It Makes Men So Filthy!

It makes men so filthy!

(Thomas Watson, "The Christian Soldier" 1669)

It is a part of our Christian profession—to fight
under Christ's banner—against the world.

The world is a flattering enemy. It shows its golden
apple. It is given to some—as a snare. Take heed of
being drowned in the world's luscious delights!

It must be a strong brain that can bear heady wine.
He had need have a great deal of wisdom and grace,
who knows how to maintain a great estate. Riches
often send up intoxicating fumes, which make men's
heads giddy with pride. It is hard to climb up the hill
of God—with too many golden weights!

The world shows its two breasts of pleasure and profit
—and many fall asleep with the breast in their mouth!

The world never kisses us—except with an intent
to betray us.

The world is a silken halter.

The world is no friend to grace; it chokes our love
to heavenly things—the earth puts out the fire.

Naturally we love the world. Too many are wedded
to their money—they live together as man and wife.

O let us take heed of being entangled in this pleasing
snare! Many who have escaped the rock of scandalous
sins—yet have sunk in the world's golden quicksands!

The sin is not in using the world—but in loving it.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is
not in him." 1 John 2:15

Believers are called out of the world. "They are not
of the world, even as I am not of it." John 17:16.
They are in the world—but not of it. A true saint is
crucified in his affections, to the world, Galat. 6:14.
He is dead to the honors and pleasures of it. What
delight does a dead man take in pictures or music?

Jesus Christ gave Himself "to redeem us from this
present evil world." Galatians 1:4

Living fish swim against the stream. We must swim
against the world, else we shall be carried down the
stream, and fall into the dead sea of hell!

The world is DECEITFUL. Our Savior calls it, "The
deceitfulness of riches." Matthew 13:22. The world
promises happiness—but gives weariness. It promises
us Rachel—but gives us bleary-eyed Leah! The world
promises to satisfy our desires—but only increases
them. The world gives poisoned pills—but wraps
them in sugar!

The world is POLLUTING. "Religion that God our Father
accepts as pure and faultless is this: . . . to keep oneself
from being polluted by the world." It is called filthy lucre
—because it makes men so filthy!

Men will damn themselves to get the world. Ahab would
have Naboth's vineyard, though he swam to it in blood.

The world is PERISHING. "The world and its desires pass
away." The world is like a flower—which withers while we
are smelling it!