(1.) Now, this must needs be so; for where grace is, it gives a sanctified judgment ; a sanctified judgment values and esteems things as they are. Now the judgment, apprehending God and his love to be the best thing to make us happy, prizeth it above all : ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and w^hat have I in earth in comparison of thee?' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. He prizeth God and his love above all things in the world.
s Now, if we would know if we have this judgment, we may know it by our choice. This valuing it is known by choice : for what a man esteems and values highly he makes choice of above all things in the world. What men make choice of is seen b}' their courses. We see it in holy Moses, Heb. xi. 26, seq. He had a high esteem of the estate of God's people, that afflicted people. As aftlicted as they were, yet he saw they were God's people, in covenant with him, and more regarded of him than all the people in the world besides ; and upon his estimation he made a choice : ' he chose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the plea- sures of sin for a season.' His choice followed his esteem. So if we value and esteem God and religion, and love God above all things, we will make choice of the Lord. As St Peter saith, John vi. 68, seq., when Christ asked them, ' Will ye also forsake me ? ' saith he, ' Lord, whither shall we go ? ' We have made choice of thee ; ' whither shall we go ? thou hast the words of eternal life.' Let us do that in truth that he for a time failed to do, when he said, ' Though all forsake thee, yet will not I,' Mat. xxvi. 33. If we make this choice of Christ from the truth of our hearts, this shews our esteem.
• This Latin apophthegm forms the burden of Byrd's classic little poem. — G.
184 A GLANCE OF HEAVEN.
Wliat is tliy choice ? Is it religious ways ami religious company ? Is it the fear of God above all things? 'One thing have I dosired, that I may dwell in the house of God for ever, and visit his temple,' Ps. xxvii. 4. Hast ihou with Mary made choice of the better part? Dost thou value thyself as a member of Christ, and an heir of heaven, as a Christian above all conditions in this world (for what a man esteems he values himself by)? Then thou art a true lover, thou hast this love planted in thy heart, because thou hast a true esteem. You sec Paul accounted ' all dung and dross in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ,' Philip, iii. 8. Oh that we could come to that excellent affection of Bt Paul, to undervalue all things to Christ, and the good things by Christ and religion ! Certainly it is universally true, where Christ is loved, and God in Christ, the price of all things else fall in the soul. For when wo welcome Christ, then fare- well all that cannot stand with Christ.
(2.) Again, our esteem is known hy our tciUliiff ]iarli)i;/ with nin/thiii;/ for ihat that ice esteem; as a wise merchant doth sell all for the pearl, Mat. xiii. 40. We may know therefore that we esteem God and his truth ; for they go together, God and his truth and religion. We must take God with all that he is clothed with, wherein he shews himself unto us. If we sell all for the truth of God, and part with all, and deny all for the love and obedience of it, it is a sign we have an esteem answerable to his worth, and that we love him.
Those therefore that will part with nothing for God, nor for religion and the truth, when they arc called to it, do they talk of love to God ? They have no esteem, they value not God. If they did esteem him, they would sell all for the pearl. Therefore those that halt in religion, that care not which way religion and the truth goes, so they may have honour and pleasures in this vrorld, where is their esteem of the gospel, and of the truth of Christ and of God ? They have no love, because they have no estimation.
(3.) Again, what we esteem highly of ive speak larr/ely of. A man is always eloquent in that he esteems. It will put him, to the extent of his abilities, to be as eloquent as possible he can be. You never knew a man want words for that he prized, to set it out. Therefore when we want words to praise God, and to set out the value of the best things, it is an argument we have poor esteem of them. All go together, God and the things of God. What ! do we talk of loving God, and despise Christians and religion ? They are never severed. If a man esteem the best things, he will be often speaking of them. If a man set his affections upon a thing, it will suggest words at will. Therefore those that are clean out of their theme, when they speak of good things, are to seek, Alas ! where is the affection of love ? where is esteem ? Esteem it makes a readiness to speak.