16. Here some man shall say;
“If the concupiscence of the bad, whereby it comes that they bear
all evils for that which they lust after, be of the world, how is
it said to be of their will?” As if, truly, they were not
themselves also of the world, when they love the world, forsaking
Him by Whom the world was made. For “they serve the
creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever.”2670
Whether
then by the word “
world,” the
Apostle John signifies
lovers of
the
world, the will, as it is of themselves, is therefore of the
world: or whether under the name of the
world he comprises
heaven
and
earth, and all that is therein, that is the creature
universally, it is plain that the will of the creature, not being
that of the Creator, is of the
world. For which cause to such the
Lord saith, “Ye are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of this
world, I am not of this
world.”
2671
And to the
Apostle He saith, “If
ye were of the
world, the
world would
love his own.” But lest
they should arrogate more unto themselves than their measure
craved, and when He said that they were not of the
world, should
imagine this to be of
nature, not of
grace, therefore He saith,
“But because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out
of the
world, therefore the world hateth you.” It follows, that
they once were of the world: for, that they might not be of the
world, they were chosen out of the world.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
