Wesley Corpus

20. And trust not in them for happiness: For here also they will be found "deceitful upon the weights." Indeed this every reasonable man may infer from what has been observed already. For if neither thousands of gold and silver, nor any of the advantages or pleasures purchased thereby, can prevent our being miserable, it evidently follows they cannot make us happy. What happiness can they afford to him who in the midst of all is constrained to cry out, To my new coutst sad thougth deos still repair, And round my gilded roofs hangs hovering care Indeed experience is here so full, strong, and undeniable, that it makes all other arguments needless. Appeal we therefore to fact. Are the rich and great the only happy men And is each of them more or less happy in proportion to his measure of riches Are they happy at all I had well nigh said, they are of all men most miserable! Rich man, for once, speak the truth from thy heart. Speak, both for thyself, and for thy brethren! Amidst our plenty something still,- To me, to thee, to him is wanting! That cruel something unpossessed Corrodes and leavens all the rest. Yea, and so it will, till thy wearisome days of vanity are shut up in the night of death. Surely then, to trust in riches for happiness is the greatest folly of all that are under the sun! Are you not convinced of this Is it possible you should still expect to find happiness in money or all it can procure What! Can silver and gold, and eating and drinking, and horses and servants, and glittering apparel, and diversions and pleasures (as they are called) make thee happy They can as soon make thee immortal!