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I. THE MORAL INCOMPATIBILITIES IN LIFE. Every man's life has the two cups. Out of one of these every man drinks, and by it he lives such a life as he has. What are these cups?

1. The devil's cup is full to the brim of selfish gratification. They who drink of it are absorbed with their own personal interests and pleasures. Christ's cup is that of self-denial. "He that taketh not his cross," etc.

2. The devil's cup is full of fictions, phantasies, and vanities. False theories of religion, happiness, greatness, life. Hence the millions who drink of it "walk in a vain show." Christ's cup is full of realities. "I am come to bear witness of the truth." Those who drink of this cup are real men, real in thought, conviction, purpose, and life. They "quit themselves like men."

3. In the cup of the devil everything is material — material pleasures, pursuits, dignities. The men who drink of it live after and for the flesh. Their grand question is, "What shall we eat, what shall we drink?" In Christ's cup there is spirituality, and the men who drink of it feel that the spirit is everything, they are "born of the spirit, are spirit," and live spiritually.

4. In the cup of the devil there is no God, nothing but nature. The men who drink of it are without God in the world. God is not in all their thoughts. In Christ's cup God is the essence and spirit of its contents. They who drink of this cup come under the consciousness of the fact that God is everything; hence, like Enoch, they "walk with God."

II. THE STRONGEST TEMPTATION IN LIFE — to participate of both cups.

1. All men begin and most continue with the devil's cup. We "were by nature the children of wrath even as others." The cup is put into the hand of the child at the very dawn of moral agency, he takes a liking to it until it gets the mastery over him.

2. Some — and their number is ever increasing — renounce the devil's cup and adopt the cup of Christ. The apostle is referring to these when he says, "Such were some of you: but ye are washed," etc.

3. In both classes there is a desire to participate of both cups at the same time. Those who drink of the devil's cup are not morally satisfied, and hence they often desire if possible to participate of the other. On the other hand, many of those who drink of Christ's cup have frequently a strong desire to participate of the devil's cup. Hence the desire for self-indulgence, worldly pleasures and pursuits, etc. Like the Jews in the wilderness, they have a hankering after the fleshpots of Egypt; like Lot's wife, they cast a lingering look upon the old scenes of Sodom.

III. THE ATTEMPTED IMPOSSIBILITY IN LIFE. "Ye cannot," etc. "No man can serve two masters," etc. Ye cannot be selfish and benevolent, materialistic and spiritual, false and true, atheistic and godly, good and bad at the same time. Every man must be one or the other. Conclusion:

1. My unregenerate brother, drink no more of the devil's cup. It may be pleasant, but it is sapping your spiritual constitution, and stealing away your health. It may be delicious, but it still and must turn to poison. Thrust it from you. Thousands have done so: not one who has done it has ever regretted the sacrifice.

2. To you, my Christly friends, I say, cherish no lingerings after the old cup; crush every rising desire for another sip of it. The cup you have in your hand has all and more than you want to satisfy your conscience, to strengthen your faculties, to ennoble your existence, and beautify your being.

(D. Thomas, D.D.)

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KJV: Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

WEB: Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?