The Rage of the Present Day

If we would be revived in piety, we must resist by faith the

encroaching influence of the WORLD, and the engrossing

power of seen and temporal things. The address to the

church of Laodicea would lead one to suppose that it was

a place of trade--and that trade had produced riches--and

riches had produced . . .

pride,

worldly-mindedness,

love of ease,

indifference to divine things,

and spiritual poverty.

Most people in our country appear inordinately intent upon

gaining the world. To be rich, or at least to be comfortable,

to be reputable, to be stylish, to be fashionable, to live in

larger houses, and to have finer furniture and more earthly

things than others--seems to be the supreme concern of

most! They must, whether they can afford it or not, vie

with their neighbors in all their habits. This seems to be

the rage of the present day--and the church of God is,

in a measure, carried away by the delusion.

Many seem almost without knowing it, to be possessed by

a grasping at things beyond their reach, and an ambitious

aspiring at some undefinable point of worldly elevation. All

their time, all their attention, is absorbed--and all the vigor

of their spirits is exhausted--in this panting race after

the world's possessions and comforts!

It is evident that . . .

until this disposition be more subdued than it is,

until our moderation be more known to all men,

until we have lowered our estimate of the importance of wealth,

until we have ceased thus to mind earthly things,

until we have gained a greater victory over the world, or

are anxious to gain it--our piety cannot be revived. It is

like seed growing amidst thorns--and though a fertile

shower and a warmer sun should cause it to spring afresh

during a more than ordinarily genial season--yet it is still

among thorns, which will be sure to choke the grain!

I am afraid that we have not . . .

that simplicity of taste,

that contentment,

that moral courage to be indifferent to the world's opinions,

that sobriety of mind,

that comparative unconcernedness about finery and splendor

--which are necessary to prepare us for a high state of piety.

Let us, then, consider this matter. Let us attend to the

apostolic admonition, "Be not conformed to this world

--but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

The spirit of the world, and the spirit of piety, cannot dwell

together in the same bosom. "You cannot serve God and

Mammon." "If any man loves the world, the love of the

Father is not in him." "Are you seeking great things for

yourself? Seek them not!" "Do not lay up for yourselves

treasures on earth," so much as treasures in heaven.

Remember that "one thing is needful!" "Take heed,

and beware of covetousness, for a man's life does not

consist in the abundance of the things that he has."

But if we will be rich, if we will be anxious about many

things, if we will be full of worldly ambition, and earthly

mindedness and covetousness--then we cannot experience

much revival in piety--and need not add hypocrisy to

lukewarmness! For very little better than a hypocrite,

is the man who prays for the effusions of the Holy Spirit

--and yet will not moderate his extreme concern after

worldly wealth.

We must also put away our worldly-mindedness, our

ambition, our excessive concern to be conformed, as far

as possible, to the showy, expensive, and luxurious habits

of the people of this world. We must restrain our taste for

voluptuous ease, extravagance and self-indulgence. We

must give up our concern to be accounted fashionable.