A29372:468
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by William Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by Willam Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.
London: printed for Nath. Crouch, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 5: The uncertainty of the world, should take off our Hearts from the Love of it.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. But secondly, though we may make use of the world, we must use the world as though we used it not, not regarding it too much, not setting our affections upon it too much, not spending too much time upon the world, and the things thereof.
For look as wicked men do use the things of God, and of the other world, so a good man should use the things of this world: Why now a wicked man doth use the things of God, as if he used them not, pray, as if he prayed not, and hear, as if he heard not; why, because his mind is upon other things: Why truly so the minds of the Saints are, or should be, upon other things. Set your affections on things that are above: 'Tis a good speech that an Ancient hath, saith he, As good men are, where they yet are not, namely in heaven; so they are not where they now are, namely on earth, for your conversation is in heaven: Though your communication be here on earth, yet your conversation is in heaven; and if heaven be our object, earth will be our abject: Few I confess that live at this rate, to use the world as if ⟨p. 131⟩they used it not: But is there not reason, good reason for it? let's see the reasons: Is there not good reason for it? yes. For
For look as wicked men do use the things of God, and of the other world, so a good man should use the things of this world: Why now a wicked man doth use the things of God, as if he us'd them not, pray, as if he prayed not, and hear, as if he heard not; why, because his mind is upon other things: Why truly so the minds of the Saints are, or should be, upon other things. Set your affections on things that are above: 'Tis a good speech that an Antient hath, saith he, As good men are, where they yet are not, namely in heaven; so they are not where they now are, namely on earth, for your conversation is in heaven: Though your communication be here on earth, yet your conversation is in heaven; and if heaven be our object, earth will be our abject: Few I confess that live at this rate, to use the world as if ⟨p. 131⟩