Love of the world

So far we bear the image of the devil, and tread in his steps. But at the next step we leave Satan behind; we run into an idolatry of which he is not guilty: I mean, love of the world (1 John 2:15), which is now as natural to every man as to love his own will. What is more natural to us than to seek happiness in the creature, instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25)? To seek that satisfaction in the works of his hands which can be found in God only? What more natural than the desire of the flesh (1 John 2:16)? That is, of the pleasure of sense in every kind? Men indeed talk magnificently of despising these low pleasures, particularly men of learning and education. They affect to sit loose to the gratification of those appetites in which they stand on a level with the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:12). But it is mere affectation. For every man is conscious to himself that in this respect he is by nature a very beast. Sensual appetites, even those of the lowest kind, have, more or less, the dominion over him. They lead him captive; they drag him to and fro, in spite of his boasted reason. The man, with all his good breeding and other accomplishments, has no preeminence over the goat. Indeed, it is much to be doubted whether the beast has not the preeminence over him. Certainly he has, if we may listen to one of their modern oracles, who very decently tells us: