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The following is from a series of sermons entitled, The Morning Exercises at Cripplegate. The Morning Exercises began in London at the beginning of the English Civil War (1642-1651). As many of the citizens of London knew someone in the army, the clergyman of the city gathered in the morning to provide a time of exhortation (sermon) for the people and daily prayer for those involved in the conflict. When the fighting was over, these Morning Exercises continued at Cripplegate. Cripplegate was a gate, which still exist, in the London Wall that once enclosed the City of London.
BY THE REV. THEOPHILUS GALE, A. M.,
FELLOW OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD.
WHEREIN THE LOVE OF THE WORLD IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE
LOVE OF GOD.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him-1 John 2:15.
(The following text was taken in abbreviated form from the conclusion of the sermon.)
4. But that which I mostly design as the close of this discourse, is some few words of exhortation and direction unto Christians.
(1.) To labour after a holy contempt (a detachment) of this dirty, soul-polluting world.
...What is there in this world you can call yours? Can you be content to have your heaven made of such base metal as mire and clay? O what a transient thing (passing into and out of existence especially in a short period of time) is all the glory of this perishing world! Consider the argument which our apostle (John) useth in the words following our text-(1 Jn 2:17): And the world-That is, all the splendour, pomp, beauty, pleasures, and grandeur of the world. Passeth away,-As a scene, whereon men acted their parts, and then passed away, as (1 Cor 7:31)...Again : remember, this world is but your prison (place of confinement), and place of pilgrimage (your course of life on earth). And, O how scornful and disdainful is the pilgrim's eye! With how much scorn doth he behold other countries! And ought not Christians, with a more generous disdain, [ to ] cry out? — "Fie (used to express disgust or disapproval), fie ! This dirty world is not like my celestial Canaan! "Alas ! What have we here to rejoice in but 1fetters and chains? How soon doth "the fashion of this world pass away!" (1 Cor. 7:31); that is, the pageant or scene of worldly glory!
(2.)As for you who are rich in this world, consider seriously the exhortation of Paul, (1 Tim. 6:17-19)..."Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; that they do good, that they be rich in good works,"...
(3.)Here is a more particular word for merchants, tradesmen, and all such as are much engaged in the affairs of this world, that they would take diligent heed that the world do not insinuate (introduce something, such as an idea) and wind itself into their hearts.-O, I beseech you, keep your hearts far from...this love-polluting world. Keep your love in heaven while your persons are engaged in the world...Beware that your love do not make its nest in this world, but let it take wing, and rest no where short of heaven, where its treasure is. Follow not the guises (customary way of speaking or behaving) of this soul- polluting world. Let this idol world be nothing to you ; but God be all in all. Take heed that the multiplicity of worldly affairs choke not the sense of God. Remember, your best riches consist in the poverty of your desires...Bring your natural desires into a narrow compass; but let your hearts be enlarged towards God. Feed much on spiritual delights, and that will kill carnal pleasures...
(4.)Lastly let us all be exhorted...As one extreme heat burns-out another ; so let our love to God burn-out our love to (for) the world.
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1-This may be a reference to the Apocrypha book of Ecclesiasticus 6:18, 24-30.
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Source: https://digitalpuritan.net; Sermon III, pgs 664-665.
all definitions came from https://www.merriam-webster.com;
Scriptures from the King James Bible.
