of his kingdom throughout the world ^. He longs to bring down heaven upon earth, that men may be, as nearly as possible, in a paradisiacal state, and in a constant meetness for glory''.
The world knows nothing of such an interest as this: it proposes nothing of the kind : on the contrary, to please and gratify the carnal mind is the one scope of all its plans. In pursuit of this it labours to draw away its votaries from the consideration of heavenly things, and to fix their attention upon the things of time and sense.
What prospect have we then of rendering acceptable service to those whose interests are so widely different ?]
2, Their commands are contrary —
[God commands us to " make our light shine before men :" he tells us " not to be conformed to this world," but to " come out from it," and to be " crucified to it through the cross of Christ;" and not only to " have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to reprove them."
Against all this the world sets its face. It does not approve that we should serve God even in secret : but that we should trouble others with our light, this is insufferable. How peremp- tory it is in its commands respecting this, may be seen in every age, from the time of Cain to this present moment"''.
Now how is it possible that we should render obedience to both these masters? The one says, " Arise, shine:" the other says, " Make the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." It is evident, that, whichever we obey, we must of necessity disobey the other.]
3. Their services are inconsistent —
[This appears in part from what has been already spoken. But the inconsistency is expressly and frequently stated by God himself. " If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ^ :" " the friendship of the world is enmity with God^:" " the minding of earthly things marks us enemies of the cross of Christ^:" " the carnal mind is enmity against God^;" and " we must mortify it, if ever we would live''."
Here the point is determined by God himself: and it is carried further than under the preceding head: for, if we would serve God acceptably, we must not only in some things disobey the commands of the world, but must utterly renounce all kind of allegiance to it. We must even oppose it, and fight against it. To parley with it, is perfidy; to make a truce with it, is treason.]
a Rev. xi. 1.5. b 2 Pet. iii. 13.
<= John vii. 7. 2 Tim. iii. 12. See a specimen, Esth. iii. 8, 9. Acts xvi. 19 — 24. and xvii. 6, 7.
d 1 John ii. 15, 16. ^ Jam. iv. 4. f Eph. iii. 18, 19.
g Rom. viii. 7. ^ Rom. viii. 13.
1323.] THE SERVICES OF GOD AND MAMMON. g29
People standing very differently affected towards the world, we must address,
1. Those who are altogether servants of the world —
[Too many, alas! think not of any thing but the world: they find no pleasure but in its services. Now, we grant that its service is pleasing to flesh and blood : but to whom has it
ever afibrded solid and permanent satisfaction? But
suppose it could satisfy us here, what can it do for us here- after ? If we have served it, we must look to it for our reward. We cannot expect any reward from God, except indeed that which our contempt of him has merited, " indignation and wrath, tribidation and anguish."]
2. Those who are endeavouring to unite the ser- vices of God and Mammon —
[Notwithstanding our Lord has so plainly declared the absurdity of all such attempts, men will not be persuaded to desist from them. They think that they may serve God sufli- ciently to secure his blessing, and yet serve the world in such a manner as to retain its favour. But, in addition to what our Lord has spoken, such persons have also within themselves a demonstration that their wishes are impracticable. What is the state of their minds after mixing with worldly company, and drinking of the cup of worldly pleasures ? Can they go to their God with freedom, and find access to him with confidence? Have they any enlargement of heart in their addresses to him ? Are not their services a mere form — a cold, lifeless ceremony, in which they find no pleasure, and from which they derive no benefit? Is it not manifest that they make no progress in religion ; and that, while their services are divided, the world has their hearts ? Such people's religion answers no other end than to deceive and ruin them for ever : for God is " a jealous God ;" and will despise the offerings of a divided heart.]