Ralph Erskine (Non-Conformity to the World enjoined), Sermons 1:404-405:
They must not be conformed to the world because they are partakers of another spirit than the world: “They have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God.” The world is led by an ill spirit to the land of darkness; whereas they are led by the good spirit to the land of uprightness. – The world is led by a poor, pitiful, low, and mean spirit, whereby they are easily put off with trifles and satisfied with shadows and vanities; but the godly are led by a noble, high, and heavenly spirit, whereby they aspire after divine and celestial things. – The world is led by a blind, ignorant, foolish spirit, whereby they are mad upon their idols; the children of God are led by a spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, whereby they are wise unto salvation. And thus the circumstances of the people of God yield all the reason in the world why they ought not to be conformed to this world.
They must not be conformed to the world because they are partakers of another spirit than the world: “They have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God.” The world is led by an ill spirit to the land of darkness; whereas they are led by the good spirit to the land of uprightness. – The world is led by a poor, pitiful, low, and mean spirit, whereby they are easily put off with trifles and satisfied with shadows and vanities; but the godly are led by a noble, high, and heavenly spirit, whereby they aspire after divine and celestial things. – The world is led by a blind, ignorant, foolish spirit, whereby they are mad upon their idols; the children of God are led by a spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, whereby they are wise unto salvation. And thus the circumstances of the people of God yield all the reason in the world why they ought not to be conformed to this world.
