If you were to see a man endeavouring all his life to satisfy his thirst by holding up one and the same empty cup to his mouth, you would certainly despise his ignorance, but if you should see others of brighter parts, and finer understandings, ridiculing the dull satisfactions of one cup, and thinking to satisfy their own thirst by a variety of gilt or golden empty cups, would you think these were even wiser or happier, or better employed for their finer parts?

Now this is all the difference that you can see in the happiness of this life. The dull and heavy soul may be content with one empty appearance of happiness, and be continually trying to hold one and the same empty cup to his mouth all his life. But then let the wit, the great scholar, the fine genius, the great statesman, the polite gentleman, lay all their heads together, and they can only show you more and various empty apearances of happiness; give them all the world into their hands, let them cut and carve as they please, they can only make a greater variety of empty cups; for, search as deep, and look as far as you will, there is nothing here to be found that is nobler or greater than eating and drinking; than rich dress and human applause; unless you look for it in the wisdom and laws of religion.

Reader, reflect upon the vanity of all orders of life who live without godliness, and see how all the ways of the world are only so many different ways of error, blindness, and mistake, that you may be earnest at the throne of grace to be turned from the creature, and seek for happiness in the Creator.

No peace or lasting rest
Earth's flattering joys impart;
The portion of the beast
Will not content my heart:
The God of spirits only can
Fill up the vast desires of man.