He that is come unto Christ, to whom the world hath ceased to be his treasure, and he hath accepted of God as his happiness and heritage; the moderation of whose affections to things earthly, doth evidence that they are now only his means, not his end: he that can manage his worldly affairs without the prejudice of his soul; that whatever his hand finds to do, hath still an eye to the main; that overcharges not with business, but makes business leave room for duty; that so cares for the oxen and the asses, that he neglects not the souls of his sons or servants; that in all his dealings hath a due respect to truth, righteousness, and mercy; that will be true, though to his own hindrance; that will be poor, rather, than dishonest or unmerciful, whom the whole world cannot hire to lie, or be unrighteous: he that can use the world to its proper end, all for God; he that can want the world’s good things, or suffer the world’s evil things, and can keep his heart, and his way, whether he prosper or suffer; that can deny his flesh when he hath to satisfy it; that can want, and be content; suffer and be patient; that is humble in the height of honour; magnanimous in the depth of danger and difficulty, that keeps in an even equal poise, sober, temperate, serious in all the turns and changes of his life. He that can thus live in the world, and can die out of the world, that is willing to be gone; this is the conqueror, and here is his victory.
Richard Alleine. The World Conquered.
