The First of September.

LOVE NOT THE WORLD --- 1 John 2:15-17

"Be not conformed to this world." --- Romans 12:2.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." --- 1 John 2:15-17.

Reader, whose will dost thou do? Examine thyself. Perhaps thou thinkest to love the world, and to do its will, cannot be a great sin, because many reputed honest men and good Christians do the same. Nay, but for thy soul's sake consider what the Scripture says: If thou lovest the world, the love of the Father is not in thee; and without this love of the Father, thou hast no faith; and, being destitute of faith, thou hast no Christ, and consequently no life and salvation.

Consider further, whether thou dost not love the world above either God or thy own soul? Hast thou not more than a hundred thoughts about the world for one of God or thy own soul? And dost thou not talk a hundred times more about the world than about God or thy soul? And is not thy pusuit continually after the world, to the neglect of God and thy soul? Why, then, the world is thine idol; thou lovest not God, and art murdering thy soul. Alas, what a piteous case thou art in! The Lord have mercy on thee!

I send the joys of earth away;
Away, ye tempters of the mind;
False as the smooth deceitful sea,
And empty as the whistling wind.

Down to the gulf of black despair, And, whilst I listen'd to your song;
He rules me by his well-known laws
Your streams had near convey'd me there.

Lord, I adore thy matchless grace,
That warn'd me of the deep abyss;
That drew me from those treach'rous seas,
And bade me seek superior bliss.

Now to the shining realms above,
I stretched my hands, and glance my eyes;
Oh for the pinions of a dove,
To bear me to the upper skies.

Devotion for September 1