“Oh no! for then I should lose you in Vanity Fair,” replied Ernest, looking fondly on his brother, who was daily becoming dearer to his heart.
“Vanity Fair is not at all like what it was when Bunyan wrote,” said Charles. “There is no danger of my being put in prison, or stoned, or burned, because I may not like the ways of the place; so you are not in the least likely to lose me in that manner, and I may be your Faithful and your Hopeful both in one.”
“Is Vanity Fair quite done away with now?” said Ernest to Mr. Ewart.
“No, my boy, and never will be, as long as the three grand tempters of the world, _the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life_, spread their attractive stalls to lure unwary pilgrims.”
“I am afraid that you will think me a very dull pupil,” said Ernest; “but I do not exactly understand who these tempters are of whom you speak.”
“The lust of the flesh is pleasure; the lust of the eye, covetousness; the pride of life is that fatal pride, whether of birth, riches, talent, or beauty, which is often viewed with indulgence by the world, but which is particularly hateful to God.”
“But must all pleasure be sinful?” asked Charles.
“By no means. Some pleasure springs directly from religion. Of heavenly wisdom it is written in God’s Word, _Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace_. And other pleasure may be hallowed by religion; but it must be pleasure that has no connection with _sin_. We may gather life’s flowers, but we must be careful that they are those which have not the trail of the serpent upon them.”
“Is it wrong to enjoy the riches which God gives us?” asked Ernest. “Shall I sin if I look with joy on the noble estate and all the beautiful things which you tell me are mine?”
“God forbid,” replied the clergyman; “hath He not _given us all things richly to enjoy_? But we must _use the world as not abusing it_. There is a test by which we can easily find out if riches are not clogging and delaying us in our heavenward path. We must examine, _first_, if we receive them with gratitude, as coming from God; _secondly_, if we are watchful to spend them to the glory of God; _thirdly_, if we are ready to resign them, in obedience to God.”