is opposite in them, as ye
could not imagine the good of light, but by some sensible experience of
the evil of darkness. Heat, you could not know the benefit of it, but by
the vexation of cold. Thus he maketh one to commend another, and both to
beautify the world. It is thus in art, contrariety and variety of colours
and lines make up one beauty, diversity of sounds make a sweet harmony.
Now, this is the art and wisdom of God, in the dispensation of his grace
he setteth the misery of some beside the happiness of others, that each of
them may aggravate another, he puts light beside darkness, spirit
fore-against(193) flesh, that so saints may have a double accession to
their admiration at the goodness and grace of God, and to their delight
and complacency in their own happiness, he presents the state of men out
of Christ, that you may wonder how you are translated, and may be so
abundantly satisfied as not to exchange your portion for the greatest
monarchs.

Then, I say, this may provoke us, and persuade us to more suitable
walking. Doth he make such a difference? O do not you unmake it again! Do
not confound all again, by your walking after the course of the world.
Conformity to the world is a confusion of what God hath separated. Has
infinite grace translated you from that kingdom of darkness to light? O
then walk in that light, as children of light! Are you such? Own your
stations, consider your relations, and make yourselves ashamed at the very
thoughts of sin. He points out the deformed and ugly face of the
conversation of the world, that you may fall in love with the beauty or
holiness, as the Lacedemonians were wont to let their children see their
slaves drunk, that the brutish and abominable posture of such in that sin
might imprint in the hearts of their children a detestation of such a
vice. Certainly, the Lord calls you to mind often what you have been, and
what the world about you is, not to engage you to it, but to alienate your
minds from the deformity of sin, and to commend to you the duty of
obedience. You would learn to make this holy use and advantage of all the
wickedness the world lieth into, to behold in it, as in a glass, your own
image and likeness, that when you use to hate or despise others, you may
rather loathe and dislike yourselves, as having that same common nature,
and wonder at the goodness of God that makes such difference where none
was. This were the way to make gain of the most unprofita