June 24

This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.—1 John 5:4.

VICTORY supposes a fight, and a fight supposes an enemy: the enemy is declared, the world, including the men of the world, and the things in it. This enemy is in combination with the devil and the flesh. He is styled the Prince of this world, that manages the temptation of it for the ruin of souls. He tries his poisons according to the dispositions of men, in hopes of working in them. He presents to some a charming cup, to intoxicate them with the pleasures of sin: he tempts others with things of lustre, with titles of honor and dignity, that dazzle their minds, that they can not give a true and safe judgment of things: he allures others with riches. And as heat is doubled by reflection, so he enforces his temptations, from the prevalency of these motives upon men in all places and times. If these methods are unsuccessful to turn men from God, he tries to make terrible impressions upon the minds of men by afflicting evils, by the rage of the perverse world. Now faith is the victorious principle that defeats all his designs, and overcomes all his strength. In mechanical operations, we judge by the force of the mover, how easily a weight is moved. Thus when eternal realities are by faith put into the scales against temporal vanities, they infinitely outweigh them. The apostle makes a judicious comparison; our light afflictions that are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. He extremely vilifies things present, and magnifies things future. All that is pleasant or painful here is but for a moment, and in true value is infinitely inferior to the good things, and the evil to come. I count, saith the apostle, the afflictions of the present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. And since the impressions of pain are incomparably stronger, and more affecting to human nature than impressions of pleasure; one sharp-pain deadens the sensitive faculties to the most vehement pleasures. We are assured by irresistible evidence, that the happiness of this world is in true value infinitely inferior to the happiness of the next. The most pleasant things here can not satisfy the narrow faculties of sense: The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing; but the favor of God, and the blessed effects of it, pass all understanding, our most comprehensive faculty.

There is more shadow than light in our brightest condition; more gall than honey in our sweetest fruitions. But suppose the appearance of worldly happiness, gilded with specious tinctures, were truly great and goodly, joyful and satisfying, according to the fancies of carnal men, yet the price would extremely fall, by considering they are of no longer continuance than the flight and expiring breath of our present life. The glory of this world is like a flash of lightning in its appearing and vanishing. The longest line of time, from its first rise to its last period, is but a point to eternity. Now that happiness which is fading, is not true happiness in its own nature, nor correspondent to our reasonable desires. For the apprehension of its approaching end, will embitter the relish of the present enjoyment.

But the happiness of the next life is doubly infinite, in the degrees and duration. The least part of that happiness is a perfect freedom from any touch or shadow of evil. Human language has not words worthy or fully significant to describe it. God, who is an infinite good and goodness, communicates himself to the immortal soul, according to its utmost capacity and desires. It seems impossible for men to offer such violence to their understandings, as calmly considering, and in cold blood, to prefer the fashion of this world that passes away, before the perfect and unchangeable happiness in the next world.

"I would not sigh for worldly joy, Or to increase my worldly good; Nor future days nor powers employ To spread a sounding name abroad.

"'Tis to my Saviour I would live,— To Him who for my ransom died; Nor could all worldly honor give Such bliss as crowns me at his side."