2. In the whole drift and tenor of our lives we must act as those that live by this principle. Our cliief endeavour must be to get and keep in with Christ : Matt. vi. 33, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof.' The strength of our souls, and the vigour of our endeavours must run in this channel. A dull approba- tion of that which is good will serve no man — no, not in the most prosperous times of religion ; but more or less he must manifest his esteem of Christ and contempt of the world by some act of self-denial, for none can be true to his duty but he will meet with trouble in the flesh. ' Some of his interests must be sacrificed for Christ's sake, either his reputation, and ease, and peace with the world, or the opposition and scorn of dear friends and relations, and the scorn of our old acquaintance ; at least his religion, if it be serious, will put him upon some expense and cost, if not upon uncompliance with the vain fashions of the world, yet upon duties unpleasing to the flesh, and which bring their own charge with them. And it may be we shall be laughed at for these things, but the reproach of Christ is greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. This must be our constant dominating principle that must govern and regulate our lives, that everything relating to Christ recommends itself to us, how unpleasing soever it be to our- selves or others.
Secondly, Why we ought to have such an esteem of Christ. I shall give the reasons in these considerations.
1. Christians can never be safe till they do esteem what they choose. The reason is, because there are many competitors for our hearts. Now, as estimation is the ground of our choice, so it is also the strength of it, and therefore we can never be faithful to Christ till he be valued above all that cometh in competition with him, or is set in opposition against him. As the actual estimation of our judgment swayed our choice at first, so the habitual estimation preserves it, that those things which rival Christ in our hearts may have no entertainment there to his wrong and prejudice. At first we renounced all secular advantages that we might have Christ and his benefits, and if we continue of the same mind we are safe : Heb. iii. 6, ' Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.' Oh, we were exceedingly glad, and blessed ourselves in the hopes we have by Christ, when first we were acquainted with him ! Are you of the same mind still ? 1 Peter i. 7, ' To you that believe he is precious.' They know his worth and value, and believe it, and count it of infinite advantage to themselves, and they cannot be drawn from him : Ps. Ixxiii. 25, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none on earth I desire besides thee.' But when once you begin to lose your esteem of Christ, and he is not so dear as before, you are backsliders in heart, and shall soon prove so in practice. Our love is gone, and a
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466 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. LXI.
man is held better by his heart than his head, by his love than by his opinions. If any worldly thing is nearer and dearer to us than Christ, the heart is tainted, and you are prepared for a revolt from him.
2. He that will not err in esteeming, choosing, and cleaving to Christ, needs three things ; a clear understanding, an unbiassed will, and a serious consideration of matters propounded to our choice and esteem.
[1.] A clear understanding; for if the mind be blind, how is it able to judge between things that differ? John iv. 10, 'If thou knewest the gift of God,' &c. ; if Christ were riglitly known he would be more prized, and they would see such an excellency in him as cannot be countervailed. I remember it is said, John vi. 40, ' He that seeth the Son, and believe th on him,' &c. ; all believing comes from seeing the Son. If we did but see the Son, and had a true knowledge of his worth and excellency, Ave would venture all for his sake, and would entirely trust ourselves in his hands. So Paul, 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that . which I have committed unto him against that day.'
2. An unbiassed will. For the bias of the will will easily prevail against the light of the understanding. We need not only a mind to know God, but a heart to know God and Christ : Jer, xxiv, 7, ' And I will give them a heart to know me.' That is, to acknowledge, to esteem, to choose me for their God, and for their portion and happi- ness. This is a work of the heart, and depends upon a right disposi- tion of the lieart rather than the mind. The right disposition of the will is God's great covenant gift.