[Earthly things may dazzle us with their glare and glitter: but they are all a lie, a cheat, a shadow, a delusion : there is no substance in them. With whatever confidence we press forward for the attainment of them, the more they disappoint our endeavours : and, when we think we have secured the prize, we no sooner stretch out our hands to lay hold on it, than it eludes our grasp: or, if we apprehend the object of our desires, it proves to us no better than vanity and vexation of spirit. But was ever any one deceived in apprehending the realities of the eternal world ? Did ever any one who sought them by faith, fail in the pursuit of them, or find them, when attained, below his expectation? No truly: it is justly said by the Lord Jesus Christ under the character of wisdom, " I cause them that love me to inherit substance^:" and every pro- mise that makes over these things to the believing soul, is as immutable as God himself.]
3. More excellent in its operations —
[The tendency of visible things is to sensualize and debase the soul : but the effect of heavenly things is to purify and exalt it. The more we contemplate the Divine Being, the more shall we be transformed into his blessed image. The more we exercise faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, the more will grace, and mercy, and peace be multiplied unto us. The more we breathe the atmosphere of heaven, the more shall we be fitted for the everlasting enjoyment of it. *' Every man that has such hopes in him, purifieth himself even as God is pure^:" and the very promises by which he appre- hends them, lead him to " cleanse himself from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God^." Truly "by these he becomes a partaker of the divine natureV' and is progressively " changed into the divine image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of our God^."]
4. More conducive to our true happiness — [What does he possess who has the whole world at his
command ? A mere phantom : and, if he look for any solid happiness from it, he will find, that he has only " filled his belly with the east wind." But who can describe the happi- ness of him, who, by faith, has already in his soul " the sub- stance of things hoped for, as well as the evidence of things not seen'?" Who can declare the blessedness of him, who has God for his Father, Christ for his Saviour, the Holy Spirit for his Comforter, and heaven for his home ? This man
f Prov. viii. 17. ^ 1 John iii. 3. '> 2 Cor. vii. 1.
i 2 Pet. i. 4. k 2 Cor. iii. 18. > Heb. xi. 1.