CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. Not to be of the world is to be Regenerated and born again; To have another Nature then what we come with into the world, another not substantially but qualitatively, whereby we are said 1 Pet. 1.4. to be partakers of the divine Nature, So that though at first made of the dust, yet now we fly up to Heaven, as the vapours though arising out of the Earth, yet ascend up to Heaven, and follow the motions thereof, Joh. 3. and 2 Cor. 5.17. A man must be born again, or from above, and he is made a new Creature, Old things are past away; This is to be above the world, not of the world, and indeed seeing the Soul is not naturally of the world, being created by God, why shouldst thou voluntarily debase it, and make it a Servant to every worldly Object, to love the world, To delight in the world, To be ensnared by the world; Oh pray for this Divine Nature, beg for Regeneration, for till this be done thou art all over earthly, a worm is as good as thou art, Thy Love, thy heart, thy thoughts, thy all is nothing but earth.

3. Not to be of the world is to have an Heavenly Conversation; To live as one whose heart is with Christ already in Heaven; It's not enough to be once regenerated, but the progress of our Lives is to be spent on Heavenly motives and Considerations; As the Fowls of the Heaven, though they light upon the Ground to eat their meat, yet immediately fly up again; Thus it is with the godly, though they take the lawful comforts of this world, yet their hearts are presently off ascending to God; Thus the Apostle Our Conversation is in Heaven, Phil. 3, 20. And because we are risen with Christ, we set our affections upon things above, Col. 3.1, 2. See our Lord Christ, he was not of the world, Did he not manifest it by his conversation, when he made it his meat and drink to do his Fathers Will, when he was always either praying to God or preaching to the people; Oh then do thou endeavour after this life. Though thou art in thy Family, in thy Trade, in thy Calling, yet be not of the world, because the choicest part of thy self is from God, Thou canst say, what are all these to the favour of God? They are good to use but not to enjoy; They are good sauce but not good meat, a good Inn but not a good home.