See, in the next place, tvho is the right fool. Is not he that in his judg- ment preferreth counters* before gold, and the baubles of this present life before that enduring substance in the heavens. We condemn Adam, Esau, and Judas for their foolish choice, when, alas! there is no worldling but is as ill as the worst of them, if not worse, if worse may be. Are there not many that sell Christ for less than thirty pieces ? Are there not many that cast him away for nothing ? What doth the common swearer and blasphemer but sell Christ, nay, cast away him, and all hope of happiness, for a mere presumptuous daring of God ? And the best worldUng sells Christ for a very thing of nought, a toy, a pleasure of sin, or a little profit. Such strongholds hath the king of this world in the hearts of the children thereof. But how shall we know when we have this pearl ? We should examine our hearts, what ice could part uith for Christ. Many that make profession of Christ in this life shew that they affect f nothing but a bare title of profession ; for their hearts tell them they never yet could find in their heart to deny pleasure or profit, no, not anything for Christ's sake ; and yet are fully persuaded they must needs have this pearl. No, no ! Christ is not to be had, neither is he to be kept upon such poor easy terms. Men ' cannot serve God and Mammon,' Mat. vi. 24.
Secondly, If we have this pearl, ive shall have a wonderful admiration at the excellency of the value thereof: Ps. Ixxxiv. 1, 'How beautiful are thy dwelling places ; ' Ps. cxix. 97, ' Oh how do I love thy law ; ' 1 Peter i. 8, * Joy unspeakable ; ' and chap. ii. 9, ' Marvellous light.' What says the worldling ? Oh, this or that marvellous rich man, goodly living, stately house, ancient family ! Are these things for a Christian to wonder at, who entitles himself to glory in the highest heavens ? No. Worldly respects fall down where heaven is advanced. When Paul is a convert, ' those things that were formerly gain to him, he counteth loss for Christ,' Philip.^ iii. 7.
Thirdly, Whosoever hath this pearl, it works in him a wonderful joy above all worldly joy whatever, ' above the joy of harvest,' Isa. ix. 8. * Cf. Glossary, sub voce. — G. t That is, ' desire.' — G.
260 THE RICH PEARL.
Zaccheus and the eunuch rejoiced ; yea, in adversities this joy forsakes us not. It made St Paul sing in prison. But men will say, "Who are more heavy and dejected than Christians? I answer, that God's Spirit appeareth not alwfiys in joy, but sometimes in mourning ; for the want of the assist- ance of God's Spirit, which is an evidence of a taste and interest in the blessed estate of regeneration.
In the last place, if we have this pearl, our afl'cctions and apreches will be busml evermore about it, and our whole course of life will shew that wo have it. In the next place, if we have this pearl, how shall we improve it to our most advantage '? First, therefore, let us be as laborious in keeping it as Satan is laborious in striving to deprive us of it ; and to that end we are to imtch over our especial a)id jmrtictdar corruptions, and then most cspe- cialli/ when the devil proffers us a good; for we may bo sure it is to deprive us of a better good. He gives an apple, but he looks to deprive us of a paradise. There was never man yet escaped from him a gainer ; and therefore in such temptations, examine his oilers by the light of sanctified reason, and we shall find ever he offers us loss. In the next place, let us look that ve preserve the vessels of our souls in purity, that we may be fit for the pearl that must be set in gold. And in the next place, let us make use of Christ and our interest in him. If we be in bonds under sin, oifer Christ to God. 0 Lord ! Christ which thou gavest me is the righteousness which thou canst not but accept, seeing his righteousness is infinite, and thou hast made it mine. I am a beggar of myself, but thou hast made Christ all in all to me, to that end that thou mayest esteem of us all in all to thee. Oh how quiet and peaceable is that soul that is in this estate ! * How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob ? who is like to thee, 0 Israel ! ' Num. xxiv. 5. Saved by the Lord, happy art thou! In less temptations, as afiiictions, or death, that king of terrors, if that should seize on us, then consider. What do we lose ? Nothing but that which we must one day leave of necessity. If we then have laboured formerly for this invaluable jewel, we are then most near it ; our salvation then is most near even at that instant while we are labouring. Are we enjoying our treasure ? shall not we be as desirous of the rich things that grace afibrdeth us as we are of the riches of this life ? If the promises of such things do quicken us, how much more the things themselves. If we be troubled with losses, what lose we ? Not our pearl, not grace, not our God, in whom is ever fulness of content. If he fills us with content, it is more than all this vain counterfeit world can aflbrd us. What if we be robbed of pins, so long as we keep our jewels and hid treasure. Are we troubled with solicitations of Satan ? are we subject to be drawn away of ill company ? We should reject such things with scorn, and say, 'Avoid, Satan!' Your ofiers are loss to me ; loss of peace, loss of comfort. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, godliness is profitable to all ; nay, it is above all other riches. The time will come when nothing besides it will comfort us ; nay, all other things will charge us with greater account, and load us with bitter- ness at the latter end. Let us therefore learn to be good husbands* for our souls. What is the glory of our nation ? Is it not that we have mines of this invaluable riches, that we have ministers to draw out of this deep well, and to reveal this precious water of life to all, and that we may buy without money. Therefore let us take heed how we trifle away these privileges. The time will come when we shall want them, and then wisdom will laugh at us as if we have not been wise to lay up durable riches. * That is, ' husbandmen.' — G.