10. *And so is _the desire of the eye_, the desire of the pleasures of the imagination. These arise either from great, or beautiful, or uncommon objects: if the two former do not coincide with the latter; for perhaps it would appear upon a diligent enquiry, that neither _grand_ nor _beautiful_ objects please, any longer than they are _new_: that when the novelty of them is over, the greatest part, at least, of the pleasure they give is over; and in the same proportion as they become familiar, they become flat and insipid. But let us experience this ever so often, the same desire will remain still. The inbred thirst continues fixt in the soul: nay the more it is indulged, the more it increases, and incites us to follow after another, and yet another object; altho’ we leave every one with an abortive hope, and a deluded expectation. Yea
“The hoary fool, who many days Has struggled with continued sorrow, Renews his hope, and fondly lays The desperate bet upon to-morrow!
“To-morrow comes! ’Tis noon! ’Tis night! This day like all the former flies: Yet on he goes, to seek delight To-morrow, till to-night he dies!”
11. *A third symptom of this fatal disease the love of the world, which is so deeply rooted in our nature, is _the pride of life_, the desire of praise, of _the honour that cometh of men_. This the greatest admirers of human nature allow to be strictly natural: as natural as the sight or hearing, or any other of the external senses. And are they ashamed of it, even men of letters, men of refined and improved understanding? So far from it, that they glory therein! They applaud themselves for their love of applause! Yea, eminent _Christians_, so called, make no difficulty of adopting the saying of the old, vain Heathen, _Animi dissoluti est & nequam negligere quid de se homines sentiant_: “Not to regard what men think of us, is the mark of a wicked and abandoned mind.” So that to go calm and unmoved _thro’ honour and dishonour_, thro’ _evil report and good report_, is with them a sign of one that is indeed _not fit to live; away with such a fellow from the earth_. But would one imagine, that these men had ever heard of Jesus Christ or his apostles? Or that they knew who it was that said, _How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour which cometh of_ God _only_? But if this be really so, if it be impossible to believe, and consequently to please God, so long as we _receive_ or _seek honour one of another, and seek not the honour which cometh of_ God _only_: then in what a condition are all mankind! The Christians as well as Heathens! Since they all _seek honour one of another_! Since it is as natural for them so to do, themselves being the judges, as it is to see the light which strikes upon their eye, or to hear the sound which enters their ear: yea, since they account it the sign of a virtuous mind, to seek the praise of men; and of a vicious one, to be content with _the honour that cometh of_ God _only_!