part of it, and dedicate all the rest to business, to pleasure, or perhaps, alas! to sinful indulgence?

The fact, however, is, that this error chiefly arises from not properly understanding our own nature and condition: from setting too great a value upon things present, and thinking too little of the things to come and from considering ourselves as having a permanent abode here upon earth, without reflecting that we are but sojourners in this world, and not abiding in it as our native home. Is it not strange, that men, when they see their fellow-creatures summoned hence, some in the bloom of youth, some in the prime of manhood, and all after a few fleeting years have passed away, should still be so infatuated as to make those few years an object of such vast importance, and think so little of the eternity which they have to provide for? Is it not strange, that while every thing around us reminds us of the speedy termination of our present existence, while every thing within us speaks so loudly of a hereafter, and pro

claims the immortality of our souls, we should still go on pampering and providing for the enjoyment of our corruptible bodies, and take no thought for that part of us which is to live for ever? That we should think only of "what we shall eat, and what we shall drink, and wherewithal we shall be clothed," indulging in fancies worthy only of ignorant and unenlightened heathen, and neglect to seek the kingdom of God, which is our proper, our abiding, and our eternal home? "Here," says St. Paul, "have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come;" a fact which he had previously illustrated by the case of the patriarchs, whose condition was beautifully figurative of our own; who "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they," he proceeds, "that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country. But now they desire a better

4M, att, vi. 31.

5 Heb. xiii. 14.

country, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city." "

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And has not God, my brethren, prepared a city for us also; "a new and heavenly Jerusalem," purchased for us by the blood of Christ? And are we not even now wandering as strangers and pilgrims upon the earth, looking to receive the accomplishment of the sure promises of God, which he has revealed in the gospel of his Son, and which he will one day most certainly fulfil? But those promises are not made to such as set. their affections on the perishable things of this world, and "lay up for themselves treasures upon earth," despising, or at best, disregarding the treasures which are reserved. for the righteous in heaven. "God," says the apostle in the passage just quoted, “was not ashamed to be called the God" of the patriarchs; and why was he not ashamed to be called their God? Why, but because they rested their hopes solely and entirely upon his providence, trusting to him to pro

6 Heb xi. 13, 14, 16.

vide them with all things needful for them; because they set a full value upon their souls, and cared little for their bodily comforts; because they proved their faith by forsaking, at his command, their homes and kindred, giving themselves up willingly and cheerfully to his disposal, knowing that he had laid up in store for them better things hereafter. But he will be ashamed to be called the God of those "whose end," to use the emphatic words of the apostle, "is destruction, whose God is their belly, who glory in their shame, who mind earthly things." He will not be called the God of those who set up for themselves an idol of gold, a mammon of unrighteousness; and bow the knee in mockery to himself, while the pleasures of this world are the real deities of their hearts and affections.

ד

God will not allow of a divided empire in our souls; they must be devoted entirely to him, without any reservation in favour of a darling passion. Wealth, pleasure, ambition, all must yield before the supreme love

7 Phil. iii. 19.

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and duty which we owe to him. And what are wealth, pleasure and ambition, but idle toys; glittering bubbles fit only to make sport for children-bubbles that burst at the moment we would grasp them, or else "make themselves wings, and fly away?" Are these to be compared with the permanent, the inexhaustible treasures that God has prepared for them that serve him? Ought these to rival him in our affections, who is the everlasting fountain of goodness, the never-failing source of mercy and of love?

But there is yet another cause from which proceeds the folly of devoting ourselves to the search after worldly happiness, to the neglect of our spiritual interests: it is this; we forget, that while we are labouring for the meat that perisheth," there is ONE who laboured hard to provide for us "the meat that endureth unto everlasting life." He valued our souls at so great a price, that he left his throne of happiness and glory, came down from heaven, "took

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8 Prov. xxiii. 5.

9 John vi. 27.