headlong with the torrent of our affections:  the world, and that infinite variety of pleasing objects in it, do so allure and enamour us, that we cannot so much as look towards God, seek him, or think on him as we should:  we cannot, saith Austin, Rempub. coelestem cogitare, we cannot contain ourselves from them, their sweetness is so pleasing to us.  Marriage, saith [6326] Gualter, detains many; “a thing in itself laudable, good and necessary, but many, deceived and carried away with the blind love of it, have quite laid aside the love of God, and desire of his glory.  Meat and drink hath overcome as many, whilst they rather strive to please, satisfy their guts and belly, than to serve God and nature.”  Some are so busied about merchandise to get money, they lose their own souls, whilst covetously carried, and with an insatiable desire of gain, they forget God; as much we may say of honour, leagues, friendships, health, wealth, and all other profits or pleasures in this life whatsoever. [6327]"In this world there be so many beautiful objects, splendours and brightness of gold, majesty of glory, assistance of friends, fair promises, smooth words, victories, triumphs, and such an infinite company of pleasing beauties to allure us, and draw us from God, that we cannot look after him.”  And this is it which Christ himself, those prophets and apostles so much thundered against, 1 John, xvii. 15, dehort us from; “love not the world, nor the things that are in the world:  if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” 16.  “For all that is in the world, as lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world:  and the world passeth away and the lust thereof; but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for ever.  No man, saith our Saviour, can serve two masters, but he must love the one and hate the other,” &c., bonos vel malos mores, boni vel mali faciunt amores, Austin well infers:  and this is that which all the fathers inculcate.  He cannot ([6328]Austin admonisheth) be God’s friend, that is delighted with the pleasures of the world:  “make clean thine heart, purify thine heart; if thou wilt see this beauty, prepare thyself for it.  It is the eye of contemplation by which we must behold it, the wing of meditation which lifts us up and rears our souls with the motion of our hearts, and sweetness of contemplation:”  so saith Gregory cited by [6329]Bonaventure.  And as [6330]Philo Judeus seconds him, “he that loves God, will soar aloft and take him wings; and leaving the earth fly up to heaven, wander with sun and moon, stars, and that heavenly troop, God himself being his guide.”  If we desire to see him, we must lay aside all vain objects, which detain us and dazzle our eyes, and as [6331]Ficinus adviseth us, “get us solar eyes, spectacles as they that look on the sun:  to see this divine beauty, lay aside all material objects, all sense, and then thou shalt see him as he is.”