34. That there is the greatest vanity in all created excellency

Another singular principle for believers to walk by, is this: That there is the greatest vanity in all created excellency.

If this truth were more believed, this world would be less adored.

A lady being once told that the world in all its glory was but vanity; returned for answer, 'True, I have heard that Solomon said so; but he tried it before he said it, and so will I.' Thus, many believe not a toad to be poisonous, till they are envenomed with it; but they forget that it is not only vanity, but also vexation of spirit; and all who are resolved to try the former, must also feel the latter.

He that knocks at the creature's door for supplies, will find an empty house kept there. 'All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.' Though all the rising streams of worldly profits may run into the hearts of men; yet they cannot fill up the hearts of men.

Reader, did you never bear a rich man complain of the want of riches? Though he has enough to support him, yet he has not enough to content him. Were it possible for the eye to see all that is to be seen, yet it would not be satisfied with seeing. If there be not enough in the world to satisfy the senses of men, how should there be enough in it to satisfy the souls of men?

The earth is not a satisfying substance, but a fleeting shadow. For the fashion of this world passeth away. The most excellent and flourishing appearances in the whole creation are continually hastening to dissolution. We are commanded to use the world, as though we used it not; because while we use the world, it is not. The tide of worldly grandeur, which brings the gallant ship into the haven, may suddenly leave her in the mud. The higher the sun of prosperity approaches on its meridian, the nearer it is to its setting.

O all ye who caress the world, have ye not seen some who have begun their lives in a palace, end them in a prison? The golden chains about their necks have been turned into iron fetters about their feet. The substance of this life is but for the season of this life. All creature felicity will become a prize to mortality.

Ye who feed upon golden dust, must have all your gold turned to dust; and the short summer of your prosperity will usher in the long winter of adversity. Those who now rejoice in the world, will, before it be long, have no world wherein to rejoice. Arise ye, and depart: for this is not your rest, because it is polluted; it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. Heart's-ease is a flower that grows not in the world's garden.

Where does that fish swim, that will not nibble at that hook on which there hangs a golden bait? How many perish for trusting to that which perishes in the using!

Poor worldling, why do you seek for wealth with such incessant anxiety, seeing the greatest misers are laid as naked on their dusty pillow as the poorest beggars? The faster you grasp the world in your hands, the sooner it slides between your fingers.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the world, and lose his own soul? He that bought

P 3 this ware, knew its worth. If the world be gained, it may be lost again: but if the soul be lost at death, it can never be recovered. There is a way to keep a man out of hell, but no way to get a man out of hell. It is as easy for a stone to lodge in the air, as for a man to rest in the earth.

The greatest glory of this world is like a rotten post, which never shows its brightness, but in the dark. How few are there who have resolved to ascend the pinnacle of honour, but what have left a good conscience at the bottom of the ladder! Believers themselves would be surfeited with the world's sweet-meat, if a gracious God were not to call them away from the banquet.

Creature comforts are like the soft morning dews, which, while they water the branches of the tree, leave the roots dry. Why should the professors of Christianity be found eagerly pursuing those trifles, which even heathens have been found flying from? The world is rather a sharp brier to wound us, than a sweet flower to delight us.

As poison works more furiously in wine than in water, so corruptions betray themselves more in a state of plenty than they do in a state of poverty.

Gerhard compares this life to a beautiful nut, which, however fair it may seem, is full of nothing but worms and rottenness. The earth is for a saint's passage; but heaven is prepared for him as his portion. The former is for a believer's use, the latter only is a believer's choice.

Every thing below is too base for the soul's nobility, and too brittle for the soul's stability. Who would set that vessel under the droppings of a cistern, which is able to contain all the waters of the ocean?

A professor boasting of the world, is but like a bladder filled with wind. Those who set out at first like Judas, for the world, may be put off at last like Demas, with the world. 'Son, remember, that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things.' These blossoms will fall off from all such spreading trees, when death comes to shake the boughs.

The world is too frequently got with anxious cares, kept with alarming fears, and lost with rending groans. We see the outside of the great estate, but not the inside of it. We behold the field of corn, but not the tares that are mixed with it. We do not always see the worldling's clouds and dark nights, but his clear day and sunshine. The riches, honours, and pleasures of the world, are like spreading but poisonous trees; and the devil shews us the fair leaves, and offers us the pleasant fruits, but conceals from us their deadly nature.

The world pretends to be a nurse; but those who draw her breasts will find in one the water of vanity, and in the other the wind of vexation. It is counted miraculous to find a diamond in a vein of gold; but it is more miraculous to find a pure and precious Christ in the bosom of an earthly Christian.

When we have the least of creature enjoyments, it is then our duty to bless God for them; when we have most of creature enjoyments, it is then our distinguished privilege not to bless ourselves in them.

The world does us infinitely more hurt by loving it, than it can possibly do us good by having it. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting life. Ah, what a fool is he who would hazard a glorious crown above, for a single crumb below!

By how much the higher the morning larks are in their flight, by so much the sweeter are their notes. The higher a Christian is raised above the things of the earth, the more he is ravished with the joys of heaven. The least portion of grace is preferable to a mountain of gold. One ray of mercy is better than a sun of pleasure. One whisper of love from Christ's voice is worth more than all the symphony of nature. Give me that friend who lives for ever, and that wealth which lasts for ever.—May I make choice of those blessings which come freely, satisfy fully, and continue eternally!

Surely, every man walketh in a vain shew; surely they are disquieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. Every carnal man walks in a vain shew, and yet how vain is he of his shew of vanity!

He is disquieted in vain, and it is only vanity which disquiets him. He labours all his life for the profit of riches, and yet in death his riches will not profit him. He that views an ox grazing in a fat pasture, concludes that he is but preparing for the day of slaughter.

Worldly enjoyments are but like hot waters, which, as some affirm, are soonest congealed in frosty weather. The greatest happiness of the creature, is not to have the creature for his happiness. It is far better not to have the world at all, than to have our all in the world. Who would be like the raven, to feed upon the carrion of this execrated world, while there is a much wholesomer food for doves in the ark?

The world at best is but a looking-glass; there is a face presented by it, but there is no face seated in it. When you have sifted out its finest flour, it turns to bran.

Labour not to be rich. A strange paradox! If it were not for labour, who would be rich? and if it were not for riches, who would labour? But see what follows: Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? While riches are, they are not. They are not what they look like; they have not in them what we look for. But what are they not? They are not durables, but moveables. For riches certainly make themselves wings and fly away, as an eagle towards heaven. The gourd may flourish in the day, but it will wither at night.

The cup that now overflows with wine, may be filled up to the brim with water. When the sun of earthly happiness is in its meridian rays, it may be eclipsed. A man rejoices in health, and an ague shakes him; in honour, and a cloud shadows him; in riches, and a thief robs him; in peace, and a rumour disturbs him; in life, and death disappoints him.

The heavens at first had their dropsy, and then the old world was drowned. The heavens at last shall have their fever, and then the new world shall be burned.

The earth is big in our hopes, but little in our hands. It is like Sodom's apples, beautiful to the eye at a distance; but when they are touched, they crumble into ashes. Riches avail not in the day of wrath. Not in the day of man's wrath, to preserve him from plundering; nor in the day of God's wrath, to keep him from punishment.

Pleasures are but a shield of melting wax, against a sword of power: they can no more keep an evil conscience from tormenting, than a velvet sleeve can keep a broken arm from aching.

Fire, some people say, came down from heaven, therefore restlessly works itself through all combustibles, till it return thither again. He that cometh from above, is above all. Shall those who are so nobly descended, be so ignobly minded?

Do but see how the men of the world toil upon their hands and knees for the things of the world! There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? As if they could find a heaven in the trifles of earth.

That was a hard expression of a hardened worldling, 'Let God but give me enough of the earth, and I will never complain of the want of heaven.' Thus we see the curse of the serpent entailed upon the seed of the serpent. What God pronounces as a malediction, they take as a benediction.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. If a covetous man had been there, O how would he have catched the promise out of the devil's lips, lest he should have gone back from his word!

Some are so enchanted with their golden bags, that they will ride post to hell, if they might but be well paid with golden wedges for their pains. All such covetous Balaams must fall by their own devices.

Covetousness is incompatible with the love of holiness. The excellent of the earth can see no excellency in the earth. This world is no better than a loathsome dunghill; upon which the wealthy stand crowing, and about which the poor are scraping: but if he alone be blessed who lives above the world, then those cannot be blessed who live in conformity to the world.

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