^ In Wales and in Scotland, in the mining districts, " winning " the coal, or the mineral, is a common expression, by which is meant sinking a shaft deep down to get out the ore in richer abundance. Let us take that idea. Paul, on the day when he first discovered Christ, found himself to be the possessor of a large estate. He was standing, so to speak, at the opening of this mine, and he saw some of the precious ore. He could not take his eye off what he did see ; but, the more he looked, the more he discovered of the inexhaustible riches there. He had only to dig down, to sink his shaft in all directions, and there was no end to what he might bring up out of this mine ; and so it was his lifetime's wish, " that I may win Christ." When he had got some of this ore, he was inflamed with a desire to get more. He would stand amid the heaps of his gold and say, " That I may win Christ." 1
^ At Kurnalpi I took my lamp and went to the place of meeting. A gentleman had offered me his auctioneer's box as a pulpit. I fixed my lamp beside me in the box so that I could read by its light. When I mounted the pulpit, there was not a soul about me that I could see in the darkness, so first lifting my heart for a moment to my Master, I next lifted my voice and shouted " Gentlemen, the sale is about to commence ! " You should have seen the response. They came running out from everywhere, like ants from an ant-hill, and rushed to get a good
* Andrew Bouar. EPH.-COL. — 21
322 THE EXCELLENT EXCHANGE
place near the auctioneer. There was a billiard saloon not far away, and though it was crowded a little ago, it was emptied quicker than it takes me to tell about it. Soon I had between two hundred and three hundred men around me. In my travel during the day I had learnt something of the open, unblushing sin prevailing here, and as I reasoned of righteousness and judgment, the Power of God fell on those men. This was my pioneer gospel service. I had ridden hard and far to tell them of the Water for which they would not have to pay, but which they might have for the taking, and without which they would perish miserably. I was selling Gospel necessaries — "Water," and Gospel luxuries — " Wine and Milk," without money and without price. Many of them were incredulous, and not inclined to buy at my price. Herein lay the difference between the auctioneer who usually occupied that box, and myself, its present occupant. " He has hard work to get you up to his price," I told them, " But I have hard work to get you down to mine." ^
2. Paul specifies as among his gains "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus." The phrase employed combines two ideas. In the first place, Paul felt Christ appealing to him as to a thinking, knowing being. Various influences were reaching him from Christ which bore on heart, will, conscience ; but they all came primarily as a revelation, they came as light. " God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." In the next place, this discovery came with a certain assuredness. It was felt to be not a dream, not a fair imagination only, not speculation, but knowledge. Here Paul felt himself face to face with the real, indeed with fundamental, reality. In this character, as luminous knowledge, the revela- tion of Christ challenged his decision, it demanded his apprecia- tion and adherence. For since Christ claims so fundamental a place in the moral world, since He claims so intimate and fruitful a relation to the whole state and prospects of the believing man, acquaintance with Him (at least, if it be acquaintance in Paul's style) cannot pause at the stage of contemplation ; it passes into appropriation and surrender. Christ is known as dealing with us, and must be dealt with by us. So this knowledge becomes, at the same time, experience.
1 John MacNeil, Evangelist in Australia, 272.
PHILIPPIANS III. 7-9 323
^ Knowledge is often more valuable than temporal possessions. A man falling into the sea might find a knowledge of the art of swimming of more value to him than a good balance in his favour at the bank. So the knowledge of Christ is of more value to men than temporal possessions of any kind. The knowledge of Christ is saving knowledge. Sinners cannot know Him unless they know Plim as their Saviour. This knowledge is, moreover, sanctifying knowledge. To know Christ is to know the experience of holiness. This knowledge affects the whole being of those who have it, and from such knowledge all that is best in history has sprung.^
3. The knowledge of Christ creates obedience, and evokes endurance.
(1) The hiowledge of Christ creates obedience. — Paul calls the Christ he knows so well " my Lord." No man ever yet had a believing acquaintance with Christ, except as " Lord." To trust Christ and to live Christ is to obey Christ. "My Lord" is a loved title by which the Christian believer designates Christ. They who know Christ ever obey Him. He becomes the Euler of their life. And the more they know Him, they the more absolutely obey Him.