Matt. xvi. 26. What is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his oion soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
THE precepts of the Gospel oppose our natural inclination. They are also in many respects adverse to our worldly interests. The whole of Christianity is a system of self-denial. Hence none cordially em- brace it till they have learned to take eternity into their estimate of present things. Our Lord therefore, having prescribed the line of duty to be regarded by all his followers (ver. 24.) and having urged the ob- servance of it from the consideration of eternity, enforces it yet further by these pointed interroga- tories ; '' What shall it profit," &c.
In order to elucidate the meaning of the text, we shall,
I. Institute a comparison between the things which are here set in competition with each other —
By '' the world" we are to understand pleasure, riches, and honour'' —
This, if considered in itself, is vile —
[It is altogether earthly in its nature. It is utterly unsa- tisfying in its use. It is short and transitory in its continuance.]
If it be considered as it has been estimated by the best judges, it is worthless —
[Abraham, though opulent, left all to sojourn in a strange land''. Moses relinquished the splendour of a court, to parti- cipate the lot of God's people^. Solomon, after much expe- rience, declared the world to be mere vanity*^. St. Paul counted those things as dung, which he once thought his gain®. Christ himself despised the proffered titles of royalty*^. All true Christians resemble their Master in their contempt of the worlds.]
The " soul," on the contrary, if considered in itself, is noble —
a 1 John ii. 15, 16, b Heb. xi. 8, 9. <= Heb. xi. 24—26.
d Eccl. i. 14. e Phil. iii. 8. f John vi. 15.
g John xvii. 16.