Sweet poisons! – Thomas Brooks
“I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9
Satan presents the world in such a dress, and in such a garb, as to ensnare the soul, and to win the affection of the soul. He represents the world to them in its beauty and finery, which proves a bewitching sight to carnal men. Satan can no sooner cast out his golden bait but we are ready to play with it, and to nibble at it! He can no sooner throw out his golden ball but men are apt to run after it though they lose God and their souls in the pursuit!
Ah! the time, the thoughts, the hearts, the souls which the inordinate love of this wicked world eats up and destroys! Where one thousand are destroyed by the world’s frowns ten thousand are destroyed by the world’s smiles!
The world, siren-like, sings to us then sinks us!
It kisses us then betrays us, like Judas!
It kisses us then stabs us under the rib, like Joab.
The honors, splendor, and all the glory of this world, are but sweet poisons, which will much endanger us, if they do not eternally destroy us. Ah! the multitude of souls that have glutted on these sweet baits, and died forever! Such men will sell Christ, heaven, and their souls for a trifle! “How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?” Psalm 4:2
Ah, how many thousands are there now on earth, who have found this true by experience; who have spun a lovely rope to strangle themselves, both temporally and eternally, by being bewitched by the beauty and finery of this world!
The main reason why men dote upon the world, and damn their souls to get the world, is, because they are not acquainted with a greater glory! Men ate acorns, until they were acquainted with the use of wheat. Ah, did men but taste more of heaven, and live more in heaven, and had more glorious hopes of going to heaven, ah, how easily would they trample the world under their feet!
You joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.” Hebrews 10:34
Let heaven be a man’s object, and earth will soon be his abject. Assurance of more great and glorious things, breed in the soul a holy scorn and contempt of all these poor, base worldly things which the soul before valued above God, Christ and heaven.