent, and heavenly riſe, Theſe God hath given Chriſt, but of this we have already treated, and ſhall ſay more before we come to the end of the Chapter, it being often repeated.
2. From the term from which, they are given out of the world, They are given to Chriſt out of the world.
The Scripture in this Chapter makes a diſtinction of being in the world, and of the world; The people of God, even as Chriſt himſelf and his Kingdom are in the world, but they are not of the world; As a Stranger in a forreign Countrey, he is in that Countrey but not of it; he hath not the nature, the Language, nor doth he accuſtome himſelf to the faſhion of that place, Thus it is with the godly, Though they are born and ſo live in the world, yet their natures and affections, and converſations are not worldly; As the Fowls that were at firſt created out of the water yet did not continue there but flew up to heaven and continue for the moſt part there; As clouds though of the earth, yet are carried about after the motions of the heavens; They are not then given out of the world, ſo as if every good man were preſently upon his godlineſſe removed out of this earth to heaven; but in reſpect of their nature, affections, and converſation; The ſeveral ſignifications of the word world in Scripture.localiter they are not but in reſpect of heart and affections, in which ſence Paul ſaid he was crucified to the world and the world to him, Gal. 6.14. Now you muſt know that the word world hath ſeveral ſignifications in Scriptures, Eſt mundus cujus Deus est creator, eſt mundus cujus Deus eſt redemptor, eſt mundus cujus Satan eſt ſeductor; Sometimes it is taken for the whole Fabrick and Ʋniverſe, with the parts thereof, as when the world is ſaid to be made by God, and Chriſt a Lamb ſlain from the beginning of the world, Rev. 13.8. Sometimes it's taken for the greater part of the world, as they ſaid all the world did run after Chriſt, or the world ſaid to be taxed by Auguſtus, Luk. 2.1. Sometimes for the power, riches, pleaſures and glory of the world, but then moſt commonly fot the wicked men of the world; Thus often by John, The world hath not known thee, if ye were of the world the world would love you, and now wicked men are called the world becauſe their whole heart and deſires are fixed on worldly things; No worms, no Moles delighting more in earthly things then they do, and therefore they are the Serpents ſeed which live on the duſt of the earth: And then they are called the world, becauſe they are the farre greater viſible and more flouriſhing part of the world; Alas take theſe that are godly and they are but a deſpicable and contemptible handful to thoſe that ruffle it in the world.
Doct. That the people of God are called out of the world.Obſ. That the people of God they are called out of the world; He that is truly godly is no more a man of this world, as we ſay of a dying man, he is not for this world, his heart, his thoughts, his deſires are quite taken off; Thus the godly are ſaid to be dead and crucified to the world, Gal. 6.14. They have not thoſe carnal worldly affections and diſpoſitions as formerly, and from hence the people of God are called Eccleſia, the Church, as much as perſons called out of the world, not bodily but in reſpect of their ſouls, and hence the world and the Church is oppoſed, 1 Cor. 5.10. The Fornicators of this world, in oppoſition to the Church, ſo that by this we ſee there is none in the Church of God, but they ſhould have renounced the waies, cuſtomes, and ſinnes of the world; To be a Chriſtian and yet of the world is a contradiction, as if we ſhould ſay a black Sun; yet how is the garden of God made a Wilderneſſe? how is the Church become the world? So much prophaneſſe, wickedneſſe, and carnal living as there is, ſo much of the world there is; Oh that men did conſider what an holy obligation their Chriſtianity brings upon them, Art thou a Chriſtian, and yet the drunkard of the world? the fornicator of the world, the proud, the earthly of the world, this ought not to be, no more then the Angel a worm, no more then a Starre a clod of earth; The Apoſtle cals thoſe of the world without, What have we to do to judge thoſe that are without? 1 Cor. 5, ult. but thoſe of the Church within; Oh but how many …e… within, according to Chriſts Rule ought to be turned out of Chriſts ſheepfold.
Demonſtrations of the Point.To illuſtrate this neceſſary Truth let us obſerve thoſe demonſtrations or diſcoveries whereby it may appear that the godly are not of the world.
And firſt, This makes it manifeſt becauſe they have not the Spirit of the world but of God, 1 Cor. 2.12.
They have not the Spirit of the world. The Spirit of the world what.Now what is the Spirit of the world, even a judgement and wiſedom to diſcern only worldly things, to ſee the neceſſity of them, the excellency of them; To be wholly affected with them, To meditate on them day and night; But the godly they have received the Spirit of God whereby they ſavour and diſcern ſpiritual things; They have hearts alwaies depending upon God, and they have hearts wholly fixed and placed upon God, They ſee incomparable excellency in heavenly things above all earthly; They ſay with David, My ſoul breaketh for the longing it hath to God at all times, Pſa. 119.20. They cry out, As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, ſo do our ſouls after thee O God, Pſa. 41.1. Thus when God calleth a man out of the world he giveth him another Spirit, even an heavenly heart, he was a beaſt before, now he is like an Angel; He did formerly no more underſtand or diſcern ſpiritual things then the deaf ear doth melodious ſounds; They were a weariſomneſſe, a burden to him, but now they are his delight.
They walk not after the rudiments of the world.Secondly, They are not of this world becauſe they walk not after the rudiments or elements of the world, Col. 2.8, 20. The Apoſtle there ſheweth how inconſiſtent ſuch a life is with an heavenly life, When we are riſen with Chriſt; Now what are thoſe Elements of the world, Even all ſuch principles of Religion as men by humane and carnall wiſedom take up to worſhip God by; He cals them Elements or principles, becauſe the Jews made their traditionall worſhip, the very foundation and beginning of all, as if godlineſſe were not able to conſiſt it, and Elements of the world, becauſe men by humane wiſedom without the Scripture do preſſe them and do not walk by the light of Gods Word; This then is an excellent diſcovery that we are not of the world, when in the matters of Religion eſpecially in our worſhip of God, and the way of our juſtification, we are not carried by the principles of a worldly Religion but by divine direction, when we do not worſhip God according to cuſtome, to univerſality and ſuch rudiments of the world as moſt do; The Pagan, the Papiſt diſcovers a very worldly Spirit in his Religion, being able to ſay no more for it then Heathens have done, and ſo in the matters of juſtification; They ſay but very little more then Ariſtotle and the Philoſophers of the world have done about righteouſneſſe, whereas the righteouſneſſe and grace of the Goſpel is wholly different from ſuch principles, manifeſt then by thy adoration of the fulneſſe of the Scripture, and ſufficiency thereof, that thy religion, thy worſhip, thy hopes of ſalvation are not meerly upon worldly principles, and not ſupernaturall.
Thirdly, The godly man is diſcovered not to be of the world, by his conſtant life and converſation; He doth not live as one that takes this world for his home,He lives not as others do. They declare by their words and actions they ſeek for another Countrey, Heb. 11. As the Iſraelites were to manifeſt the Wilderneſſe was not a place for them to abide in but Canaan: Hence Rom. 12.1. They are not conformed to the faſhion of this world, They are as Pilgrims and Strangers, They are in the world as bright Stars in a dark night, ſo that this doth neceſſarily imply a ſingularity and exactneſſe in the godly mans life comparatively to the world; Men of the world are proud, earthly, bruitiſh, running into all pleaſures, and following all exceſſe of riot, but they dare not do ſo, ſo that there cannot be a ſurer ſymptome that thou art ſtill of the world then by ſpeaking, doing, and living as moſt in the world do, 2 Pet. 3.6, Even thoſe that have but a common bare profeſſion of the Chriſtian faith are ſaid to eſcape the pollutions of the world; Though Godlineſſe ſhould not have a deep impreſſion on you, though it ſhould not go to the root and bottome, yet if it hath made any impreſſion at all, if it hath gone but to the skin, if you have heard of it but by the ear onelyonly, it ſhould make thee avoid ſuch pollutions, Jam. 1.17. What ſaith the Apoſtle James, Pure Religion is to keep a man unſpotted from the world; Pure Religion; There is a generation of devils rather then men that mock and deride at purity; Thus the Apoſtle ſaith there muſt be a pure Religion, and this pure Religion is to keep us unſpotted from the world; That doth imply the world to be ſome lothſome noiſome dunghill, that a man cannot be in it, but he is ready to get ſoil and filth upon him; how many truſt to ſin, come and do as we do, will you be ſo pure? but whether will you beleeve the Word of God or the devil tempting by ſuch beaſtly Inſtruments?
Fourthly, He is diſcovered not to be off the world becauſe he is principally taken up with heavenly priviledges, Jam. 4.4. The friendſhip of this world is enmity againſt God; and 1 Joh. 2.15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him; It's as impoſſible a man that is godly ſhould be of the world in this ſence, as it is for Doves to be Moles, they cannot live by digging into the earth; Hence the godly man is ſaid to be born of God, he is ſaid to be heavenly, to be from above, to he riſen with Chriſt, to ſit in heavenly places, to have his Converſation in heaven; Theſe are the noble deſcriptions of the godly man, ſo that though they uſe the world, and diſcharge their Relations therein, yet they are not overcome by the world; They have the world, the world hath not them; Oh how cloſe may this diſcovery be, for there are many who eſcape the pollutions of the world, and yet are worldly: The third kinde of hearers did not only caſt off all prophaneſſe, but made ſome great progreſſe in obedience to the Word, but the love of the world and the cares about it choaked all; Did not Judas appear as eminently for Chriſt as any at firſt? but the love of the world diſcovered his rottenneſſe; Did not Demas get approbation, and that by Paul himſelf? yet at laſt he did cleave to this preſent world, ſo that not only prophaneſſe but immoderate, earthly and worldly affections; Theſe are inconſiſtent with the power of grace; The world is not only the prophaneſs thereof, but the immoderate and exceſſive affections to the lawful things of the world; Our Saviour doth not ſay, He that loveth his ſins or his luſts more then me, but he that loveth his Father, wife, or life it ſelf more then me is not worthy of me, Mat. 10.37. See then the difficulty of grace and tremble under it, Thou haſt with much ado quit thy former ſins, but do not the inordinate affections about lawful things ſtill enſnare thee? Doſt thou buy as if thou boughtſt not? Doſt thou marry as if thou marriedſt not? 1 Cor. 7. Art thou rich as if thou wert not? That is, thou uſeſt theſe things as comforts againſt thy neceſſities, not as Maſters over thy affections.
Fifthly, In this it's apparent they are not of the world becauſe the world hateth them, and is wholly oppoſite to them, Joh 17.14. Becauſe they are not of the world therefore that hateth them, If they were of the world the world would love his own; and 1 Joh. 4.5. They that are of the world ſpeak of the world, and the world heareth them; There cannot be a better diſcovery then this, The world knoweth his own, Let a man be a wiſe worldly man that matters not religion, that regards not the power of godlineſſe, nor ſtrictneſſe; Such a man this world adoreth; But if a man be never ſo wiſe, ſo excellent, yet if powerfully godly will not conform to the evil waies of the world, this marreth all; This makes him envied and hated; Who art thou then that haſt ſome deſires to walk in the way to heaven, but the oppoſition, the hatred and violence that is uſed againſt that way makes thee draw back? Oh fooliſh and deluded wretch, was it not thus with Chriſt, with his Apoſtles? Were they not told they ſhould be hated of all men for his Names ſake? There cannot be a more comfortable ſign of thy grace then to have all the wicked men where thou liveſt, either thy hypocritical Friends, or thy open enemies; Jerome thanked God that he was worthy to be ſuch an one whom the world would hate; The Serpents Seed cannot love the Womans; Iſmaell will perſecute Iſaac, glory therefore and boaſt in this, if the malicious wicked man hath his mouth alwaies open againſt thee, If he be alwaies cenſuring and backbiting; For if thou wouldeſt be prophane, diſſolute, if thou wouldſt be a Miniſter to proſtitute the Ordinances of God to every prophane man, thou wouldſt be as good as any in the world but now it's not for thy infirmities but thy graces they malice thee.
Sixthly, They are not of this world becauſe they are members of Chriſt and incorporated into him; Now Chriſt himſelf was not of this world, nor was his Kingdom of this world, Joh. 18.36. he came not with any earthly, worldly advantages; Now the godly they are to be wholly conformed unto Chriſt; As Chriſt was ſo are they, They bear the Image of the heavenly, ſo that what life, what actions were by Chriſt the ſame they are exerciſed in, ſo that if we would follow the example of Chriſt, make him our patern, as our Chriſtianity obligeth us, then ſhould we overcome the world, not only in the perſecuting part of it, but the inticing part of it: The heart that is united to Chriſt findes more excellency and ſweetneſſe in him then in all the pleaſures of the world, as we ſee by Paul.
Laſtly, They are diſcovered not to be of the world becauſe their life is a life of faith; The Juſt ſhall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17. We walk by faith and not by ſence, 2 Cor. 5.7. Now a worldly life is only by ſence and carnal reaſon; It moveth only upon ſenſible grounds, coming as far ſhort of faith as a beaſt doth of reaſon, but the godly man, he looketh into the Word of God, he ſeeth the promiſes and embraceth them; This life of faith is a myſtery, it is a Riddle, yea, it's a madneſſe to the world, To part with all preſent advantages upon faith for eternal, that are to come; this is to them extreme folly, and truly herein a godly man is diſcovered exceedingly, Doth he not live by his ſenſible props but by the Promiſes? Doth he overlook all creatures, and fix his heart upon God, this is more then the world doth?
If you ask the grounds why the people of God are out of the world though in it; There are three pregnant Reaſons in one verſe, Gal. 1.4.Reaſons. Who gave himſelf for our ſins that he might deliver us from this preſent evil world: Obſerve firſt, it's an evil wicked world, The whole world lieth in wickedneſſe ſaith John, 1 Joh. 5.19. There is nothing but the works of ſin, and the devil in it, therefore the devil is called the Prince of this world, Joh. 16.11. becauſe he reigneth in every mans heart; Now how can thoſe whoſe natures are made holy, who will and love what God wils and loveth, come to agree with ſin? how can they who are ſanctified by the Spirit of God be where the devil ruleth? 2. It's the preſent world; It's but for the preſent, the profits are preſent profits, the pleaſures are preſent pleaſures, whereas the godly man looketh to Eternity; D…mas cleaveth to the preſent world, 2 Tim. 4.10. but Paul to the eternal world, the world to come. 2. Chriſt died that we might be delivered from it, This is a pregnant reaſon, one main reaſon of the death of Chriſt was that thou ſhouldſt not be as the world is, if the ſhortneſſe and vanity of theſe things and their fading nature do not move thee, let the bloud and death of Chriſt prevail with thee; He was crucified that thou ſhouldſt be crucified to the world, he died that thou ſhouldſt be dead to the world.
Ʋſe of Exhortation, To come out of the world in reſpect of your affections and converſations, you cannot abide there no more then Lot in Sodom, and be ſaved, yet, are not the greateſt part of men, of the Church, thus of the world? Oh how unworthy is this, that whereas thy Chriſtianity, thy Religion engageth thee not to be of the world, thy converſation proveth thou art; Well, as thou art of this world, ſo ſhalt thou periſh with the judgements of the world; That lieth in darkneſſe, and will be caſt in utter darkneſſe, this will be thy Portion, and know thou muſt go out of the place of the world though thou wilt not out of the wickedneſſe of the world, the world cannot, will not hold thee alwaies.