be a source of very sublime happiness ; of a happiness which he will possess under the most afflictive circumstances, and which will sooth even the pangs of death itself: and this source of enjoyment, instead of being confined to this present life, will be infinitely enlarged, and afford inexhaustible sup- plies of bliss to all eternity.
Say then, brethren, whether this world is worthy of a Chris- tian's affections ? I do not hesitate to say, it is not : for it affords nothing that is capable of satisfying an immortal soul ; and the poor gratifications it docs afford, are all perishing 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 deli- vered on mans 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 conceive 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 be, if we be Christians indeed : for " we cannot serve God and Mammon k:" "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 our efforts, so the very loill and desire to be the friends of the world is itself sufficient to prove and " constitute us enemies of God1." 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 expul- sion of the other.
Again then 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 harbouring both : but as they are in direct and unalterable opposition to each other, we cannot but unite with the Apostle in this salutary admonition, " Love not the world."]
I Col. ii. 22. k Matt. vi. 24.
1 Jam. iv. 4. See the remarkable force of the words in the
Greek.