Hence we see the Reason why the men of the world, and the godly can never agree; they are men of another spirit. Where there is difference of spirits, there can be no agreement. Water and oil cannot mingle; no agreement between light and darkness: they look at them, as men, whose lives are after another fashion. That Apocryphal Author in that book of Wisdom, hath an excellent expression to this purpose, Chap. 2. 12. he brings in wicked men saying of the godly, He is clean contrary to our doings, he is grievous unto us to behold; his life is not like other mens, his ways are of another fashion; we are esteemed of him, as counterfeits; he abstaineth from our ways, as from filthiness; he commendeth greatly the latter end of ⟨p. 115⟩the just, Verse 19. Let us examine him with rebukes and torments, &c. Let the relation, and the engagements be what they will, yet so long as of different spirits, they cannot close. What a different spirit was there between Jacob and Esau, who lay in the same womb at the same time […] There may be outward peace fo[…] while between Gods people, and some wicked men; but inward closing of spirit there can never be: The spirit that is in you, the world cannot receive, says our Saviour, John 14. 17. Antipathies are irreconcilable; no arguments, no means ever used can cause an accord, except there be a change in nature. Nothing in the world puts mens spirits in such a distance, as Grace when that comes; and therefore where the most eminent grace, there the greatest disagreement between them and wicked men. How many wicked men cannot but be convinced of some godly who live with them, that they are better than themselves, that they ⟨p. 116⟩are conscientious men, whose Principles 1are truly godly, and that they walk close to them? they are not able to charge them with any ill carriage towards them; they seek to do them all the good they can, and yet their spirits cannot close: but as they were wont to say in former times, Caius Seius was a good man, but he was a Christian; so now, such are 2good men, but they are too strict, & this enough to keep a perpetual breach between them.
HEnce wee see the Reason why the men of the world, and the godly can never agree; they are men of another spirit. Where there is difference of spirits, there can be no agreement. Water and oile cannot mingle; no agreement betweene light and darknesse: they looke at them, as men, whose lives are after another fashion. That Apocryphall Authour in that book of Wisdome, hath an excellent expression to this purpose, Chap. 2. 12. he brings in wicked men saying of the godly, He is cleane contrary to our doings, he is grievous unto us to behold; his life is not like other mens, his wayes are of another fashion; wee are esteemed of him, as counterfeits; he abstaineth from our wayes, as from filthinesse; he commendeth greatly the latter end of ⟨p. 115⟩the just, Verse 19. Let us examine him with rebukes and torments, &c. Let the relation, and the ingagements be what they will, yet so long as of different spirits, they cannot close. What a differēt spirit was there betweene Iacob and Esau, who lay in the same wombe at the same time 〈…〉 There may be outward peace fo〈…〉 while betweene Gods people, and some wicked men; but inward closing of spirit there can never bee: The spirit that is in you, the world cannot receive, sayes our Saviour, Iohn 14. 17. Antipathies are irreconcileable; no arguments, no meanes ever used can cause an accord, except there be a change in nature. Nothing in the world puts mens spirits in such a distance, as Grace when that comes; and therefore where the most eminent grace, there the greatest disagreement betweene them and wicked men. How many wicked men cannot but be convinced of some godly who live with them, that they are better than themselves, that they ⟨p. 116⟩are conscientious men, whose Principles 1are truly godly, and that they walke close to them? they are not able to charge them with any ill carriage towards them; they seeke to doe them all the good they can, and yet their spirits cannot close: but as they were wont to say in former times, Caius Seius was a good man, but hee was a Christian; so now, such are 2good men, but they are too strict, & this enough to keepe a perpetuall breach betweene them.
- 1Cap. 5.
- 2Caius Seius ho•us vir, sed Christianus.
