^ As the painter rubs off half of his gold leaf ere the letters which he is painting on the sign-board appear distinctly — so, much of what is precious in life has to be taken away ere God's glory is fulfilled in us, and our title as Christ's disciples is made manifest.^
^ Gregory Nazianzen, a foremost Father of the Christian Church, rejoiced that he was well versed in the Athenian philosophy ; and why do you think he rejoiced in that ? Because he had to give it all up when he became a Christian ; and, said he, " I thank God that I had a philosophy to throw away." ^
3. The most precious things have no value compared with Christ. The things which Paul declares to be loss are the very things which, before he attained to the knowledge of Christ, he esteemed to be the most precious, and which were truly so — righteousness according to the Law, and the various things which constitute that righteousness. This righteousness, before Christ came into the world, was the most precious thing in the world ; and could it ever have been true and perfect, it would have been precious, not only in the sight of man, but of God. Seeing, however, that it never had been perfect, — seeing that from the frailty of human nature it never could be otherwise than very imperfect, — seeing that the pursuit of it led men to magnify themselves, and drew them away from Him who alone could give them what they were seeking, a righteousness acceptable in the sight of God, — this too is declared by the Apostle to be loss. So too is it still loss, when men strive after moral excellence by following the laws of their own reason, instead of seeking that excellence in the only way in which we can really attain to it, by a living communion with the Spirit of Christ. For this is the only way to real moral excellence. All other ways lead us far from it. For all other ways lead us to exalt ourselves, to glorify our own understanding, to magnify our own will ; and here also it holds as a never-failing truth, that he who exalts himself shall be abased.
^ It would be a positive loss if a man were to shut up his windows and to go on working by candle-light when the sun is riding through the sky. It would be a loss if, instead of receiving ^ Hugh Macmillan. 2 q. h. Spurgeon,
320 THE EXCELLENT EXCHANGE
good sterling money for the wages of your labour, you were to receive false money. It would be a loss if, when by going to the right you might have picked up a fine diamond, or other precious stone, you had unluckily turned to the left, and brought home nothing but dirt and frippery. So is it a loss if, when God has shown forth all His goodness and mercy in Christ, we turn away from Christ and give ourselves up to the pursuit and love of the creature. It is a loss if we persist in creeping and crawling along amid the things of the earth, when Christ has sent His spirit to bear our hearts and souls up to heaven.^
^ If we were truly to desire Christ to abide always with us. He would never go away. What a life of benediction and joy we should live if He were indeed always with us ! Unbroken communion with Him would hold heaven close about us all the while, and thus these sordid earthly lives of ours would be permeated and struck through with the sweetness and fragrance of holiness, and transformed into the likeness of Christ Himself. Then all life's experiences would be transfigured. Joy would be purer, and even sorrow would be illumined. All through life this should be our continual prayer ; then in death our earthly communion shall brighten into heavenly glory.^
For us, — whatever's undergone, Thou knowest, wiliest what is done. Grief may be joy misunderstood ; Only the Good discerns the good. I trust Thee while my days go on.
Whatever's lost, it first was won;
We will not struggle nor impugn.
Perhaps the cup was broken here,
That Heaven's new wine might show more clear.
I praise Thee while my days go on.
I praise Thee while my days go on;
I love Thee while my days go on :
Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost,
With emptied arms and treasure lost,
I thank Thee while my days go on.^
1 J. C. Hare. 2 j, r, jjiUer.
^ Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "De Profundis."
PHILIPPIANS III. 7-9 321
II.
What Paul Gained.
1. The Apostle sums up his gain iu one word — Christ. But he would not have us suppose that his renunciation was such as to merit or purchase for him the one gain. Jesus Christ is God's gift. He can never be bought. St. Paul was already a believer, and the Lord Jesus Christ was already his portion when he wrote these words. They are very ill-instructed in the mind of God, and only blind leaders of the blind, who urge souls to give up this, that, or the other as the price of receiving Christ. Such teaching reverses God's order. The dropping off, the giving up, the counting as loss all the old " gains," follows, but never precedes, the folding to the heart of the one gain.