House of Fools

"The heart of fools is in the house of pleasure."
    Ecclesiastes 7:4

A fool prefers toys and trifles—above things of greatest 
worth. Just so, wicked and ungodly men prefer their lusts 
before the Lord. Upon choice, they prefer the honors, the 
riches and glory of the world—above their own souls and 
the great concerns of eternity.

I have read of the foolish people of Ceylon, who preferred 
a consecrated ape's tooth—above an incredible mass of 
treasure. Such fools are all unholy people, who prefer the 
toys, the trifles of this world—above the pleasures and 
treasures which are at God's right hand. The world is 
full of such fools. 

Says one—"If you behold the lives of men, you will judge 
the whole world to be a house of fools!" Ah, friends! 
What folly can be compared to that of men's spending 
their time, their strength, their lives, their souls—in getting 
the great things of this world, and neglecting that one thing 
necessary—the salvation of their souls! Oh, what vanity is 
it to prefer . . .
  a smoke of honor,
  a blast of fame,
  a dream of pleasure,
  a wedge of gold,
  a Babylonish garment,
  and such like transitory trifles and trash
—before a blessed eternity!

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