Phil. iii. 7, 8. What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knoivledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
MANKIND in general are agitated by various and contending passions, while the true Christian enjoys
serenity and composure : he is indeed tempted like others to gratify his corrupt nature ; but he has one supreme desire which overcomes and regulates all the rest. He is compared to a wise merchant, who having found a pearl of great price, sells all that he has and buys it. Whatever stands in competition with the welfare of his soul will be renounced by him ; and, with the Apostle, he will " count all things but loss for Christ." To impress this truth more deeply on our minds, we shall consider,
I. What things Paul had which were gain to him —
Amongst all the sons of men there never was any in whom so many and so great excellencies combined, as in the Apostle Paul —
[In respect of civil distinctions, he was highly dignified by birth, being " an Hebrew of the Hebrews3." He was also eminent for learning, having been " brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and profited above many his equalsb."
Nor was be less distinguished in respect of moral qualities. Such was the strictness of his principles, that he joined him- self to the Pharisees, the strictest sect among the Jewsc. His probity of conduct was irreproachable ; for he had " lived in all good conscience before God from his very youth d." His zeal also, though not according to knowledge, was peculiarly earnest ; insomuch that, touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless ; and he opposed the Gospel to the utter- most, because he thought it subverted the law of Moses e.
But however illustrious he was as a Jew, he was still more so as a Christian and an Apostle. His religious attainments were never equalled by any mere man. His exertions in the cause of Christ surpassed those of all the other Apostlesf. He also suffered more than any for the sake of the Gospelg; yea, he was "in deaths oft," "not counting his life dear to him, so that he might finish his course with joy."]
These things might well be accounted gain to him —
[His civil distinctions might recommend him to his coun- trymen, and augment his influence'1. And though he would not make a parade of his learning, he found it useful on some
a Phil. iii. 5. b Acts xxii. 3. "Gal. i. 14. c Acts xxvi. 5.
A Acts xxiii. 1. e phu. iii. e. Acts xxvi. 9, 10. f 1 Cor. xv. 10. s 2 Cor. xi. 23 — 28. h 2 Cor. xi. 21, 22. Acts xxii. 25—29.