away. With childlike acquiescence in the divine disposals, he learns in whatsoever state he is, therewith to be content. He labours not to be rich. He finds by experience, that riches cannot confer happiness, or health, or honour. He sees many rich men miserable, and many poor men happy. He blesses God for his daily bread; eats his bread with gladness and singleness of heart; and praises God for his hourly mercies flowing to him through that precious medium of communication between heaven and earth, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has however covetous desires. He covets earnestly the best gifts. He longs and labours to possess these eternal blessings which never cloy, but increase the joy and happiness of the soul by their increased possession. He prays with fervent desire for the grace of faith and love, for humility and purity; for the indwelling of the Spirit; for the presence of the Saviour, for the love of the Father; for a heart filled with all the fulness of God. This is the happy man, whose desires are accomplished. He delights himself in the Lord, and the God of all grace gives him the desires of his heart. The character of his life is, contentment with moderation in earthly things, combined with ardent desires after an increase of spiritual blessings. He is diligent in business as a duty; fervent in Spirit as a blessedness; active in serving the Lord as his highest honour. O! for this contentment, this thirsting after God, this devotedness to his service and glory. He who trusts in riches, is like one who endeavours to repose upon the foam of a tempestuous sea. No sooner does he throw himself upon it, than it separates, and he sinks as lead in the waters. Whilst he who trusteth in the Lord, resembles the man, who securely stationed upon a rock, sees the billows spend their fury at his feet. He views the wild uproar, and smiles at the storm. In this fallen world, where sin has planted sorrows in awful profusion, is it not wonderful, that creatures, liable to continual change, are not solicitous to find a covert from the tempest? They are anxious indeed to obtain rest, but they seek for it where it never can be found-in earthly things. Men are apt to imagine, that if they can only amass a fortune, and reach the hill of prosperity, they shall escape those troubles which overwhelm many who dwell in the vale below. But are not mountains the most exposed to storms? Are they not the most bleak and barren parts of the earth? Whilst the sheltered vallies stand so thick with corn, that in the poetic language of David, "they laugh and sing"? History furnishes abundant proofs, that elevated stations expose men to perpetual dangers, and cause the soul to be barren in those fruits of peace, contentment, and piety, which enrich the heart of the lowly, retired believer. Why then should I envy the great, or labour to be rich? Even if I should happily escape the common snares of wealth, yet death will soon transfer it into other hands, and then what will all my riches profit, if at that solemn period I should be destitute of faith and love? Lord, make me anxious for the true riches. May I daily lay up my treasure in heaven. May my heart be there. Let no idol be seated on the throne of my affections. Do thou reign the sovereign Lord within. O! may all my powers be subject unto thee. May I own no sway but thine. All will then be well. Whether prosperous or afflicted, all things shall work together for my good. The Scriptures point out in the strongest manner CC the danger of riches. Many monuments of wrath are there presented to our view. Achan, Gehazi, Judas, Ananias, and Sapphira, being dead, yet speak with warning voice. The love of money proved their downfal. We all naturally love ease. We have a natural love of rest. Toil and pain are alike irksome to the savage and the sage. Those earthly possessions which promise the greatest portion of enjoyment, are the most coveted after by mankind in general. In civilized countries it may be said, in the expressive language of Solomon: "Money answereth all things." It is able to procure for us those various conveniences, which tend to smooth the path of life. It provides us with food and raiment; with innumerable elegancies and superfluities; with opportunities of extending our researches after knowledge; of visiting distant climes, and treasuring up the labours of the dead. Money can commaand almost every thing, but what is most essential to our happiness; peace of conscience; joy in God; and victory over sin and death. Here then arises the danger of riches. They furnish us with every requisite to earthly pleasure. They give us a commanding influence over our poorer neighbours; and an importance in the circle in which we move. Hence we secretly pant after their increase. They engross the affections; they fill the mind; they captivate the will; they usurp the place of God in the soul. When riches flow into the coffer, trouble is never apprehended; but when they cease to flow, the darkened clouds seem rapidly to threaten the destruction of our earthly joys; the smile then forsakes the worldling's countenance: gloom settles upon his once laughing face; despair seizes on his heart, and death not unfrequently closes the fatal scene. Such a state of mind as this, infallibly proves the love of money to be the predominating passion in the soul. And such a state of mind is incompatible with salvation. Our blessed Lord has declared, in words too plain to be misunderstood: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man -trusting in his riches-to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark x. 25.) St. Paul in like manner, bears his testimony against this sin of our nature: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy." He cautions believers most solemnly against the evil of covetousness, by declaring that "the love of money is the root of all evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." If true believers, we ought again and again to impress upon our hearts this sacred truth: that real happiness consists in having God for our portion; in being satisfied, yea, thankful for the allotments of his providence; in feeling ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers upon earth, hastening along the stream of time to that blessed world, where every trial will be forgotten; or if remembered, will only, by its recollection, enhance our everlasting joy. This state of mind, this holy frame of heart is the work of the Spirit, the fruit of faith. "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus." "Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." O! blessed Saviour! wean my foolish heart from the world. Save me from the love of money which is spiritual idolatry. Raise my affections to high and heavenly things. Be thou in time and through eternity my all in all. Why, O! my soul, should earthly joys How glorious their immortal crowns, With wreaths, which he himself hath won. How vain are all the scenes of earth, O! blissful state of holy joy! Yet, Lord! I look alone to thee; |