Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

I. There is an Averseness implied in the Expression, Compel them to come in. This will be evident by considering, that the World, the Flesh, and Satan, are Enemies in Combination against the Souls of Men, and raise an Army of Objections against their submitting to the Terms of the Gospel.

1. The World is the general Temptation: the natural World, and the corrupt World, the Things ⟨p. 205⟩and Men of the World hinder our coming to Christ.

1st. The natural World, comprising all the Creatures in it, was originally very good, both in respect of the Things themselves, and their designed Use: for they were beneficial to Man, in order to his serving and enjoying the blessed God. But since his Fall from the State of unstained Nature, they are accidentally evil to him. The Creatures are made subject to Vanity, not ¹willingly: they are perverted from their innocent use, to foment and gratify Mens vicious Appetites. Therefore the Apostle declares, the whole Creation groans and travels in Pain, is in a kind of Agony ready to faint, not for the Labour, but the Indignities they suffer. The Charge that God fastens upon Idolaters, is true against Worldly Men: Ye have taken my Silver, and my Gold, and have carried into your Temples my goodly ⟨p. 206⟩pleasant things. The Riches, the Pleasures, the Greatness and Glory of the World are the Idols of their Heads and Hearts. The Interposition of the Earth darkens their Minds, eclipses their Esteem of the Fruition of God as their only Happiness; the Love of it alienates and estranges their Affections from him, their Trust in it slackens their due Dependence upon him. From hence it is, that the World, which, made by God, was a fair and bright Theatre of his Perfections, to raise the Thoughts and Affections of Men with Delight and Wonder to the blessed Creator, as 'tis managed by Satan, and abused by the Lusts of Men, is the Shadow of Death: such as some Trees cast, that not only intercept the refreshing Light of the Sun, but shed a malignant contagious Influence. Strange Alteration!