1. When a man doth magnify, and sets a high price upon §1worldly and carnal excellencies and pleasures; is much taken with outward things, and carried away with them: Or when (though we restrain our selves from the eager pursuit after them, ⟨p. 72⟩yet if) in your eyes and opinions they seem glorious and goodly things, and oh we secretly think the enjoying such a pleasure, the obtaining such an excellency, or such or such a condition of life, accommodated with such and such conveniences and circumstances, would be so great an addition of happiness to us; this argues a green heart, much want of mortification, though truth of grace be there. These Apostles, to whom Christ spake this Parable of the Vine, (and unto them especially) how were they affected, and transported with a trifle? Even that very night that Christ was to be attached, they strive for precedency, and who should be the greatest amongst them▪ Luk. 22. who should be chief of that noble order: And it was such a precedency which they affected, as Noblemen have in Kingdoms, as appears by the following words: they showed themselves but Gentiles in it, (as ver. 25. Christ insinuates) who stand upon their blood and their outward privileges: It was not for nothing Christ tells them in this Parable, they needed purging; but the reason was, they were but children yet, and babes in Christ, now in their minority, and were not weaned from rattles and trifles, Christ was not yet crucified, not they so throughly crucified with him, as they were afterwards: The holy Ghost had not yet come upon them, as fire to burn up their lusts, and to consume this their dross. That other Apostle, Paul, (who says of himself, that he was borne out of time, in comparison to them) had attained to a greater measure, he glorying in this as his highest title, that he was the least of the Apostles. This magnifying of outward things in our conceits and opinions, is indeed but knowing things after the flesh, as the Apostle speaks, 2 Cor. 5. 16. because the flesh doth fascinate and corrupt the judgment, in judging our selves by such things. And this argues exceeding much want of mortification, for it is lust that puts that lustre, and gloss, and varnish upon the things of the world; for the things in themselves are vain, and we have had experience that they are such;
1. When a man doth magnifie, and sets a high price upon §1worldly and carnall excellencies and pleasures; is much taken with outward things, and carryed away with them: Or when (though we restrain our selves from the eager pursuit after them, ⟨p. 72⟩yet if) in your eyes and opinions they seeme glorious and goodly things, and oh we secretly think the enjoying such a pleasure, the obtaining such an excellencie, or such or such a condition of life, accommodated with such and such conveniences and circumstances, would be so great an addition of happinesse to us; this argues a green heart, much want of mortification, though truth of grace be there. These Apostles, to whom Christ spake this Parable of the Vine, (and unto them especially) how were they affected, and transported with a trifle? Even that very night that Christ was to be attached, they strive for precedencie, and who should be the greatest amongst them▪ Luk. 22. who should be chiefe of that noble order: And it was such a precedencie which they affected, as Noblemen have in Kingdomes, as appears by the following words: they shewed themselves but Gentiles in it, (as ver. 25. Christ insinuates) who stand upon their blood and their outward priviledges: It was not for nothing Christ tels them in this Parable, they needed purging; but the reason was, they were but children yet, and babes in Christ, now in their minority, and were not weaned from rattles and trifles, Christ was not yet crucified, not they so throughly crucified with him, as they were afterwards: The holy Ghost had not yet come upon them, as fire to burne up their lusts, and to consume this their drosse. That other Apostle, Paul, (who sayes of himselfe, that he was borne out of time, in comparison to them) had attained to a greater measure, he glorying in this as his highest title, that he was the least of the Apostles. This magnifying of outward things in our conceits and opinions, is indeed but knowing things after the flesh, as the Apostle speaks, 2 Cor. 5. 16. because the flesh doth fascinate and corrupt the judgment, in judging our selves by such things. And this argues exceeding much want of mortification, for it is lust that puts that lustre, and glosse, and varnish upon the things of the world; for the things in themselves are vaine, and we have had experience that they are such;
