The rattles and baubles of
this world
Weak
Christians are usually much concerned and taken up with the poor
base things of this world. They are much in carking and caring
for them, and in pursuing and hunting greedily after them. All
which does clearly evidence--that their graces are very weak,
and their corruptions very strong.
Certainly there is but little of Christ and grace within, where
the heart is so strongly concerned about earthly things. Where
there is such strong love and workings of heart after these poor
things--it shows the soul's enjoyment of God to be but poor and
low. Those who are rich and strong in grace, look upon the world
with a holy scorn and disdain.
The greatest bargain which a soul rich in grace will make with
God for himself is this, "Give me but bread to eat and clothes
to wear--and you shall be my God." So it was with that brave
soul in Genesis 28:21. Jacob desires but bread and clothing.
Mark, he asks bread --not dainties; clothing--not ornaments.
Grown men prefer one piece of gold, above a thousand new
pennies. A soul who is strong in grace, who is high in its
spiritual enjoyments, prefers one good word from God, above all
the dainties of this world. Souls who know by experience what
the bosom of Christ is, what spiritual communion is, what the
glory of heaven is--will not be put off with things which are
mixed, mutable, and momentary. "Lord," he
prays, "Warm my heart with the beams of Your love--and then a
little of these things will suffice."
It is childish to be concerned more with
the rattles and baubles of this world, than with
heavenly riches.
A little of this world will satisfy one who is strong in grace,
much will not satisfy one who is weak in grace, nothing will
satisfy one who is void of grace.
