the fountain

present evil World; yea, generally we see, that Universities by University Education (as things have hitherto not be been managed) Youth is made more of the world, of the tuve than they were by Nature, through the High ImMinifiery. provement of their corruptions, by their daily converfe with the Heathens, their vain Philofophers, and filthy and obfcene Poets; and by thefe Heathenish abominable Accomplishments, are they made the more fit Teachers for the World and Worldly People, and become the more fuitable to them, and obtain the greater Aptness and Ability to please them. Wherefore it may be moft truly faid of that Miniftry that flows meerly from the fountain of the Universities, that it is of the World.

And now, when the Teachers are of one Nature and Principle, of one Heart, Mind, and Confent with the Hearers, there muft needs be a Great Agreement between them; for each one approves and loves that which is like himself; and fo the worldly people muft needs cleave to the Teachers that are of the world.

Yea farther, and which is very confiderable, the World can indure and like any Doctrine, though in the Letter never fo Holy and Spiritual, from fuch Teachers as are of one Nature and Spirit with it felf. And He that speaks of the things of Chrift, without the Spirit of Chrift, and by the Spirit of the world, can never, by any fuch Doctrine, be grievous to the world, but rather acceptable: Seeing there is more in the Nature of those Teachers to reconcile the world to them, than in their Doctrine to set the world against them: For the world cannot but agree with thofe Teachers that are of the world, let their Doctrine in the Letter be what it will.

Whereas on the contrary, the faithful are not of the world but of another Seed, Nature, and

Principle,

Principle, which is in direct Enmity to the world; Rand fo they speaking the things of Chrift in the Spirit of Chrift, muft needs be grievous and troublesome to them who have the Spirit of the world; and the Friends of Chrift crucified, cannot but be grievous to the Friends of this world.

i

And this for the firft Ground.

2.

Because they

2. The fecond Ground, why the Worldly People hear the Worldly Teachers, is this. Because they fpeak of the World. For as they are, fo they speak out of the abun out of the abun. peak of the dance of the heart, the mouth fpeaketh; and fo They that are of the World, Speak of the World: and this we may conceive of in three particulars.

World.

World may

ftood in a

carnal fenfe.

1. The Worldly Teachers fpeak of the World, Their Speakthat is, they speak the Spiritual Word of God in ing of the a Carnal and Worldly Senfe; they fpeak of Di- be undervine things, as of Humane things, according to threefold their Natural and Humane Mind, Reafon, Know-sense. ledge, Learning, and Understanding of them. They speak the Spiritual And fo, they give forth Chrift himself, and his word of Kingdom, and all his Things, his Redemption, God in a Reconciliation, Salvation, as alfo Faith, Hope, Love, and all the Graces of the Spirit, and Riches of Chrift, they give forth all these things, in a Carnal Understanding and Notion to the People. And the World can like well enough of Christ, his Kingdom, and Things, in a worldly Senfe; they can bear, or endure Faith and Repentance, and the New Creature, and the New Jerufalem in a Carnal Senfe; while in the true Spiritual Senfe of them, and as they are in themfelves, and according to the mind of Christ, they are the greateft Enemies to them that can be.

Now Believers muft know in this Matter, That whoever fpeaks the things of Gods Spirit, by the Spirit of a Man, or Spiritual Things, in a Humane, Carnal, and Worldly Senfe, is a falfe Pro

phet,

phet, and Teacher of Antichrift. Whoever reading or hearing the Gofpel of God our Saviour, doth understand and frame it after his own Humane Senfe, and doth not fo understand it as the Lord hath spoken it, He is a falfe Prophet, underftanding and fpeaking the Gospel after his own mind, but contrary to Chrifts; and these open their own Hearts to the People, and not Gods.

Now when the People that are of the World, hear the Teachers that are of the World, speaking Spiritual Things in a Carnal and Worldly Senfe, and according to fuch an apprehenfion as they have already in their own Hearts, they do exceedingly cleave to, and embrace fuch Teachers, and their Doctrine.

For fuch Doctrine, man in his Natural Condition can well like of, feeing it leads men only to a change of Outward Works, and to a performance of Outward Worship, which any man by his own natural abilities can perform; and the world can well endure to put on the fairest form of Godlinefs, and the stricteft, fo their Nature inwardly may remain the fame.

And thus the Worldly People comply readily with the Worldly Doctrine of the Worldly Teachers, feeing it is after the Sense and mind of Man.

But on the contrary, Chrift and his Seed, as they are not of the world, fo neither do they fpeak of the world, but being of God, they speak the things of God, according to God; they speak of the things of God by the Spirit of God, and fo according to the Mind of God; they speak of the things of God, in the Wisdom, Righteousness, Truth, Light and Life of God; and thus the World cannot endure the word, nor those that teach it.

2.

2. The Prophets of Antichrift fpeak of the They speak

God to a

world, that is, they turn the word of God into the Spiritu worldly and Carnal Doctrine, for worldly Ad- al Word of vantage fake; they preach the spiritual word of carnal end. God carnally, that they may make it serve their own Turns and Ends. That word of the Gospel, which God hath given only to ferve the fpiritual and eternal welfare of his Church, the worldly Teachers frame and use this, only thereby to serve their own worldly Credit and Reputation, their worldly Profit and Preferment, and their worldly Authority and Dominion.

And thus that word of Faith, which in its own proper Nature and working, calls off all Men from this world, and the Things of it, to the Kingdom and Glory of God; they make this very word to found carnally, that by it they may feek Themfelves, and the Things of this present Life.

But Chrift and his Seed, who are of God, they fpeak of God and not of the world, feeking no worldly thing at all by the word of God, which They teach and hold forth, as is manifeft in the Life of Chrift and his Chriftians,

3.

the word of

3. The Minifters of Antichrift, or worldly Teachers Speak of the world, that is, they turn the word of They turn God into worldly Doctrine, that thereby they God into may avoid the Crofs, which the word of God, worldly DoArine, to ain the Spiritual Senfe of it, would certainly expofe void the them to. But now thefe worldly Teachers, as Cross. they love the world, fo they cannot endure the Cross, that is, reproach, poverty, fhame, fufferings and death for the true word. Wherefore they Preach the Gospel in fuch a fenfe as fhall please the world, but never offend them; as fhall make the world their Friends, but never their Enemies; for they cannot endure to think of, much lefs to fuffer the utmoft Hatred and Perfecution of the World for Chrifts Names fake.

Wherefore

Wherefore I say again, though in Chrift, they will praise his reproach, his fhame, his poverty, his tribulation, his death and crucifying, yet they cannot endure these things in themfelves for his Truths fake; but are most careful and studious to preach the word of God in fuch a worldly Senfe, as fhall never provoke the World against them, to do them the leaft harm; but shall rather incline them to confer upon them (according to their own phrafe) all Countenance and Maintenance. And thus the Worldly Teachers Speak of the World, in this

Sense also.

But Chrift and his Seed who are of God, they fpeak not of the World, but of God, that is, they Speak the Word of God, according to God, never regarding whether the world be pleased or difpleafed therewith. Yea, they speak Gods word, according to Gods mind, though they certainly know that it will procure them all forts of reproaches, and tribulations, and all manner of evil to be fpoken and done against them; in as much as they love God and his word, more than themselves and this world; and fo, they are fo far from declining the Crofs of Chrift, which the right Confellion of the word will bring upon them, that they account it their greatest Glorifying, to have fellowship with Chrift in his Sufferings, and to be made conformable to him in his death; all which things He endured, because he spake Gods word according to Gods mind, and contrary to the mind of the world, and worldly Church.

And thus we fee by Johns Doctrine, who spake by the Spirit, who they are, with whom Antichrift and his falfe Prophets prevail, to wit, the world, and worldly People; as alfo the Grounds why they prevail with them, namely, because they are of the world, and speak of the world.

And now for the Ufe.

The