Seriously engaged about trifles

(Letters of John Newton)

"This world is fading away, along with everything it craves!" 1 John 2:17

God's own people are so shamefully inconsistent with themselves, and with their acknowledged principles.

In the midst of the hurries and changes of this unsettled state—we glide along swiftly towards an unchangeable world. We shall soon have as little connection with the scenes we are now passing through—as we have with what happened before the Flood! All which appears great and interesting in the present life, abstracted from its influence upon our internal character, and our everlasting destiny—will soon be as unreal as a dream of the night!

This we know and confess. But though our judgments are convinced, it is seldom that our hearts are duly affected by the thought. And while I find it easy to write in this moralizing strain—I feel myself disposed to be seriously engaged about trifles—and trifling in the most serious concerns—as if I believed the very contrary!

"This world and all it contains, is passing away!" 1 Corinthians 7:31