In pursuit of such things, you cannot aim too high ; your eagerness cannot be excessive ; your very selfishness becomes a virtue. Other things that you acquire, are for yourselves and heirs ; these shall be for yourselves alone, and that, for ever and ever.]
2. Those who profess to seek higher and better things —
[Many a Baruch is to be found in the house of God : even the people who are truly beloved of the Lord, may need reproof for being too much cumbered about earthly things b. If then such a character be present, let him consider the text as applied to himself in particular ; Seekest thou great things unto thyself? thou, who professest to be dead to the world ? thou, who pretendest to walk in the steps of Christ ? thou, who boastest that thou hast God for thy portion ? How dishonour- able is such conduct ! O " remember whence thou art fallen ; and repent." Remember what was the root of Demas' apos- tasy0; and know that the same root of bitterness, if nourished in your hearts, will bring forth the same malignant and destruc- tive fruit. The best, the only antidote to this poison is, " the love of Christ shed abroad in your hearts'1." As a sight of the meridian sun unfits our organs of vision for beholding for a time, any inferior objects, so will a sight of Christ efface the beauty of all sublunary things; or, to use the language of inspiration, " by the cross of Christ, the world will soon be crucified unto us, and we unto the world e."]
b John xi. 5. with Luke x. 41, 42. c 2 Tim. iv. 10.
d 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. e Gal. vi. 14.