d Acts vii. 24 — 29. « Ps. Ixxxiv. 10. f Ps. xxxvii. 16. B Pro v. XV. 16, 17. *» Phil. iii. 8.
2326.] MOSEs' CHOICE. 41 1
loss, that, " when he had nothmg, he accounted himself as possessing all things" ;" and actually " took pleasure in all liis necessities and distresses, from a consideration of the benefit which would accrue from them to himself, and the glory to his Lord and Master*^." St. Peter confirms this view of the subject most fully, and in terms too which are peculiarly applicable to the case before us : for he declares, that the sufferings of God's people are " Christ's sufferings ;" that from them arises much honour to God, and much benefit to the soul ; and that they are rather to be accounted grounds of joy, than occasions of sorrow and regret'. To these I will only add the testimony of our Lord himself, who, in the epistle to the Church of Smyrna says, " I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty ; but thou art rich™."
After such testimonies as these, we cannot but approve the conduct to which our text refers.]
From this subject then we may see,
1. How erroneous are the views of worldly men ! [The men of this world set a high value on the things of time and sense, whilst sin appears in their eyes but a light and venial evil. By them, suffering is more dreaded than sin : and the loss of an opportunity of honouring God is of no account in comparison of the loss of great honours and great emoluments. They will strain every nerve to combine the UTeconcileable services of God and mammon : and, if the one or the other must be sacrificed, they will hold fast their pleasures, their riches, and their honours, instead of parting with them for the Lord, " To forsake all and follow Christ," is to them a hard lesson, which they cannot, and will not, learn. But the example of Moses must be followed by us all, so far at least as our circumstances are similar to his. We must all confess Christ openly before men. We must all unite ourselves to his people, and take our portion with them. Whatever cross may lay in our way, we must take it up cheerfully, and bear it after him, " going forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach"." We are not indeed of necessity called to renounce the highest distinctions : because they may be held, and the most important offices in the state may be executed, in perfect consistency with our duty to God ; as no doubt they were by Daniel : but if the hope of acquiring eminence, or the fear of losing it, deter us from the perform- ance of any duty, or lead us to a compliance with any sin, we are then called to take the decided part that Moses did, and to forsake all for Christ. Let us then not seek great things
i 2 Cor. vi. 10. k 2 Cor. xii. 9, 10. ^ 1 Pet. iv. 12—14.
m Rev. ii. 9. " Heb. xiii. 13.