unbounded sway. In fact, so completely will it occupy the soul, as to make all its faculties subservient to the acquisition of gain ■ — ]
4. A damning principle —
[I am aware that I speak strongly. But would you have me withhold this awful truth ? Would it not be cruelty to you to conceal this, or to soften it, when an inspired Apostle warns you, that this principle " drowns men in destruction and perdition?" Only let it be remembered, that " covetousness is idolatry d;" and it will be seen at once, that the Apostle's re- presentation is fully justified Millions upon millions,
it is to be feared, are at this very instant bewailing its fatal influence in hell — ]
In confirmation of this, let us,
II. Examine its fruit —
See what it brings forth,
1. In the world at large —
[What falsehood, in every species of commercial dealing ! What injustice, wherever it exists on the side of power ! What cruelty, in enforcing claims, and satisfying its demands ! Who does not cry out against his neighbour on account either of oppression or fraud ? But what shall I say of thefts, and rob- beries, and murders ? Verily, notwithstanding the vigilance of magistrates, and the terror of legal penalties, these things exist to a vast extent. What, then, would the state of the world be, if these restraints were removed ? ]
2. In the religious world in particular —
[Let but " the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches," be suffered to grow up in the soul, and they will soon " choke all the good seed that has been sown in it," and render it unfruitful e. How many, through its malignant in- fluence, have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows ! Unhappy Judas ! What " a pillar of salt" art thou! an everlasting monument of the misery entailed by this fatal principle ! Ananias, thou hadst better prospects : thou appearedst superior to these base feel- ings : but thou hadst not gained the victory : and thou thyself didst fall a victim to this accursed lust. And thou, Demas, thou of whom even St. Paul did entertain so high an opinion as repeatedly to rank thee with the Evangelist St. Luke ; what became of thee at last, through thy love of money ? " Demas hath forsaken us, having loved this present evil world ; and is
d Col. hi. 5. e Matt. xiii. 22.