And be not conformed to this world
By this world is meant, either the Mosaic dispensation, and
Jewish church state, so called in opposition to (abh Mlwe) , "the world to come", the
Gospel dispensation; in which there were a worldly sanctuary, and
the rites and ceremonies of which are styled the rudiments and
elements of the world; to which believers in the present state
are by no means to conform, there being sacrifices and ordinances
of another nature, it is the will of God they should observe and
attend unto: or else the men of the world are designed, carnal
and unregenerate men, among whom they formerly had their
conversation, from among whom they were chosen, called, and
separated, and who lie and live in wickedness, and therefore
should not be conformed unto them: which is to be understood, not
in a civil sense of conformity to them in garb and apparel,
provided that pride and luxury are guarded against, and decency
and sobriety observed, and the different abilities of persons and
stations in life are attended to; or to any other civil usages
and customs which are not contrary to natural and revealed
religion; but of a conformity in a moral sense to the evil
manners of men, to walk vainly, as other Gentiles do, to go into
the same excess of riot with them; for this is contrary both to
the principle and doctrine of grace, which teach men to deny
ungodliness and worldly lusts: and of a compliance with the men
of the world in a religious sense, by joining with them in acts
of idolatry, superstition, and will worship, and in anything that
is contrary to the order, ordinances, and truths of the Gospel.
But be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind;
which regards not the first work of conversion and renovation;
for in this sense these persons were transformed, metamorphosed,
changed, and renewed already; but the after progress and carrying
on the work of renovation, the renewing of them day by day in the
spirit of their minds; see ( Ephesians
4:23 ) ( 2
Corinthians 4:16 ) ; which believers should be desirous of,
and pray for, and make use of those means which the Spirit of God
owns for this purpose, attending to the spiritual exercises of
religion, as reading, meditation, prayer, conference, the
ministration of the word and ordinances, which is the reverse of
conformity to the world: and the end to be attained hereby is,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect
will of God;
by which is meant not the secret will of God, which cannot be
searched into, proved, and known, till time and facts discover
it: but the revealed will of God, both in the law, as in the
hands of Christ, which contains nothing but what is good; and
which when done in faith, from a principle of love, and to the
glory of God, is acceptable through Christ; and is perfect as a
law of liberty, and rule of walk and conversation; and which is
to be proved and approved of by all the saints, who delight in it
after the inward man: and also that which is contained in the
Gospel; as that all that the Father had given to Christ should be
redeemed by him, that these should be sanctified, and persevere
to the end, and be glorified; all which is the good will of God,
an acceptable saying to sensible sinners, and such a scheme of
salvation as is perfect and complete, and needs nothing to be
added to it; and is, by such who are daily renewed in the spirit
of their minds, more and more proved, tried, discerned, and
approved of, even by all such who have their spiritual senses
exercised to discern things that differ.
