170 CHRIST'S EXAMPLE OF O learn, that not merely the miser, who hoards up his useless gold, not merely the oppressor, or the extortioner, whose gains are the fruits of cruelty and dishonesty, are in God's sight guilty of covetousness; but the honest tradesman, the moral youth, the amiable girl, who look no further than gratifying themselves with what they possess. According to their Maker's judgment they belong to the same class. Take heed, therefore, and beware of covetousness; of this more common, but not less ruinous, covetousness. § 17. Closely connected with covetousness is love of this world. The sacred Scriptures represent the Saviour's disciples as persons who have little concern with this world; whose chief business here should be to glorify God, and press forward to heaven. Jesus said, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."d How full, how impressive, are those words of the blessed Jesus, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." This world was no objection of his affection. He slighted its wealth, scorned its treasures, disregarding all its fading pursuits, and all its deceitful maxims. It had no charms for him; its terrors could not alarm, nor its allurements entice him. He acted on it as a stranger come to perform an important commission, and then to leave it for ever. Are you one of his disciples? This world is no more to be the object of your affections, than it was of his. He does not leave it with his disciples as a matter of choice, whether to love the world or not. His words are as positive as they are plain: They are not of the world. Nor does he allow them to love it in a smaller degree; for he asserts, that their deadness to the world resembles his. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. It is true, in the world he did not refuse the few comforts it offered him; but, he partook of them like a traveller, who at an inn may be pleased with the accommodations he receives, but who still feels and acts as but a traveller there. If a Christian, such are you on earth. This holy deadness to the present world, is described impressively by the apostle Paul; "God forbid that I should (5) John xvii. 16. (c) Matt. vi. 19, 20. (d) Col. iii. 2. DEADNESS TO THE WORLD. 171 glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world." Such was the influence of the cross of Christ upon his heart, that the world was crucified to him. It was as unlovely as a crucified malefactor in his view. All its charms were dead, all its attractions gone, and darkness, deformity, and death lowered over its face. He was crucified to the world-he looked upon it with feelings similar to those of a person dying on a cross. How little interest would such a one take in the most interesting and affecting scenes of earth! All that is most engaging in nature might be spread around his cross, and busy multitudes be seen eagerly pursuing the concerns of life; but, the crucified man would scarcely cast one glance from his dying eyes, on all the charms of nature or the bustle of life. All that is most charming would not tempt him; all that is most dreadful would not alarm him. If you are a follower of Jesus, you too must be crucified to the world, and the world to you. If a Christian indeed, your treasure and your home lie beyond the grave; and your heart and hopes are fixed on unfading blessings there. The amiable and excellent poet Cowper, referring to the place in which he became acquainted with the gospel of Jesus, wrote:-"The recollection of what passed there, and the consequences that followed it, fill my mind continually; and make the circumstances of a poor, transient, half-spent life so insipid and unaffecting, that I have no heart to think or write much about them. Whether the nation are worshipping Mr. Wilkes or any other idol, is of little moment to one who hopes and believes, that he shall shortly stand in the presence of the great and blessed God. I thank him, that he has given me such a deep-impressed persuasion of this awful truth, as a thousand worlds would not purchase from me. It gives a relish to every blessing, and makes every trouble light." In passing through the world, listen to your Redeemer's voice, bidding you ever look above its delusive scenes. Think you hear him speaking as he once did to Peter, "What is that to thee; follow thou me." 66 If I will that others abound in riches, while thy earthly portion is small, are those thy treasures? is that thy world?-What are those to thee?—I was poor-follow thou me." Perhaps persecution is thy lot, but is the servant greater 172 LOVE TO THE WORLD A RUINOUS SIN. than his Lord? shouldst thou be exalted where I was depressed? shouldst thou be loved in a world that hated me? If I will that the ungodly flourish through their short day, and the righteous mourn, what is that to thee? follow thou me. I was persecuted. I was afflicted." Perhaps you inquire, Is it essential to the Christian character to die to the world? Indeed it is. “To be carnally minded is death."e “If ye live after the flesh ye shall die."f "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." "Love not the world, neither the things of the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world."i "The friendship of the world is enmity with God: whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."k "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in the renewing of your mind." What can be more explicit than these solemn passages! They assure us, that where the world is loved, little as man may suspect the latent enmity, God is actually hated. And this is the case, whatever profession be assumed, or however fair a character be borne. "Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Pursuing the same awful subject, the Scriptures further represent the minding of earthly things, as the last and darkest mark that some false professors of religion bear, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ.m As you would escape eternal death, as you desire eternal life, watch against love to the world. It has been the ruin of millions. Beware of this rock. On it crowds, that once seemed setting out for heaven, have made shipwreck of faith and eternal hopes. The world is Satan's grand temptation. If that bait fail, he has none more alluring to present. The world was the last temptation by which he tried the Son of God: "All these things," said he, “ will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." When that was rejected, he fled; he had no higher bribe to offer. Love to the world is the most fatal of sins. The Scriptures tell of some eminently pious men that fell deeply, but as bitterly repented; but not one child of God is described who was a lover of the world. For this is not merely a single sin, a casual fali, but a state of (e) Rom. viii. 6. John v. 4. (f) Rom. viii. 13. (k) James iii. 4. (g) Gal. vi. 8. (1) Rom. xii. 2. (h) 1 John ii. 15. (m) Phil. iii. 18, 19. MARKS OF LOVE TO THE WORLD. 173 mind, a disposition of heart, connected with all that is opposed to God and goodness. This sin also is peculiarly dangerous, because it is peculiarly insidious. It steals into the heart and governs there, and yet deceives the slave it governs. It kills immortal hopes, it damns the immortal soul, and yet its wretched slave, perhaps, connects himself with a Christian church; professes the religion of Jesus; brings no flagrant disgrace on his profession; yet lives and dies deceived. Were he to become a swearer or a drunkard, his friends would disown him, as dead to God. His crimes would stare him in the face; and conscience at last might take the alarm, and bid him flee from the wrath to come. But the lover of the world feels no such alarm. His disease is more inveterate, more hopeless, than that of the drunkard or swearer, but not so openly flagrant and alarming; it lies deep within. He stands as a member of the church of Christ, or, perhaps, sustains some office in it; or ascends the pulpit, and bids others flee from ruin yet he is himself a child of hell, for he is a lover of the world. O, my fellow-pilgrim, there is no religion in the heart while the world is loved. If any man, let his knowledge of divine truth be ever so extensive, let his profession be ever so strict, his zeal for orthodoxy ever so flaming, his character ever so amiable, and his standing in the Christian church ever so long, yet," If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." All the forms of religion may be assumed, all open sins be renounced, by him, who yet remains a lover of the world. The drunkard may become sober, the lewd grow chaste, the liar true, the pilferer honest, the profane begin to reverence his Maker's name, the sabbathbreaker frequent God's house, and the prayerless learn to pray, and yet this master sin, this treacherous vice, may lie hidden within. And the man, who has undergone the change now described, may be as far from God, and, perhaps, even further, than when he drank in iniquity like water. Then he had some fears that his state was bad; now he thinks that all is right, and yet, because he loves the world, all is wrong. Perhaps you inquire, How shall this secret evil be discerned? The mention of a few marks of it may assist self-examination. Love to the world rules within, if, for the sake of profit, ease, or pleasure, you are kept back from accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord, your Saviour, and your all. Jesus said, 174 THE CHRISTIAN TO ABSTAIN FROM "He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Love to the world governs in your heart, if, through fear of loss, or injury, you persist in what you know to be sinful. If, for instance, there be in your trade or avocation any thing that you know is inconsistent with religion, and yet, to avoid loss, or secure gain, you persist in following this; by so doing you plainly show, that you love the world more than God and your own soul; that you are no Christian. "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."n Common reason may further convince us, that love to the world is to be known by anxiety to acquire worldly good, and unwillingness to part with it. He that saves or toils for wealth, that, with what he acquires, he may feed the hungry, clothe the naked, support the cause of religion, and send the gospel far and wide, shows in his industry no symptoms of love to the world; but he, who pursues the same conduct, saves with the same care, and toils with the same assiduity, not to benefit mankind, but that he may heap up a little more for himself and his family;-he who, though he may contribute his mite to benevolent objects, yet gives a contemptible trifle, compared with what he ought to give, and, perhaps, even that trifle with reluctance; he bears the fatal mark of having this plague upon his soul. His assiduity to get the world, and his care to keep what he acquires, demonstrate him a perishing lover of the world. § 18. This little volume would far exceed its designed limits, if as much notice were bestowed on every sin as has been on those just mentioned. Permit the writer however to add, If you would mortify sin, flee from the occasions of sin. Be not bold in venturing into scenes of temptation. "Depart from evil, and do good." ." If you love the Lord, "hate evil." "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." Multitudes, confiding in their own strength, have gone into scenes of temptation; the consequence has been their present, and probably their eternal, destruction You are taught to pray, "Lead us not into temptation." " (n) Luke xiv. 33. (0) Ps. xxxiv. 14. (p) Ps. xcvii. 10. (r) Matt. vi. 13. |