happiness must be short, because Hte itself is coming speedily to a close : but there is not a human being who does not feel the insufficiency of earthly things to make him happy : What then can they contribute to our happiness in that day, when nothing of them shall remain, except the fearful responsibility for having idolized and abused them, and the tremendous judgments of God for having suffered them to alienate our minds from him? But the very exercise of grace is happiness, independent of the reward which it will receive in glory; and the more we abound in good works now, the happier shall we be to all eternity ; for " every one shall receive according to his own labour."]
2. From their uniform influence upon the heart —
[Whatever our treasure be, it will occupy the supreme place in our affections, and engage in its service the noblest powers of our souls. But is such regard due to any earthly thing 1 Does not God claim our heart as his throne, on which he is to reign without a rival? Has he not required us to "love HIM with all our heart, and all our mind, and all our soul, and all our strength ? " If then we make any thing else our treasure, we rob him of his honour, and cast him down from his throne. And will he not fearfully resent such conduct ? Will he not say, " Bring hither those that were mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me?" Surely this consideration may well instruct us in the path we are to pursue : it proclaims loudly to us, " Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth." If, indeed, God would be contented with a divided heart, we might be less scrupulous about the objects of our pursuit: but as " he is a jealous God," and " will not give his glory to another," it be- comes us to live in this world " as pilgrims and sojourners," and to direct all our efforts towards the attainment of his favour and his inheritance.]
This SUBJECT affords abundant occasion,
1. For reproof —
[Would one not suppose, from the conduct of the world at large, that our Lord's instructions had been the very reverse of what they are ? If he had bidden us lay up treasures on earth, and not in heaven, he had found us a very obedient people. But his command is plain ; and it is at the peril of our souls to disobey it. True it is, that a compliance with it is deemed folly; and an habitual violation of it is accounted wisdom*^ : but " God seeth not as man seeth:" his judgment respecting this is the very reverse of theirs"*: and by that shall our doom be regulated in the eternal world
<= Ps. xlix. T8. ^ Luke xii. 20.