Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

2. We must look off this world in respect of its sinful profits: a look on this keeps off our looking unto Jesus. Whosoever loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him; just so much as the world prevails in us, so much is Gods love abated both in us,¹ and towards us; ye adulterers, and adulteresses (saith James) know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Covetousness in Christians is spiritual adultery; when we have enough in God and Christ, and yet we desire to make up our happiness in the creature, this is plain whoring. Now there are degrees in this spiritual whoredom: as, —

2. We must look off this world in respect of its sinful profits: a look on this keeps off our looking unto Jesus. Whosoever loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him; just so much as the world prevails in us, so much is Gods love abated both in us,¹ and towards us; ye adulterers, and adulteresses (saith James) know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Covetousness in Christians is spiritual adultery; when we have enough in God and Christ, and yet we desire to make up our happiness in the creature, this is plain whoreing. Now there are degrees in this spiritual whoredome: as, —

1. 11 John. 2 15. Jam. 4.4.

1. The minding of this world; ye know there may be adultery in affection, when the body is not defiled; unclean glances are a degree of lust: so the children of God may have some worldly glances, straggling thoughts, when the temptation is strong, the world may be greatened in their esteem and imagination.