If thou wouldst be faithful to do that work that God hath appointed
thee to do in this world for his name, then labor always to possess
thy heart with a right understanding, both of the things that this
world yieldeth, and of the things that shall be hereafter. I am
confident that most if not all the miscarriages of the saints and
people of God have their rise from deceivable thoughts here. The
things of this world appear to us more, and those that are to come
less, than they are; and hence it is that many are so hot and eager
for things that be in the world, and so cold and heartless for those
that be in heaven. Satan is here a mighty artist, and can show us
all earthly things in a multiplying-glass; but when we look up to
things above, we see them as through sackcloth of hair. But take
thou heed; be not ruled by thy sensual appetite that can only savor
fleshly things, neither be thou ruled by carnal reason which always
darkeneth the things of heaven; but go to the word, and as that
says, so judge thou. That tells thee all things under the sun are
vanity, nay, worse, vexation of spirit; that tells thee the world is
not, even when it doth most appear to be: wilt thou set thine heart
upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings,
and fly away as an eagle towards heaven. The same may be said for
honors, pleasures, and the like; they are poor, low, base things to
be entertained by a Christian's heart. The man that hath most of
them may in the fulness of his sufficiency be in straits; yea, when
he is about to fill his belly with them, God may cast the fury of
his wrath upon him; so is every one that layeth up treasure for
himself on earth, and is not rich towards God. A horse that is laden
with gold and pearls all day, may have a foul stable and a galled
back at night. And "woe to him that increaseth that which is not
his, and that ladeth himself with thick clay." O man of God, throw
this bone to the dogs; suck not at it, there is no marrow there.
"Set thy affections on things that are above, where Christ sitteth
on the right hand of God." Colos. 3:1-4.