because we shall make it the means of benefiting our fellow- creatures, and of honouring our God. If, on the other hand, we have little of this world, we shall still be happy ; because, in having God for our portion, we can lack nothing. There are but two lessons for the Christian to learn : the one is, to enjoy God in every thing ; the other is, to enjoy every thing in God. The one ennobles the rich ; the other elevates the poor: and all who have learned these lessons are, and must be, happy.
Whilst, therefore, I grant the general position, that the creature is vanity, I must say, that the experience of its vanity, depends altogether on our undue pursuit of it and expec- tations from it. Let us only take it in the manner that God approves, and for the ends for which he has sent it, and we shall still find it, like Jacob's ladder, unsubstantial indeed it itself, but still a medium of communication between heaven and earth ; a medium of God's descent to us, and of our ascent to him,]
But, in our consideration of this testimony, let us further, III. Improve it —
Much, very much, may it teach us. We may learn from it to be,
1. Moderate in our expectations —
[If we will foolishly look for that in the creature which God never designed to be put into it, we may well expect dis- appointment. Even in Paradise it was not intended to stand in the place of God, or to be to us any source of solid satisfaction : how much less, then, can it be so, when sin has infused a curse into it ; agreeably to what is written, " Cursed is the ground for thy sake." Let us estimate it aright, and expect from it no more than God has ordained it to impart ; and we shall prove but little of its emptiness, whilst we have a rich and becoming enjoyment of it. The direction of St. Paul is that which comes innnediately to the point, and exactly suits the present occa- sion : " The time is short. It remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none ; and they that weep, as though they wept not ; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoice not ; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away*^." Only use the creature in this way, and you will find it no injury to your souls.]
2. Patient in our trials —
[Trials of different kinds must come : for " the whole creation has, through the sin of man, become subject to vanity."
d 1 Cor. vii. 29—31.