Now these afflictions and persecutions, which the world raiseth against us to discourage us in all the duties of a godly life, are manifold, which in their own nature are to flesh and blood bitter and grievous. And first, it pursueth us with professed hatred, maligning all, with all ⟨p. 762⟩spleen and spite, who leave the world, and love God. For though whilst we are of the world, it loveth us, because we are her own, yet when Christ hath chosen us out of the world, and we have given our names unto 1him, professing that we will be his soldiers and servants, then the world, out of that hatred which it beareth to our Lord and Master, will begin, for his sake to hate us. And as they who make themselves friends 2of the world, do, by reason of that enmity which is between them, make themselves thereby the enemies of God: so contrariwise, those that become friends unto God, do hereby make themselves enemies to the world. So David saith, that they who rendered evil for good, were his adversaries, 3because he did follow the thing that was good. And therefore he professeth the like enmity against them, because they were Gods enemies: Do 4not (saith he) I hate them (O Lord) that hate thee? and am I not grieved with those that speak against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies. The which hatred of the world, and malicious enmity against the faithful, is a strong tentation, and great discouragement, especially to those who are of mild, gentle and peaceable dispositions, to hinder their speed in the ways of godliness. Against which, that we may be the better armed, let us first consider, that it is a matter of mere necessity to undergo the worlds hatred, if we would be assured, that we either love God, or that we are beloved of him. For such enmity there is between them, that he who maketh himself a friend to the one, doth necessarily 5become an enemy to the other; and if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. So our Saviour telleth us, that we cannot 6serve God, and Mammon, being Masters of such a contrary disposition, but we shall hate the one, whilst we love the other; or else cleave to the one, and forsake the other. Secondly, let us consider, that there is no great loss of the worlds love, which doth us little good;
Now these afflictions and persecutions, which the world raiseth against vs to discourage vs in all the duties of a godly life, are manifold, which in their owne nature are to flesh and blood bitter and grieuous. And first, it pursueth vs with professed hatred, maligning all, with all ⟨p. 762⟩spleene and spite, who leaue the world, and loue God. For though whilest we are of the world, it loueth vs, because wee are her owne, yet when Christ hath chosen vs out of the world, and we haue giuen our names vnto 1him, professing that wee will be his souldiers and seruants, then the world, out of that hatred which it beareth to our Lord and Master, will begin, for his sake to hate vs. And as they who make themselues friends 2of the world, doe, by reason of that enmity which is betweene them, make themselues thereby the enemies of God: so contrariwise, those that become friends vnto God, doe hereby make themselues enemies to the world. So Dauid saith, that they who rendred euill for good, were his aduersaries, 3because he did follow the thing that was good. And therefore hee professeth the like enmity against them, because they were Gods enemies: Doe 4not (saith he) I hate them (O Lord) that hate thee? and am I not grieued with those that speake against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies. The which hatred of the world, and malicious enmity against the faithfull, is a strong tentation, and great discouragement, especially to those who are of mild, gentle and peaceable dispositions, to hinder their speed in the wayes of godlinesse. Against which, that wee may be the better armed, let vs first consider, that it is a matter of meere necessity to vndergoe the worlds hatred, if we would be assured, that we either loue God, or that we are beloued of him. For such enmity there is betweene them, that he who maketh himselfe a friend to the one, doth necessarily 5become an enemy to the other; and if any man loue the world, the loue of the Father is not in him. So our Sauiour telleth vs, that wee cannot 6serue God, and Mammon, being Masters of such a contrary disposition, but we shall hate the one, whilest we loue the other; or else cleaue to the one, and forsake the other. Secondly, let vs consider, that there is no great losse of the worlds loue, which doth vs little good;
- 1Joh. 15. 9.
- 2Jam. 4. 4.
- 3Psal. 38. 20.
- 4Psal. 139. 21, 22
- 5Jam. 4. 4. 1. Joh. 2. 15.Iam. 4. 4. 1. Ioh. 2. 15.
- 6Math. 6. 24.
