Page:Profit and loss, or, The Christian merchant.pdf/16

 clear understanding of much divine truth; he may be zealous for orthodoxy, and stand high in reputation among Christians; but while the world has his heart, he must be ranked among those who are far from God, who are in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.

"The love of money is the root of all evil, which some having coveted after, have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows: and they that will be rich, fell into temptation, and a snare, and divers foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown man in destruction and perdition.” Alas! what an object of pity to-Christians in all ages, is that professor of whom Paul says, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” Suppose Demas to have obtained the object of his love, where was the profit if he lost his own soul?

“There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owner's thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: anti he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so-shall he go: and what profit hath he that, hath laboured for the wind? Eccles. v. 13 —16.