"Time would not permit me to tell you all the fruits this love of pleasure produces, and all the ways in which it may do you harm. Why should I speak of carousing, partying, drinking, gambling, dancing, and the like? There are few to be found who don't know something of these things by bitter experience. And these are only instances. All things that give a feeling of excitement for the time -- all things that drown thought, and keep the mind in a constant whirl -- all things that please the senses and delight the flesh--these are the sort of things that have mighty power and they owe their power to the love of pleasure. Be on your guard. Do not be like those of whom Paul speaks, “Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4).
Remember what I say: if you would cling to earthly pleasures these are the things which murder souls.
There is no surer way to get a seared conscience and a hard heart towards the things of God, than to give way to the desires of the flesh and mind. It seems like nothing at first, but it has devastating effect in the long run.
Consider what Peter says: “Abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (1 Peter 2:11). They destroy the soul's peace, break down its strength, lead it into captivity, and make it a slave.
Consider what Paul says: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed" (Colossians 3:5). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). Once the body was a perfect home for a soul -- now it is all corrupt and disordered, and needs constant watching. It is a burden to the soul -- not a helper; a hindrance -- not an assistance. It may become a useful servant, but it is always a bad master.
Consider, again, the words of Paul: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" (Romans 13:14). These are the words, the very reading of which gave Augustine a great conviction of heart, causing an immoral young man to be turned into a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
Men, I wish this might be the case with all of you.
Remember, again, if you cling to earthly pleasures, they will all be unsatisfying, empty, and pointless. Like the locusts of the vision in Revelation, they seem to have crowns on their heads: but like the same locusts, you will find they have stings -- real stings -- in their tails. All that glitters is not gold. All that tastes sweet is not good.
All that pleases for a while is not real pleasure.
Go and take your fill of earthly pleasures if you will. You will never find your heart satisfied with them. There will always be a voice within, crying, like the leech in Proverbs 30:15, “Give! Give!" There is an empty place there, which nothing but God can fill. You will find, as King Solomon did by experience, that earthly pleasures are but a meaningless show -- promising contentment but bringing a dissatisfaction of spirit -- gold plated caskets, exquisite to look at on the outside, but full of ashes and corruption within. Write the word “poison" on all earthly pleasures. The most lawful of them must be used in moderation. All of them are soul-destroying if you give them your heart. Pleasure, must first have the guarantee that it is not sinful -- then it is to be enjoyed in moderation.
And I will not shrink from warning all men to remember the seventh commandment; to beware of adultery and sexual immorality, of all impurity of every kind. I fear that we don't very often speak on this part of God's law. But when I see how prophets and Apostles have dealt with this subject, when I observe the open way in which the Reformers of our own Church denounced it, when I see the number of men who walk in the wicked footsteps of Reuben, and Hophni, and Phinehas, and Amnon, I for one cannot, with a good conscience, hold my peace. The world becomes more wicked because of our failure to teach and preach on this commandment. The violation of the seventh commandment is the sin above all others, that, as Hosea says, “takes away the understanding" (Hosea 4:11).
It is the sin that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any other sin that a man can commit.
It is a sin that destroys thousands of men in every age, and has even overthrown a few of the saints of God in the past. Samson and David are fearful proofs. It is the sin that man dares to smile at, and smoothes over using the terms: thrills, love, uncontrollable passions, and natural desires.
But it is the sin that the devil rejoices over, for he is the “unclean spirit;" and it is the sin that God abhors, and declares He “will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
Men, “Flee from sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18) if you love life. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 5:6). Flee from the opportunity of it -- from the company of those who might draw you into it -- from the places where you might be tempted to do it. Resolve, by God’s help, to shun everything which may prove an occasion for sin. It is an excellent saying of good Bishop Hall, “He that would be safe from the acts of evil, must widely avoid the occasions.” Try to keep clear of temptation as far as possible, and this will be one great help to keep clear of sin.
It is not enough that we determine to commit no sin; we must carefully keep at a distance from all approaches to it. By this test we ought to try our ways of spending our time -- the books that we read, the families that we visit, the society into which we go. We must not content ourselves with saying, “There is nothing positively wrong here”; we must go further, and say, “Is there anything here that may prove to me the occasion of sin?”
Read what our Lord says about it in Matthew 5:28, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Be like the holy servant Job: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl" (Job 31:1). Flee from talking about it. It is one of the things that ought not even be hinted about in conversation.
You cannot even touch black grease without getting your hands dirty.
Flee from the thoughts of it; resist them, destroy them, pray against them -- make any sacrifice rather than give way to them. Imagination is the hotbed where this sin is too often hatched. Guard your thoughts, and there will be little fear about your actions. Consider the caution I have been giving. If you forget everything else, do not let this be forgotten.
Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep clear of everything which may prove injurious to your soul. People may say you are too conscientious, too particular, and ask where is the great harm of such and such things?
But don't listen to them.
It is dangerous to play tricks with sharp tools: it is far more dangerous to take liberties with your immortal soul.
He that would be safe must not come near the brink of danger. He must look on his heart as a barrel of gunpowder, and be cautious not to handle one spark of temptation more than he can help.
Think, lastly, of the happiness that will come
to your own soul, if you serve God, happiness as you travel through life, and happiness in the end, when the journey is over.
Believe me, whatever vain notions you may have heard, believe me, there is a reward for the righteous even in this world. Godliness has indeed the promise of this life, as well as of that which is to come. There is a solid peace in feeling that God is your friend. There is a real satisfaction in knowing that however your unworthiness, you are complete in Christ, that you have an enduring portion, that you have chosen that good part which shall not be taken from you.
The path of the worldly man grows darker and darker every year that he lives; the path of the Christian is like a shining light, brighter and brighter to the very end. His sun is just rising when the sun of the worldly is setting forever; his best things are all beginning to blossom and bloom forever, when those of the worldly are all slipping out of his hands, and passing away.
Men, these things are true. Listen to the word of exhortation. Be persuaded. Take up the cross. Follow Christ. Yield yourselves to God."