acknowledgment' — The " field " indeed, wherein the treasure is hid, is open and accessible to alP ; but we shall perish for lack of it, unless God do for us as he did for Hagar^ We must all adopt the prayer of David™ — ]
Its intrinsic worth, joined with the difficulty of finding it, must render the acquisition delightful.
II. The emotions which a discovery of it will pro- duce— The illustration given by our Lord is peculiarly apt. A man who should find a treasure, would have a conflict in his mind —
[He would congratulate himself on his good fortune, and rejoice in his prospect of possessing so much wealth ; but he would feel some dread of detection. He wouid fear lest another should see it, before he had an opportunity of securing it for himself. He would cover it up carefully, if he could not then carry it away ; and if by purchasing the field he could gain the treasure, he would gladly pay down the price. In doing this he would use all the expedition and caution that he could ; 7ior ivould he hesitate to sell all that he had, in order to com- plete the purchase.]
Thus is a man affected who finds the Gospel salvation —
[He is filled with joy at the glad tidings that he hears"; he indulges a hope that he may be interested in them ; he anticipates the happiness of having his sins forgiven, and of being made an heir of the heavenly inheritance. Still, how- ever, he is not without many misgiving fears. He knows that Satan is watching to steal away the treasure"; nor can he tell but that that serpent may beguile him p. He sees too that the world may deprive him of his hope^. Yea, he perceives in his own heart a proneness to despise the proffered mercy '^. Thus is he agitated between hope and fear. This effect was pre- dicted by the prophets of old^, and it was, on one occasion at least, experienced by the Apostles*^: but, in the midst of all, he is determined, if possible, to possess the treasure. He under- values every thing that can stand in competition with it ; he well knows that, whatever he pay for it, he can be no loser ; he approves in his heart the conduct of St. Paul" — and is resolved to follow the advice of Solomon^ — ]
i Matt. xi. 25, 26. ^ John v. 39. ' Gen. xxi. 16, 19.
m Ps. cxix. 18. n Matt. xiii. 20. " Luke viii. 12.
P 2 Cor. xi. 3. ^i Mark iv. 19. ^ Matt. xxii. 5.
s Isai. Ix. 5. Jer. xxxiii. 9. * Matt, xxviii. 8. " Gal. i. in, J' Prov. xxiii. 23.