A29372:473
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.
Fourthly, We are so to use the world, and the things thereof, as they are; why now truly there is nothing in this world that is either good or evil morally, but as it is used; prosperity in it self is not good, not morally good; adversity in it self is not evil, 'tis not morally evil; all the things of this world are but indifferent, neither good nor evil in themselves, but as they are used: Thus then, if all the things of this world are but in their own nature indifferent, neither good nor evil, why should not our hearts be carried out indifferently towards them, and so to use them, as if we used them not?
Fourthly, We are so to use the world, and the things thereof, as they are; why now truly there is nothing in this world that is either good or evil morally, but as it is used; prosperity in it self is not good, not morally good; adversity in it self is not evil, 'tis not morally evil; all the things of this world are but indifferent, neither good nor evil in themselves, but as they are used: Thus then, if all the things of this world are but in their own nature indifferent, neither good nor evil, why should not our hearts be carried out indifferently towards them, and so to use them, as if we us'd them not?
All the things of this world, they are but to serve a turn, they are not to be enjoyed for themselves, ⟨p. 133⟩only for to serve a turn; there is nothing that you have to deal withal, but is merely for to serve a turn; Clothes are but to serve a turn, to cover nakedness; good meat and drink is but to serve a turn, to serve our hunger, and our thirst; money, and houses, and lands, are all but to serve a turn, only God is to be enjoyed; God is not for to serve a turn, but all the things of this world, they are only for to serve a particular turn: The Schoolmen therefore have a handsome speech of a worldly man, they describe him, He doth enjoy what he should use, and he doth use what he should enjoy: God is to be enjoyed, and he uses him; the world is to be used, and he enjoys that: but 'tis God alone that is to be enjoyed for himself; all things here are but to serve a turn, and therefore why should we not use the world as if we used it not.