Be not conformed to this world. Romans 12:2. And love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God, abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17.
Reader! whose will dost thou do? examine thyself. Perhaps thou thinkest, that to love the world and do her will, cannot be so great a sin, since the most honest people do the same. But observe, as thou wouldst be saved, that if thou lovest the world, the love of the Father is not in thee, Without the love of the Father, thou hast no faith; and being destitute of faith, thou hast no Christ, and consequently no life and salvation.
I send the things of earth away,
Ye tempters of the mind.
False as the smooth deceitful sea,
And empty as the whistling wind.
Your streams were floating me along
Down to the gulf of black despair,
And whilst I listened to your song
Your streams had even conveyed me there.
Now to the shining realms above,
I stretch my hands, and glance my eyes;
O for the pinions of a dove,
To bear me to the upper skies.
Lord, I adore thy matchless grace,
That warned me of that dark abyss.
That drew me from those treacherous seas.,
And bid me seek superior bliss.