The Whole Duty of Divine Meditation, Part 2 · Meditation 8
MED. VIII. The Vanity of the World.
1 Joh. ii. 15.
Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world.
SET not thy Affections upon the World; for it shall pass away; and all the things that are therein, shall be consumed with fire? 1 Cor. 7. 31. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Love that Felicity which is Eternal, that so thou may'st enjoy it, and live for ever. Every Creature is subject to Vanity: whosoever therefore idolizes the World, shall also become vain himself. Embrace that Good which is true and stable, that thy Heart may be quiet and fixed. VVhy doth mundane, ambitious Honour delight thee? He that seeketh Applause of Men, cannot be Honour'd by the Almighty, Ioh. 5. 44. For he that chaseth after this VVorld's Vanity, must be conformable to it: And the Apostle tells ye, He that pleaseth men, cannot please God, Gal. 1. 10.
II. HE that is Extoll'd yesterday, perhaps, to a high degree, by the Applauses of Men, may be levell'd to morrow by Dis…race. VVhat is mortal Man the better, for gaining a Reputation of a greater value than others, if he is disesteem'd in the sight of God? Our blessed Saviour being sought for to receive a Kingdom, fled from it; but to be ignominiously Crucified, surrendered himself. He that despises not the VVorld, to follow Christ, how will he be qualify'd to lay down his Life for him? Therefore there is no passage to true Happiness, but by contemning the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked and fading World.
III. CHRIST, that blessed Pattern, taught us how we should value the World: For, if He who is Glory it self, rejected Temporal Glory, why should we, to our prejudice, embrace it? What availeth the Praises of Men, if the Voice within accuseth us? Or, what signifies a Bed of Gold, to one in a burning Fever, unless the State or Pomp could abate the Torment? It is only the Testimony of a good Conscience, that admits of any Duration. But why do'st thou chase so much after Riches? He is too covetous, unto whom the Almighty is not sufficient. This Life is the Path to our Eternal Countrey. What doth transitory things profit us: They do but rather overload the Traveller, as too much Burthen doth a Ship.
IV. THE Majesty of Heaven is the Riches of his Servants; then why should'st thou not seek after that which will compleat thy Happiness? Temporal Riches produce Labour and Toil in the getting, Fear in the possessing, and Grief in the losing: and, which is most deplorable, the Labour of the Covetous not only perisheth, but it brings them also to the same Destiny. Lot's Wife, which was turn'd into a Pillar of Salt, yet preaches unto us this Doctrine, Not to look back on the Splendour of the World, but with speed to hasten to our heavenly Countrey. And why do'st thou so eagerly pursue after Pleasures? They are but Vanity, and in the end, Vexation of Spirit.
V. O THEN, let the remembrance of a Crucified Saviour, banish from thee all Pleasures; and let the remembrance of a Fire Unquenchable, extinguish all inordinate Concupiscence. Compare but the short Moments of Pleasure with Eternal Punishments, and thou wilt relinquish one to evade the other. Worldly Pleasures, if really considered, are brutish; and they that are involved in those Allurements, assume the shape of wild Salvages. The Sweetness of Heavens Kingdom pleases not that Appetite which daily feeds upon Husk with Swine. Let us then prepare, with the Patriarch Abraham, and offer up to the Almighty, as an Oblation, this our beloved Son, even our darling Sins which have so long invaded us.
VI. LET us consider, the Way to Eternal Mansions, is not strewed with fragrant Roses, but with Thorns and Thistles. The External Man, indeed, is surrounded with Pleasures; but the Internal must press through many Tribulations. Let the Fear of Omnipotency then, macerate thy Flesh, that the Affections thereof may not delude thee. Retain always in mind the approach of the great Audit, that the perverse Judgment of thy sensual Appetite may no way enslave thee. Be not allured by the flattering Face of the Serpent, but remember the Sting he craftily conceals. Always invoke the Almighty to strengthen thee with his Grace, that at the last thou may'st receive a Crown of Glory.