There is no place for us among God’s children, except we renounce the world.
The Lord, by calling us to heaven, withdraws us from the earth.
As much as anyone inclines to the world, so much he alienates himself from God.
If meditation on the heavenly life were the prevailing sentiment in our hearts, the world would have no influence in detaining us.
If we would perceive the worthlessness of this fading life, we must be deeply affected by the view of heavenly life.
No man can meditate on the heavenly life, unless he be dead to the world, and to himself.
. . . Whatever vain hopes … we form to ourselves, which may draw us off from our confidence in God. They feed us for a time with magnificent promises, in the end they beguile and disappoint us.
J. Calvin