mart's choice. 297
immediate ministry, as appeareth by the multitudes that his apostles did convert at one sermon. In the next place, examine we ourselves if we be willing to part with anything for the means of salvation; for if we love any- thing, and choose it, rather than we will part with that we will part with anything. If we love the pearl, we will sell all to gain it. Far from the humour of some, that will sell the pearl, sell the word, sell the care of the souls of men, to men of corrupt conversation for filthy lucre.
Thirdly, If we have made this choice, ice ivill have confidence to justify it against all depravers.* Michal's scorn cannot put David out of conceit with his dancing before the ark of God : ' I will be more vile than thus,' said he, 2 Sam. vi. 22. In vain we think to scorn usurers out [of] their trade. No. They find it is sweet. Their purse comforts them against all scorns. Thus it is with the child of God. Let men scorn, censure, rebuke, they comfort themselves; as Job, * their witness is on high,' Job xvi. 19, and that makes them not pass for men's censure.
In the next place, if -we find that when all things fail us, we do retire our- selves to this as our stay, that our good part shall not he taken aivay, nor ever will fail ; and thus David, Ps. Ixxiii. 26, ' My flesh and heart fail, but thou. Lord, art my portion for ever ; ' and make that use of it that David did : ' It is good for me to draw near to God.' As a man robbed of all his money, if his jewels be saved, he solaceth himself in them ; and as Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 3, if we can appeal to God in witness of our sin- cerity, ' Lord, remember how I have lived, how I have served thee in upx'ightness.' Then shall we find the comfort of this will never be taken away from us, else if we cannot thus appeal to God, we may call and cry to him but he will give us but a comfortless answer : ' Go to the gods which you have chosen,' Judges x. 14, let the world help you, let pleasures and riches deliver you ; you would not choose me while I gave you all blessings of life and health, now, * Go, ye cursed,' Mat. xxv. 41. * That is, ' undervaluers.' — G.
NOTES.
(a) P. 294. — ' Observe from the translation of the words, which is more exactly thus, "Thou troublest thyself."' The original is, Mdpda, Mdoda, /Msi/xmc %ai ru»/3a^'/- TEp/ ToXXd, = ' art anxious and confused.'
(6) P. 297. — ' The word signifies, in all sense and feeling, to approve the things that are excellent, or do differ.' The verb is doKi/xd^oj, = to prove, test, assay. Cf. Bishop Ellicott in loco. G.
THE CHRISTIAN'S WATCH."
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching. — Luke XII. 37.
These words are part of a sermon that Christ made to his disciples con- cerning worldly cares, and concerning mercy to those that stand in need. Now in the last place he gives directions concerning watching : * Blessed are those servants that shall be found watching when their master cometh.'
It was the custom of servants in those times to stand at night to watch for their master's coming.
Here Christ compares himself to a man that is lately married, solacing himself, and preparing a place for his spouse, and leaving a servant at home to wait for his return. Christ is gone into heaven to solace himself, and to prepare a place for us, and will come again "to receive us into heaven. In the mean time we are to watch : ' Blessed are those servants that are found watching when their master cometh.'
In these words we are to consider, first, our relation, that we are ' servants.'
And then our condition, we are servants appointed ' to watch for our master's coming,' for our Lord is not yet come.
This life is a condition of waiting. We are always waiting for some- thing, till we are taken up to Christ.
' Blessed are those servants that their lord shall find watching.' And then there is the relation and condition of them also, they wait for the return of their master. And their carriage is suitable, to wit, watching.
And then the encouragement, ' Blessed are those servants, that their Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.'
1. Concerning the relation of servants, in a word, some are so by office, as magistrates and ministers ; but all are servants as Christians. It was the best flower in David's garland to be a servant to the Lord ; and it is so for every one, be they never so great in dignity, to serve God ; for to serve him is to run into the most noble service of all; for all God's servants shall be kings, nay, they are kings.
* 'The Christian's Watch' and 'Coming of Christ' were appended to the Exposition of Philippians, c. iii. (4to, 1639). [See note, Vol. V. page 2.] They are from different texts, but, as being on tlie same subject, could not be well separated. Neither has a separate title-page, only the heading as above. — G.