and all look to present gratifications, without any regard to the future. And what is the state of man, of every man, by nature, whether he be old or young, rich or poor, learned or unlearned ? Is not every one living for himself, and seeking the things of time and sense, rather than those which are apprehended only by faith, and relate altogether to eternity ? I grant that some are prosecuting chiefly intellectual pursuits : but still it is for themselves, and not for God, that they do it : and if I admit that they soar with the eagle, instead of wal- lowing in the mire as swine, I still recur to my text, and say, that, whilst living for themselves, and not for God, they are only as the beasts that perish. A man that is taught of God affects higher things than these. He soars far beyond the sun and all created systems, how many or remote soever they may be : he rises to God himself Contemplating all His glorious perfections, searcliing into all His eternal purposes, admiring all the wonders of redeeming love, and anticipating the fruition of God himself; this is the constant habit of his mind, and the most eager pursuit of his life, from day to day. " Eye has never seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived, the things which fill his soul." None can appreciate the engagements of his soul, till they themselves are born fi'om above, and taught by the Holy Ghost : for " he searcheth the deep things of God," which none but those who are taught of God can know, or conceive, or estimate ''. But to such habits, I say again, the unenlightened man is as great a stranger as the beasts. " He is of the earth earthy," even as the beasts themselves are. And this I say of the wise and learned. What, then, are the generality of men ? St. Jude says of them, that, instead of seeking heavenly things, " they speak e\dl of the things which they know not : but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves*^." And he knows but little of the world, who does not know, that " this witness is true."]
The same resemblance holds good,
III. In his end —
[This perhaps is the point more immediately referred to in my text. " Men's inward thought," he observes, " is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations : they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not ; he is like
the beasts that perish For, when he dieth, he shall
carry nothing away with him : this glory shall not descend after him®." To the same effect Solomon also speaks: " I said in my heart, concerning the estate of the sons of men,
•= 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. ^ Jude, ver. 10. ^ ver. 11, 12, 17.