A30241:1327
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 51: Of the great Danger of Gods Peoples being in the world, chiefly from its tempting and s…
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.
3. There is the pride of life, and that is all those things that draw out ambition, pride, and desire of great things in this world; To have power, greatness, and preheminency above others, this is the middle age sin, so that the Apostle doth lay down three main capital Springs of all the evil in the world, and makes them like three predicaments, to which all other things may be reduced: Now do but consider what a Sympathy and fitness there is between these Objects and mans corrupt heart, and it must needs be that every man will inevitably sink in these Waters unless Grace do keep him up.
3. There is the pride of life, and that is all those things that draw out ambition, pride, and desire of great things in this world; To have power, greatnesse, and preheminency above others, this is the middle age sinne, so that the Apostle doth lay down three main capitall Springs of all the evil in the world, and makes them like three predicaments, to which all other things may be reduced: Now do but consider what a Sympathy and fitnesse there is between these Objects and mans corrupt heart, and it must needs be that every man will inevitably sink in these Waters unlesse Grace doe keep him up.
1Fifthly, A godly mans danger in this world to sin, is because of the clogging and dulling disposition all things in the world work in respect of heavenly things: The earth is the most heavy Element, and therefore a stone the product thereof falls down speedily; Thus men of the world they are the most senseless, heavy and stupid men about heavenly things that are; They incline with all might to these things below: This is the reason why the Scripture so often saith, a man cannot serve God and the world, Friendship of the one is Enmity to the other; As a stone cannot ascend upwards, Jam. 44. So that though a godly man be never so powerful in grace, yet the world doth cool him, dull him, and indispose him: It causeth dust in his eyes, and lead in his heart, To pray, to hear with worldly thoughts is to swim with a Millstone about a mans neck; Hence