Yet these are all expressed in God's reflections over Ephraim What inexpressible comfort should this administer to drooping penitents!-] APPLICATION [Can God testify of us as of Ephraim in the text? If he cannot, we must expect shame, confusion, and agony at the last day — If he can, we are assured of happiness both in this world and the next -] ↑ Dan. xii. 2. and Matt. xiii. 49, 50. Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6. X. THE WORTH OF THE SOUL. Matt. xvi. 26. What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? THE precepts of the gospel oppose our natural inclination They are also in many respects adverse to our worldly interests- The whole of Christianity is a system of self-denialHence none cordially embrace it till they have learned to take eternity into their estimate of present things Our Lord therefore, having prescribed the line of duty to be regarded by all his followers (ver. 24.) and having urged the observance of it from the consideration of eternity, enforces it yet further by these pointed interrogatories; "What shall it profit," &c. In order to elucidate the meaning of the text, we shall I. Institute a comparison between the things which are here set in competition with each other By" the world" we are to understand pleasure, riches, and honour a This, if considered in itself, is vile [It is altogether earthly in its natureIt is utterly unsatisfying in its use It is short and transitory in its continuance-] a 1 John ii. 15, 16. If If it be considered as it has been estimated by the best judges, it is worthless [Abraham, though opulent, left all, to sojourn in a strange land b Moses relinquished the splendor of a court, to participate the lot of God's people Solomon, after much experience, declared the world to be mere vanity d St. Paul counted those things as dung, which he once thought his gain — e Christ himself despised the proffered titles of royalty f All true christians resemble their master in their contempt of the world —] The "soul" on the contrary, if considered in itself, is noble [It is exalted in its origin -capacious in its powers— eternal in its duration~ And it is doomed to everlasting happiness or miseryAlready therefore its superior importance abundantly appears-] Moreover, as estimated by the best judges, it is invaluable [Many have thought nothing too much to do or suffer for its welfare1_ But that which most stamps its value beyond all possible calculation, is, the gift of God's Son to die for it Surely God would never have redeemed it at such a price, if it had not been of infinite value in his sight Such being the disparity between the value of the world and that of the soul, we are prepared to II. See the result of the comparison We suppose, for argument sake, that a man may possess the whole world We suppose also that, after having possessed it for a while, he loses his own soul What in the issue "would he be profited?" b Heb. xi. 8, 9. d Eccl. i. 14. f John vi. 15. [Would © Heb. xi. 24—26. e Phil. iii. 8. Heb. xii. 9. God himself is "the Father of our Spirits," with out the intervention of any second cause. Acts xx. 24. Heb. xi. 35. [Would carnal enjoyments compensate for the loss of Heaven? Would transient pleasures counterbalance an eternity of glory? Would he have any thing remaining to mitigate his pain?Would a momentary possession of the whole world be so high a gratification, that any reasonable man would be content to lose even his " animal life" for it1? How much less could it be a sufficient price for the "soul?"-] Let us enquire also more particularly [The questions in the text are strong appeals to our hearts and consciences They bid defiance, as it were, to all the arts of sophistryLet the "lover of pleasure" then ask, what sensual gratifi'cations, or vain amusements, will profit him?——— Let the "lover of this present evil world" ask, what will his honours and preferments profit him? Let the learned ask, what, even learning itself, the most excellent of all human attainments, will profit them " ?—] We conclude with suggesting some interesting subjects of self-examination [Which have I more regarded hitherto, the world, or my own soul? Which do I intend in future to prefer? What will be my thoughts respecting them in the day of judgment? What answer shall I make to Christ, when he shall call me to account for despising that, for which he paid so great a price? What would I not gladly give in,exchange for my soul, if ever it should be lost through my present neglect ? And, if ever my soul should be saved, shall I not then account as dung all which I had lost in order to promote its salvation? If these questions be duly weighed, we shall soon be likeminded with the great apostle']. * Luke xvi. 24. m Prov. xi. 4. 1 Yuxu comp. ver. 25. and 26, in the Greek. n Eccl. ii. 16. Ο ° Phil. iii. 13, 14. XI. GOD'S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE. Isaiah xliii. 2, 3. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow. thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. GOD's goodness to his people never appears more wonderful than when contrasted with their conduct towards him The history of the church in all ages attests the truth of the apostle's assertion" We have a remarkable instance of this in the passage before us The Israelites were utterly incorrigible— Yet God forebore to "make a full end of them” On the contrary, to display the riches of his grace, he promised them his continued care and protection, ver. 1, 2. The text suggests to our consideration I. God's care for his people God's people are subjected to many and great troubles ["Fire and water" are emblems of heavy calamitiesGod's people are often brought into them All are taught to expect them in their way to heavenThe most eminent saints have usually the greatest share-] But God takes peculiar care of them in that state [He represents himself as watching them in the furnace like a refiner". He has promised they shall not be overwhelmed by temptation He vouchsafes his special presence at those seasons Even when he has withdrawn himself apparently from his people, he secretly and imperceptibly upholds themThe burning bush was intended to teach us thisIt has been experienced by the saints in all agesDavid bears testimony to this fact The history of the Hebrew youths also attests it h The passage of the Jews through the Red Sea, and through Jordan, confirms it1 There are also many living witnesses for the truth of it-] с 1 Cor. x. 13. However b Isai. xlii. 24, 25. d Mal. iii. 3. g Ps. lxvi. 10-12. "We went through fire and through water." Isai. li. 10. However great this mercy is, we are at no loss to assign II. The reason of it God is the Covenant God and Saviour of his people [God has given himself to his people by covenant * Hence he assumes the titles "the God of Israel," "the Holy One of Israel" This implies that all his perfections shall be employed for their good-] This is the reason of his peculiar care for them On account of this relation he feels for thei [God represents himself as tenderly feeling for his people m His compassion towards them is like that of a parent'— He bears them, like a nursing mother, in his arms He considers every injury done to them, as done to himself" He sympathizes thus on account of his relation to them-] On this account also he is interested in them [He has purchased and redeemed them by the blood of his Son Hence he calls them his "purchased possession' He regards them as his "peculiar treasure," the "lot of his inheritance" He promises to take care of them as his vineyard P Hence Moses made God's interest in his people a plea for his forbearing to destroy them Hence David also urged this plea on his own behalf'—] On this account also he is bound to them [God has pledged himself that " he will not forsake his people" He has assured them, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper He never will break the covenant he has entered into3- The church of old urged it as a reason for his return to them1 And every believer may adopt the patriarch's plea"-] INFER 1. Of what importance is it to know that we are interested in Christ! |