The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 23 – Meditation 25
MEDITAT. XXIII. Notwithſtanding Mens Self-deceivings, there are many Lovers of the World.
ANd becauſe no Man will confeſs himſelf to be a Lover of the World, are there therefore none ſuch? Has the Apoſtle ſuppos'd an Impoſſibility or a Non Entity, when he ſays, If any Man love the World, &c. or are Men therefore not of the World, becauſe they ſay they are not of the World? Whether it be meet to hearken unto God, and believe him, or Man, let us now judge.
We may eaſily ſuppoſe Man to be bribed and blinded in his own caſe. What the judgment of God is we ſhall ſoon diſcern in his Word; by which we may briefly examine all the Ages of the World.
The primitive ſtate of Man, no doubt, was a ſtate of pure and Divine Love. As the Creator is ſaid to take pleaſure in the workmanſhip of his Hands, ſo doubtleſs the rational Creature delighted himſelf in his Creator; and in him only admired himſelf and the reſt of the Creation.
But this laſted not long. Alas, how ſoon did the worldly Spirit begin to prevail! Cain the Heir of the World choſe the World for his portion; and the love of the Father (his Grandfather) was not in him. For if a Man love not his Brother whom he hath ſeen, how can he love God whom he hath not ſeen.
The Old World neglected Righteouſneſs and the Preacher of it. We read what their main ſtudy was; they were intent upon Marrying, Building, Planting, and ſuch like ſenſual entertainments, and choſe that part, till they were taken away from it. If we conſider the Antediluvian World, we ſhall find that it had but few Men in it, but who were worldly Men. Next take a view of the World that follow'd the Flood, and reſolv'd that the Flood ſhould never follow them, I mean the Babelites and the Men of that Age, the Senſual Nimrods, the Capacious Giants, the Idolatrous Canaanites, Amorites, Perizzites; and the reſt of that Herd; and what can we find amongſt them but Worldlineſs, Violence and Uncleanneſs.
But there was another Seed, and ſure that was all Holy; I mean the Children of Abraham, the Seed of Iſrael; no, it is too evident that all Iſrael were not Iſraelites indeed; witneſs the many hundred thouſands that luſted after the Fleſh-pots, nay, the very Onions and Garlick of Egypt; that prefer'd their Bondage before the promiſed Land, and the free exerciſe of their Religion.
Follow them into that Land, and take notice of their great Idolatry, and other Iniquities committed frequently, and almoſt generally, under the Government of their Judges. Nay, view them under the Government of their beſt Kings, and take an account from David's own mouth, and you will find that even then there wre many that ſaid, Who will ſhew us any good? or, if you will, in Engliſh Metre, the greater ſort craved worldly Gods. Not long after the Iſraelites were ſo bad, that the poor Prophet thought that he was left alone a Worſhipper of the Father.
In the days of the Prophet Jeremiah, rich and poor, and all were ſo univerſally apoſtatiz'd, that by crying a good man up and down the ſtreets of Jeruſalem, one was not to be found, Jer. 5. in prin….
In the days of the Son of Man, the beſt ſort of Men (reputed) were Lovers of the World, more than of the Father; or if you will have it in our Saviours own words, They loved the praiſe of men, more than the praiſe of God; they received honour one of another.
And how men ſtood affected in the following times, his Followers will tell us; one Apoſtle declaring, That all men ſought their own things; and another complaining, That the whole world lay in wickedneſs.
And if the world be ſo mended in theſe dregs of time, that none of this Breed are left, we ſhall need to expect no new Heavens, nor new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. But (alas!) we are ſo far from that refinement, that we muſt ſtill cry out as they of old,
O curvae in terras animae, & coeleſtiam inanes!
MEDITAT. XXIV. Who are Lovers of the World in general.
THere are then, nay, there are many Lovers of the World: But what Jehu will now appoint us a Sacrifice for the Worſhipers of Baal (for they skulk amongſt the People) whereby we may diſcern them. Give them an invitation, an encouragement, lay a bait before them, and we ſhall find them out.
In general, it is certain, That in the matters of doing and ſuffering, there are multitudes to be found.
In doing, They that account any of the known Commandments of God ſo heavy, ungrateful, and troubleſom, that they wilfully refuſe to do them, are Lovers of the World. The Lovers of God do whatſoever things he commands them, (Joh. 15. 14.) they follow the Lamb, let him lead them whether he will. Abraham, that Friend of God, is fam'd for his chearful obedience in hard and grievous things; as in forſaking his own Land, to go he knew not whither, and in ſacrificing his beloved Iſaac. Oh ſevere Command! but oh Angelical Obedience! To the Lovers of God, his Commands are not grievous. Loving Paul, whom the Love of Chriſt conſtrain'd, was ready to do any thing, to take any pains, for the Name of Jeſus, and the honour of it.
In caſe of Suffering, They that will not quit all worldly intereſts, rather than diſown Chriſt, or wilfully and deliberately violate a known Commandment, are Lovers of the World more than of God.
Sufferings try men: If ye ſeek me, if ye cleave to me, ſaith God, let theſe things go, leave your hold of the world, quit your worldly intereſt. This is ſo frequently inculcated in the Goſpel, that it ſeems needleſs to bring any particular proof. Thoſe famous general Texts are enough, if they be but glanc'd at: If any man take not up his Croſs, he cannot be my Diſciple. If any man will not deny Father and Mother, Houſe and Lands for my ſake, he is not worthy of me. If a man will not cut off his right hand, and pluck out his right eye for Chriſt, he is not a Lover of him.
MEDITAT. XXV. Of the Lovers of the World more particularly.
BUT becauſe dolus latet in univerſalibus, I will conſider more particularly, that if it may be, ſome one or other may be convicted.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I will conſider the World in a Phyſical, and in a Theological ſenſe; Man in a Moral and Political Capacity; and God under all thoſe Notions in the 17th Meditation.
Conſider the World in a Phyſical ſenſe, and it is certain, that whoſover loves, admires, enjoys the World, and the Beauties thereof, in a way of oppoſition to God, or competition with him, or indeed ſeparation from him, is not a right Lover of the Father.
However beautiful the Fabrick of the World is, we ought not to love it in oppoſition to God, not eſteem the Creature in a way of derogation from the Creator. It's true, a Man may (with Jannes and Jambres) ſay, Digitus Dei eſt hic, and ſeem to own the goodneſs and power of God in the Creation, and yet be a meer Egyptian: But yet no true Iſraelite will ſay, Digitus Dei non est hic; no Lover of the Father, will exalt the power of natural cauſes ſo, as to exclude the Author of them. It becomes a Royal Society to admire the King of Heaven; and if any man ſtudy and admire the World in oppoſition to God, he is an Atheiſtical Lover of the World.
He that loves the World, or values it in competition with God, is (at leaſt) a falſe Friend of God; and acts, as if he would ſet the Creature at variance with the Creator.
Yea, he that loves the Creature in a way of diſtinction or ſeparation from God, is, in a degree, unſpiritual, and in ſome ſort of bondage.
Men are commonly proud of much knowledge; but the Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſome that are proud, and yet know nothing, (1 Tim. 6. 4.) So were thoſe Philoſophers that knew not God in the world, nor apprehended the inviſible things of him, by thoſe makements of his, that they took ſo much notice of.