y the footstool, that he may
have the throne. True insobriety puts the creature upon the throne, and
worships it. (2) Insobriety or love to the world hinders the love of God,
as much as is added to the one, is taken from the other, 1 John ii. 15. If
the love of the world have one gram weight of allowance more than Christ
speaks of, that is incompatible with the love of the Father. The creature
will suffer a parting of affection, and will be content with a share, like
the harlot and false mother that would be content with the divided child;
but God must have all or none, and will not share with the creature. Ye
may find it by experience when your hearts have been much set upon any
thing in this world, Christ Jesus has not been so pleasant to you, ye have
not so much delight in him. Affection must run in the channel, or it is
but weak, if once ye divide the streams. The love of the world makes the
heart carnal, it is the defilement of the whole soul, and a weight that
easily besets us, that it cannot mount up in a cloud of divine affection
to Jesus. Can the needle go to two contrary points both at once? Can it
move to the north and the south at the same time? Such an opposition is
there between the Father, and the things of the world. If then ye turn
your face on the creature, ye must turn your back upon God. Think not,
Christians, to keep love entire to God, and to set your affections on the
world. Solomon's backsliding had this false principle, he thought to
retain his integrity, and his wisdom should abide with him, though he
would try folly and madness, Eccles. vii. 23. But did he not grow more
foolish? Did he retain his wisdom? Many have come down from their
excellence by this presumption. (3) Insobriety is the world's sin. It is
the sin of the days of your ignorance, when ye walked after the lusts of
the Gentiles, and it is a shame for a child of God to be so. This
duty(509) is opposed to their former walking, verses 3d and 4th. There
should be a great distance between you and the world, that ye may seem men
of diverse countries. Though ye dwell in one city or in one house, ye
ought so to walk as men may think it strange, as it may be, a wonder in
the world. O but few Christians give the worldly men occasion to speak of
them for holiness, few give them any ground for wondering at and mocking
their conversation! Your conversation is so like theirs, that they need
not think any thing in it strange. Is it not a shame, sai