shall feel that the mass of evil which is comprehended under this
expression, cannot be told out in any one sermon; it is an expression
used in various ways, sometimes meaning one thing, sometimes meaning
another;-but we will endeavour to explain its general principles--and
these we will divide into three heads; first, the tyranny of the
present; secondly, the tyranny of the sensual; and lastly, the spirit
of society.

1. The tyranny of the present.

"Christ," says the Apostle Paul, "hath redeemed us from this present
evil world;" and again, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this,
present world."

Let a stress be laid on the word _present_. Worldliness is the
attractive power of something present, in opposition to something to
come. It is this rule and tyranny of the present that constitutes
Demas a worldly man.

In this respect, worldliness is the spirit of childhood carried on
into manhood. The child lives in the present hour--to-day to him is
everything. The holiday promised at a distant interval is no holiday
at all--it must be either now or never. Natural in the child, and
therefore pardonable, this spirit, when carried on into manhood, is
coarse--is worldliness. The most distinct illustration given us of
this, is the case of Esau. Esau came from the hunting-field worn and
hungry; the only means of procuring the tempting mess of his brother's
pottage was the sacrifice of his father's blessing, which in those
ages carried with it a substantial advantage; but that birthright
could be enjoyed only after _years_--the pottage was _present_, near,