View source for Riches, honours, and comforts',

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<p>&quot;But we have this <strong>precious treasure</strong> in earthen vessels.&quot;<br />
    2 Cor. 4:7<br />
    <br />
    How different is the estimate that <strong>the Christian </strong>makes <br />
    of <strong>riches, honors, and comforts</strong>—from that made by <br />
    the <strong>world </strong>and the <strong>flesh</strong>! <br />
    <br />
    The world's idea of <strong>riches</strong> are only such as consist in gold <br />
    and silver, in houses, lands, or other tangible property.<br />
    <br />
    The world's estimate of <strong>honors</strong>, are only such as <strong>man <br />
      </strong>has to bestow.<br />
    <br />
    The world's notion of <strong>comfort</strong>, is &quot;fulfilling the <br />
    desires of the flesh and of the mind.&quot; <br />
    <br />
    But the true Christian takes a different estimate <br />
    of these matters, and feels that . . .<br />
    the only true <strong>riches</strong> are those of God's grace in the heart,<br />
    the only real <strong>honor</strong> is that which comes from <strong>God</strong>,<br />
    the only solid <strong>comfort</strong> is that which is imparted by the <br />
    Holy Spirit to a broken and contrite spirit. <br />
    <br />
    Now, just in proportion as we are filled by the Spirit <br />
    of <strong>God</strong>—shall we take faith's estimate of <strong>riches, <br />
      honours, and comforts</strong>. And just so much as we are <br />
    imbued with the spirit of the <strong>world</strong>—shall we take <br />
    the flesh's estimate of these things.<br />
    <br />
    When the eye of the <strong>world </strong>looked on the Apostles, it <br />
    viewed them as a company of poor ignorant men—a set <br />
    of wild enthusiasts, who travelled about the country <br />
    preaching Jesus, who they said, had been crucified, <br />
    and was risen from the dead. The natural eye saw no <br />
    beauty, no power, no glory in the truths they brought <br />
    forth. Nor did it see that the poor perishing bodies of <br />
    these outcast men contained in them <strong>a heavenly <br />
      treasure</strong>—and that they would one day shine as the <br />
    stars forever and ever—while those who despised <br />
    their word would sink into endless woe.<br />
    <br />
    The <strong>spirit of the world</strong> can never understand or love the<br />
    things of eternity—it can only look to, and can only rest <br />
    upon, the poor perishing things of time and sense.
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