The Lust of the Eyes.—1 John 2.
By J. McF.
THIS 'is not of the Father but of the world.' Lust in the Scriptures, signifies eager or inordinate desire. We are taught in the above passage then that an eager desire after those things that gratify the sense of sight, is wrong. This includes every thing in our apparel, furniture, equipage or buildings that is designed merely for the purpose of display. It does not teach, however, that we are not to love the beautiful; for all nature is full of beauties, and the Maker of all has implanted the love of the beautiful in every human breast. But beauty always implies fitness and propriety. The verdure of the earth, the starry sky, the variegated rainbow are beautiful because they afford pleasure to the beholder. If the sight of them produced pain, they would not be beautiful. Nothing that is pernicious in its effects is beautiful. What then is a beautiful dress? Certainly one that is becoming—one that best answers the purpose of a dress. Let the celebrated Plutarch answer: "The proper ornament of a woman is that which becomes her best. This is neither gold, nor pearls, nor scarlet; but those things which are an evident proof of gravity, regularity and modesty." Will a gaudy, expensive dress answer the purpose? By no means. It shows a vain mind; and that is not the design of a dress. It will be very likely to corrupt the heart of the one that wears it—it will surely be a bad example to others—it will consume the funds that might benefit mankind—are these the objects to be had in view in putting on apparel? I write this, beloved readers, to call your attention to one of the great sins of the age. True, you have been already admonished on this subject; but suffer another word of exhortation. The Bible, reason, common sense, the wants and woes of a perishing world, all cry aloud and demand 'modest apparel.' 'The lust of the eyes is of the world.' But Christ's 'kingdom is not of this world,' and all who belong to his kingdom should be like their king. As Christ did not live to make a worldly display, to have a splendid mansion—to live in aristocratic style—to be 'clothed in purple and fine linen,' but to save the lost—to labor and die to raise men to happiness and heaven; so should his followers copy his example, and consider life spent in vain if souls are not blest and saved. Every one knows, however, that there must be a mighty revolution in what is called the church, before it is Christ-like. Will the dear reader of this article ask himself, how much am I wasting, and worse than wasting, to gratify an unholy love of pomp and parade? How many of my fellow beings might be blessed, soul and body, by what I spend in extravagant buildings, furniture and apparel? Do not say friendly reader, that you can afford it. No person can afford to waste God's money, and set a pernicious example before the world. If you are rich and feel independent, give, and continue to give, till your wealth is reduced to such an amount that you will not be able to be extravagant and to spend the Lord's money for mere show. I have been reading in a New York paper that there are two churches in that city that cost about a half a million of dollars. What an example! Who can calculate the immense amount of evil that must result from such a misapplication of funds. O the mighty sins of the churches of this nation! towering toward heaven and calling for divine rebuke. Let us escape the storms of coming wrath by repentance.
J. McF.