Earthly Glory vs. Religion.
By John Matteson
CHARLES V., emperor of Germany, king of Spain and lord of the Netherlands, born in the year 1500, fought sixty battles, in most of which he was victorious, conquered four kingdoms, added eight principalities to his dominion, and was almost unparalleled in worldly prosperity and the greatness of human glory. Yet before his death he became convinced of the emptiness of earthly magnificence, and decided to spend the rest of his days in religious retirement. Voluntarily he resigned all his dominions, luxuries, and pleasures, and chose a retired home in a small valley in Spain, where he spent the rest of his time in religious exercises and innocent employments. Here he enjoyed more solid happiness than all his grandeur had ever yielded him, which he expressed in the following short but comprehensive testimony: “I have tasted more satisfaction in my solitude, in one day, than in all the triumphs of my former reign. The sincere study, profession, and practice, of the Christian religion, have in them such joys and sweetness as are seldom found in courts and grandeur.”—Power of Religion, p. 63. This is truly a good testimony from one who tried both ways. JOHN MATTESON.