EARTHLY PLEASURES

This is a smiling, dazzling idol that has ten thousand worshippers — lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Christian, what have you any more to do with this idol? Sometimes it is a gross idol. The theatre is one of its temples — there it sits enthroned. The tavern is another, where its reeling, staggering volaries sing its praise. What have you to do with these? Have you the love of God in your soul — the Spirit of God in you? How dare you cross the threshold of a theatre or tavern any more? What! the Spirit of God amid the wanton songs of the theatre or the boisterous merriment of the tavern. Shame on such practical blasphemy! No; leave them, dear friends, to be cages of devils and of every unclean and hateful thing. You must never cross their threshold any more. What shall I say of games — cards, dice, dancing? I will only say this, that if you love them, you have never tasted the joys of the new creature. If you feel the love of God and the Spirit, you will not lightly sin these joys away amid the vain anxieties of cards, or the rattling of senseless dice. What shall I say of simpering tea parties, the pleasures of religious gossiping, and useless calls, without sincerity, meaning or end? I will only say they are the happiest of God’s children who have neither time nor heart for these things. I believe there cannot be much of the Spirit where there is much of these. What shall I say of dress? A young believer, full of faith and joy, was offered a present of flowers for her hair. She would not take them. She was pressed to accept them; still she refused. Why will you not? Oh, she said, how can I wear roses on my brow, when Christ wore thorns on His? The joy of being in Christ is so sweet, that it makes all other joys dull and lifeless. In His right hand are riches and honours; in His left are length of days. His ways are ways of pleasantness. What, then, have I to do any more with idols?

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