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PLEASURES!
(edited from Thomas Reade's, "The Thorns in the Parable")
"The thorny ground represents those who hear
and accept the message, but all too quickly the
message is crowded out by the cares and riches
and pleasures of this life. And so they never
grow into maturity." Luke 8:14
Few Christians seem to consider that even
lawful pleasures, when too eagerly pursued,
become sources of pain, by secretly alienating
the heart from God.
Hence we have need to guard against giving
too much of our mind and time to those pursuits
which may insensibly draw us off from private
devotion and the daily duties of social life.
Lawful things are not always beneficial; and, if
abused or used to excess, they become injurious.
Society is pleasant; yet it becomes a snare, if it
leads us from our secret chamber by its incessant
attractions, and thus make us strangers to God
and our own hearts.
We are everywhere surrounded with danger.
Each pleasure has its poison, and each sweet its snare.
And yet, how fleeting!
Worldly delights resemble the rose, which
droops almost as soon as gathered.
Oh! then, let us be upon our guard, against
delusive pleasures, which, by their smiling face
and winning form, would steal away our hearts,
and rob us of eternal glory.
Worldly pleasures, like Solomon's many wives,
entice the soul to idolatrous attachments and
departure from God.
How insipid are the boasted pleasures of the
world, when compared with the soul reviving
delights, which a God of mercy has provided
for the enjoyment of Christian pilgrims!
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