[It finds men altogether " alienated from the life of God," and bearing the character of Satan's children^ : but it renews them in all their faculties, and restores them to the very image of their God '. This eifect is ascribed to it by S t. Paul himself™ — How just then is that expression of the Psalmist"^ — ! And with what propriety may the Christian exult with the prophet ° — !]
With such views of the Gospel we can be at no loss to determine,
II. How it will be regarded by those who know its value —
It is not possible for them to regard it with indif- ference :
1 . They will seek it with diligence —
[Merchants spare no pains in the pursuit of gain ; much less will they who know the value of the Gospel. They will study that book wherein it is contained. They will seek in- struction from those who are best qualified to explain its mys- teries. They will cry to God for the teaching of his Spirit. Nor will they be satisfied with obtaining a superficial know- ledge of the truth. They will follow the direction of Solomon i' — and account its blessings a rich compensation for their trouble.]
2. They will part with all for it :
Their carnal enjoyments —
[It calls them to sacrifice their dearest interests, and to give up their nearest relatives for Christ's sake *i. Nor will they exclaim against this as " an hard saying." They will not act like the Rich Youth who forsook Christ ■". They will rather part with any thing, however precious, or however necessary ^]
Their self-righteous hopes —
[There is nothing which men are more averse to renounce than their own righteousness : but a discovery of the Gospel will humble them. It will constrain them to use the language of the prophet* — Every Christian will resemble Paul in this".]
Their very life itself —
[The love of life is inherent in us all : but the Gospel teaches us to overcome it. It requires us even to hate our lives in comparison of Christ^. A view of it will enable us to do this, and will cause us to say like the holy Apostle >' — ]
k Johnviii. 44. i Eph. iv. 24. m 2 Cor. iii. 18.
n Ps. cxlix. 4. ° Isai. Ixi. 10. p Prov, ii. 4.
q Matt. X. 37. >■ Mark x. 22. « Matt, v, 29, 30.
t Isai. Ixiv. 6. " Phil. iii. 7—9. ^ Luke xiv. 26.
y Acts XX. 24.