soul ; and the poor gratifications it does afford, are all perish- ing even whilst they are in our hands ''.]
2. That a love to it is absolutely incompatible with love to God —
[How solemn is the declaration, " If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ?" This, if de- livered on maris authority, might be deemed uncharitable ; but it is declared on the authority of God himself: and a very little reflection will convince us of the truth of it. Can any man con- ceive that an angel, if sent down from heaven to sojourn here for a time, would set his affections on things below ? no ; we are well assured, that he would have far juster views of earthly vanities, than to set his heart upon them : his taste would be too refined for such gross aliment. He would fulfil the duties that were assigned him, whatever they might be : but his heart would be with God ; with God supremely, and with God alone. Thus then it should be with us : and thus it must he, if we be Christians indeed: for " we cannot serve God and jNIammon':" " the very friendship of the world is enmity with God." As the will or desire to serve the king's enemies, if it were clearly proved, would constitute us traitors to our king and country, even though we had not succeeded in om- efforts, so the very ivill arid desire to be the friends of the world is itself sufficient to prove and " constitute us enemies of God\" As the love of God grows in the soul, the love of the world abates : and, as the love of the world revives, the love of God decays : the two are as opposite to each other as light and darkness : and neither can prevail but by the expulsion of the other.
Here then, again I ask, Is not here abundant reason for the injunction in my text? If the love of God and of the world could exist together, there were some reason for har- bouring both : but as they are in direct and unalterable oppo- sition to each other, we cannot but unite with the Apostle in this salutary admonition, " Love not the world."]
Whilst, however, I cordially unite in this sentiment, I would add,
1. Be careful in passing judgment upon others — [There is scarcely any subject on which men are so prone to exercise a censorious disposition as this. They are ready to make their own habits, or at all events their own views, a standard for others : and the more strict any persons are in relation to themselves, the more apt they are to pass an un- charitable
•• Col. ii. 22. ' Matt. vi. 2 k
* Jam. iv. 4'. See the remarkable force of the expression ia the Greek.