his world instead of the world to come. He offers us our
own way, so dear to all of us. He offers us the pleasures of the body,
"let us eat and drink." He offers us self-indulgence in all the lusts
of the flesh. He offers us all the flash and glitter of the world, but
he does not let us see the foulness and rottenness which they cover.
To the man of science he comes, as to Faustus in the legend, and tries
to induce him to set up his knowledge against the All-wise, and to
drive God out of His own fair universe. He does not show him how sad
life must be without the knowledge of God: how miserable death must be
without a Saviour. He comes to the man of business, and shows him
visions of vast wealth. He whispers, "All these things will I give
thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." And that implies false
dealing, sharp practice, trickery, knavery. It implies loss of
self-respect, loss of honour, the reproaches of an ever-accusing
conscience. The tempter comes to the young man or woman, and shows
them all the delights of a life of pleasure. They see the sparkle of
the wine cup, the glitter of the ball room, the pomp and vanities of
this wicked world. But they do not see the other side of the picture.
They do not see the grey, cold morning of sorrow which follows the
night of dissipation and sin. The young woman looks on the tempting
dress, the flash of jewels, the gay company. She does not see the
_price_ she must pay. She cannot see herself disgraced and ruined, and
cast aside like a broken toy. She can hear the music of the revel, but
not the reproaches of a broken-hearted dying mother. The young man
sees only the bright side of the picture, Satan keeps the dark side
hidden. He fancies himself his own master, free from the restraints of
home and parents, walking in his own way, in the lust of the eye, and
the pride of life. Ah! brother, the way seems very charming now--it
will be hard enough one day. The cup of pleasure seems very sweet now,
the dregs thereof will be bitter enough one day: as for the ungodly,
they shall drink them and suck them up. The food which the world
offers seems as honey and the honeycomb now: the day is coming when it
will be as ashes. You will come one day to the husks--the sick room,
the dying bed,--and you will know that you gained this world and lost
the world to come: like the rich man, you will in this life have had
your good things, but _you will have paid the price