Section II. — Secondly, The lusts of tlie eye, these are quenched by faith ; by the lust of the eye, the apostle means those temptations which are drawn from the world's pelf and treasiu-e, called so, first, because it is the eye that connnits adultery with these things ; as the unclean eye looks upon another man's wife, so the covetous eye looks on another's wealth to lust after it. Secondly, Because that all the good that in a manner is received from them, is but to please the eye, Eccl. v. 11 : ' What good is thei-e to the owners thereof, saving the beholding them with their eyes?' That is, if a man hath but to buy any food and raiment, enough to pay his daily shot of necessary expenses, the sui-jilusage serves only for the eye to play the wanton with ; yet we see how pleasing a morsel they are to a carnal heart. It is rare to find a man that will not stoop, by base and sordid practices, to take up this golden apple. When I consider what sad effects this temptation had on Ahab, who, to gain a spot of ground of a few acres, (that could not add much to a king's revenues,) durst swim to it in the owner's blood ; I wonder not to see men, whose condition is necessitous, nibbling at the hook of temptation, where the bait is a far greater worldly advantage. This is the door that the devil entered into Judas by ; this was the break-neck of Demas's faith, he embraced this present world. Now faith will quench a temptation edged with these. First, Faith persuades the soul of God's fatherly care and providence over it. And where this breast- work is raised, the soul is safe so long as it keeps within its line. Oh ! saith Satan, if thou wouldst but venture on a lie, make bold a little with God in such a command, this wedge of gold is thine, and that advantage ivill accrue to thy estate. Now, faith will teach the soul to reply, I am well provided for already; Satan, I need not thy pension, why should I play the thief for that which, if good, God hath promised to give ? Heb. xiii. 5 : 'Let your conversation be with- out covetousness, and be content with such things as you have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' How canst thou want, Omy sold, that by the promise hast command of God's jJurse ? Let him that is with- out God in the world shift and shei-k by his wits ; do thou live by thy faith. Secondly, Faith teaches the soul, that the creature's comfort and content comes not from abundance, but God's blessing, and to gain the world by a sin, is not the road that leads to God's blessing, Prov. xxviii. 20 : 'A faithful man abounds with blessings ; but he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent.' Shouldst thou, saith faith, heap up the world's goods in an evil way, thou art never the nearer to the content thou expectest; it is hard to steal one's meat, and then crave a blessing on it at God's hands. What thou gettest by sin, Satan cannot give thee quiet possession of, nor discharge those suits which God will certainly commence against thee. Thirdly, Faith advanceth the soxd to higher projects, than to seek the things of this life. It discovers a world beyond the moon ; and there lies faith's merchandise ; leaving the colliers of this world to load themselves with clay and coals, while it trades for grace and glory ; faith fetcheth its riches from afar. Saul did not more willingly leave seeking his father's asses, when he heard of a kingdom, than the believing soul leaves prowl- ing for the earth, now it hears of Christ and heaven, Psa. xxxix. G, 7. Verse 0, we find holy David branding the men of the world for folly, that they troubled themselves so much for nought. ' Surely,' saith he, ' they are dis- quieted in vain : he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them;' and ver. 7, we have him with a holy disdain turning his back upon the world, as not worth his pains ; ' and now. Lord, what wait I for ?' As if he had said. Is this the portion I could be content to set down with, — to set upon a greater heap of riches than my neighbour hath ? 'My hope is in thee, deliver me from all my transgressions,' ver. 8. Every one as they like. Let them that love the world, take the world ; but, Lord, pay not my portion in gold or silver, but in pardon of sin : this I wait for. Abraham, he by faith had so low an esteem of this world's treasure, that he left his own counti'y to live here a stranger, in hope of a better, Heb. xi.
Section III. — Thirdly, The lust of the world, the pride of life. There is an itch of pride in man's heart after the gaudy honours of the world ; and this itch of man's proud flesh, the devil labours to scratch and irritate by suitable prof- fers. And when the temptation without, and lust within meet, then it works to purpose. Balaam loved the wav that led to court, and therefore sj)urs on his
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482 ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH.