WHEN the Spaniards landed in South America, in the year 1513, they crossed the Isthmus of Panama and rested on the shores of a bay, to which they gave the name of St Michaels. Here they found a considerable quantity of gold, and afforded the ignorant natives no small amusement by the greedy way in which they endeavored to possess themselves of the precious metal.
Observing this unaccountable passion, one of their caciques, or chiefs, informed them that, far away in the sunny south, there lay a land called Peru, where gold was so plentiful that the most common utensils were made of it; but he said that ere they could reach that golden shore they must journey for six long days over a desert waste, and then sail for many miles over a wide expanse of ocean; that they must expect, in other words, difficulties and dangers before their prize could be obtained.
Enough! Such information fired their thirst. What were dangers or difficulties when such a goal awaited them? The end would compensate for all the pains, and they would be able not only to enrich themselves with boundless spoil, but they could report to their mother country, and to the friends left behind them, the proud result of their daring attempt.
The attempt was made. The cacique had not minimized the difficulties of the way, nor had he exaggerated the wealth of the land ahead.
Pizarro and his bold companions succeeded at length in reaching Peru; and, by means more foul than fair, in acquiring the stores of gold already reported to him. He found that report to have been perfectly correct; he acted upon it, and reaped his harvest. And yet we read, and we see abundantly verified, that “the love of money is the root of all evil,” and that “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Tim. 6:99But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9)). Pizarro was killed by his companions! Jay Gould of America said, as he surveyed his sixty millions of dollars, that he was the most miserable devil on earth! Gehazi died a God-stricken leper! Ananias and Sapphira died under His judgment! Judas Iscariot went and hanged himself! The love of money was their besetting sin, and the millstone about their necks! They were assuredly drowned in destruction and perdition. The flow and ebb of that murky deep carried them away, and, left their memory as a beacon to all who would follow in their foolish and hurtful track! Yet mammon is worshipped today more heartily, perhaps, than ever. His shrine commands countless hosts of devotees; and, for his false and fleeting favor, myriads are content to sacrifice name and fame, to risk destruction’s perilous waves, and to launch their little barque on its treacherous waters!
What is gold? A metal! And wherefore is it such a prize? Just because, without a little of it, the wolf of need howls at the door!
Then if, by a little of it, that wolf can be scared away, is more needed? No, not needed, but wanted! and why? Just because pride assumes the place of contentment, and asserts his insatiability. Ah! pride, greedy and discontented pride, did not you lead Eve to steal the forbidden fruit, telling her that she should be as God! and did not you bring about, in some way unknown to us, the fall of Satan? (See 1 Timothy 3:66Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6).)
What will pride not do!
Now gold is a splendid tool in the hand of pride, and this tool, with which “the love of money” is so closely connected, has been a rare instrument of apparent wealth, but of real ruin. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
“Gold that perisheth” is how Scripture speaks of it; and yet the race for that perishing article is as hot, ay, hotter, than ever! The possession of perishable gold is the one consuming passion of the day. Oh, how poor, how ignoble!
And supposing, dear reader, that you could gain the whole world, ―not a Peru, nor an Australia, but all that there is beneath the sun, ―would you be content? Then, further, if the price you paid for this was the loss of your soul, your passing gain would be everlasting loss. Your soul! Yes, “What shall a man give in exchange for it?”
Oh, let me tell you of a city of gold, a city where that metal is so plenteous that the street is paved with it! Gold is so common there that it is trodden under foot! But that is spiritual? Yes, it is. Still it is actual. It means that need of every kind, and care, and want itself, are altogether unknown. “The city has no need.”
True, “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth.” That is certain. This city is absolutely pure; a fit home for God and the Lamb, and a fair dwelling for such as have washed their robes in His blood. That blood removed their defilement, and fitted them for its holy and happy precincts. Have these happy abodes no attraction for you? If Peru, with its perils and death, captivated the greed of Pizarro, shall not this golden city win your heart, my reader? Its gates are opened wide for such as we; and a welcome, warm and kindly, awaits there all who enter by faith in the blood of the Lamb. Enter enter!
Note well, your future forever must be either in that city of gold or without it; and without that city is to be under “eternal judgment.” “Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Rev. 22:1515For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)). What company! “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still.” What an eternity! Oh! render honor to Christ!
J. W. S.