Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices

The second Remedy against this device¹ of Satan, is, to dwell upon the vanity of them, as well as upon the impotency of all worldly good. This is the sum of Solomons sermon; Vanity of vanity, and all is vanity. This² our first parents found, and therefore named their second Abel, or vanity. Solomon that had tried these things, and could best tell the vanity of them, he preacheth this sermon over, again, and again; Vanity of vanity, and all is vanity. 'Tis sad to think, how many thousands there be, that can say with the ⟨p. 128⟩preacher, vanity of vanity, all is vanity, ³nay, swear it, and yet follow after these things, as if there were no other glory, nor felicity; but what's to be found in those things, they call vanity. Such men will sell Christ, Heaven, and their souls for a trifle, that call these things vanity, but do not cordially believe them to be vanity, but set their hearts upon them, as if they were their Crown, the top of all their Royalty, and glory. Oh! let your souls dwell upon the vanity of all things here below, till your hearts be so thoroughly convinced, and persuaded of the vanity of them, as to trample upon them, and make them a a foot-stool for Christ to get np, and ride in a holy triumph in your hearts.⁴ Chrysostom said once, that if he were the fittest in the world, to preach a Sermon to the whole world, gathered together in one Congregation, and had some high Mountain for his Pulpit, from whence he might have a prospect of all the world in his view, and were furnished with a voice of brass, a voice as loud as the Trumpet of the Arch-Angel, that all the world might hear him, he would choose to preach upon no other text, then that in the Psaln•es, O mortal men how long will ⟨p. 129⟩ye love vanity, and follow after leasing. ⁵Tell me, you that say all things under the Sun is vanity, if you do really believe what you say, why do you spend more though, and time on the world, then you do on Christ, Heaven, and your immortal souls? Why do you then neglect your duty towards God, to get the world? Why do you then so eagerly pursue after the world? and are so cold in your pursuing after God, Christ, and holiness? Why then are your hearts so exceedingly raised, when the world comes in, and smiles upon you, and so much dejected, and cast down, when the world frowns upon you, and with Jonah's Gourd withers before you?