Miscellanea spiritualia: or, Devout essaies: composed by the Honourable Walter Montagu Esq.

§. II.

Motives by the property of a Christian to contemn the World.

VVHen we consider our selves under the no∣tion of Members to such a Head, as hath offered up as a Holocaust even the Creator of the whole Universe, it seemeth not strange, but ra∣ther suitable for such Members to Sacrifice the whole World, to hold some proportion unto their Head, espe∣cially since his offering of himself was in order to the enabling us to Sacrifice and destroy this world; Doth not this our Head God and Man Christ Jesus say, That * 1.1 even in his life the judgement of this world was given? it was sentenced to Contempt by his despising it; he that did not disdain to own the Infirmities of Man, did notwith∣standing protest against his being of this world, so much hath * 1.2 he left it vilified to us: And doth not he say, If he were exalted above the earth, be would draw all men unto him? So that in this exaltation is proclaimed our Duty, and ca∣pacity of transcending this world, and treading on it with Contempt, by the attractive Vertue of this our Head, raised above all the Heavens: And we may remember, That the first Members he was pleased to unite unto him upon Earth, were instantly elevated to that height of being above the world, seated in this abnegation and de∣spection.

May I not then fitly say with Saint Paul, These things * 1.3 were done in a figure of us, since what they left to lighten them for this transcendency, is an apposite figure of what we are

to do in order to this elevation, namely, To relinquish our Nets in this world, which we may understand in two sences, that comprise all our directions in this case; to wit, either as we are actively catching and chasing the Commodities of this Age, or as we are passively taken and intangled in the love of what we enjoy: In the first of these states, we may be said to have our Nets in our hand, and in the second to have them in our hearts; so that to leave our Nets, signifieth to relinquish both our solicitous Cupidities and Passions, in point of pursuing the goods of this World, and our Inordinate love in case of their possession: And this disposition of Minde raiseth us to that exaltation above the Earth, whereunto Christians are attracted by their Head; and truly they who will not Sacrifice their Nets, with the Apostles, in this * 1.4 sence, do Sacrifice to their own Nets in the sence of the Prophet, they Worship the World, wherein they are ta∣ken and insnared: Let such Worldings remember what CHRIST saith to them from his elevation above this * 1.5 world, even while he was in it, Whither I go, you can∣not come; And the Reason followeth, You are from be∣neath, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world: And let them reflect on what was said to the relinquishers of their Nets, That they shall sit with the Son of Man in Majesty upon Thrones, judging the world, * 1.6 which in some imperfect measure is fulfilled, even in this Life, by the most Sublimated Contemners of this World, of which God saith by the PROPHET, He will raise them above the altitudes of the Earth; and by the APOSTLE, That they have not received the Spirit of * 1.7 this World, but the Spirit that is of God, that they may know the things that are given them of God.

I have sufficiently delivered my self in this Point, throughout all this Work, not to be misunderstood now at last, in this Sacrificing of our Nets, which I have proposed, since I have often concluded, That

all several Vocations have their respective capacities of Contemning this World, even while they seem the most affected by it: So that this Discourse doth not aim at the frighting any one out of their station in the world, since those who have the most of this world, using it as if they * 1.8 used it not, may do as well in their order, as those who choose to use the least they can of it, for fear of abusing it: For we know the Earth is familiarly, and may be properly compared to a Sea, in this respect, as it is no place of abode, but of passage through it; and in their course there are no Vessels that have not somewhat more or less of them under water, that is, some thoughts and attentions upon this world; and as they are lighter or heavier laden with the Commodities of this Life, they carry the more or less of themselves above water; the less their cogitations are immersed in Temporalities, the higher their mindes pass through this World: But as there are Vessels of several lasts, so it is the property of some to draw more water then others; therefore such cannot be said to be nearer sinking, because they have more of them under water then lighter Barques: Every condition hath his respective Fraight of Application to this World, which may draw some deeper then others into the solicitudes of this Age; but unless we volun∣tarily overcharge our Vocation, every one may pass safely with his proper Weight: But we must remember specially this particular in the Comparison, That as in Ships, the part which saileth them and carrieth them on their course is all above water, so that portion of our Minde, those Thoughts and Intendments that advance and carry us to Heaven, are those which are Spiritual, and elevated above this World; the ballast of our Mor∣tal part, will keep some portions of our Thoughts in all conditions somewhat immersed in the Earth, but the sails of our Immortal portion, must carry on the whole

Man to his Celestial Harbor: I may therefore justly ex∣hort and animate all conditions in the Contempt of this World, in this voyce of the Apostle, You are of God, little children, and have overcome it, because greater is he that is in you, * 1.9 then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is in the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  John 1••. 32.
• * 1.2

  Joh. 8. 24.
• * 1.3

  1 Cor. 10.
• * 1.4

  Habac. 1. 16.
• * 1.5

  Joh. 8. 23.
• * 1.6

  Mat. 19. 29.
• * 1.7

  1 Cor. 2. 12.
• * 1.8

  1 Cor. 7.
• * 1.9

  1 John 4.