[It is exalted in its origin'', capacious in its powers, eternal in its duration ; and it is doomed to everlasting happiness or misery. Already therefore its superior importance abun- dantly appears.]
Moreover, as estiinated by the best judges, it is in- valuable—
[Many have thought nothing too much to do or suffer for its welfare'. But that which most stamps its value beyond all possible calculation, is, the gift of God's Son to die for it. Surely God would never have redeemed it at such a price, if it had not been of infinite value in his sight ]
Such being the disparity between the value of the world and that of the soul, we are prepared to,
II. See the result of the comparison —
We suppose, for argument sake, that a man may possess the whole world. We suppose also that, after having possessed it for a while, he loses his own soul. What in the issue " would he be profited ?"
Let us inquire concerning this in general —
[Would carnal enjoyments compensate for the loss of Heaven ? Would transient pleasures counterbalance an eter- nity of glory ? Would he have any thing remaining to mitigate his pain ?^ Would a momentary possession of the whole world be so high a gratification, that any reasonable man would be content to lose even his " animal life" for it'? How much less could it be a sufficient price for the " soul ! "]
Let us inquire also 7nore particularly —
[The questions in the text are strong appeals to our hearts and consciences : they bid defiance, as it were, to all the arts of sophistry. Let the " lover of pleasure" then ask, what sensual gratifications, or vain amusements, will profit him ? Let the " lover of this present evil world" ask, what will his honours and preferments profit him™? Let the learned ask, what, even learning itself, the most excellent of all human attainments, will profit them"?]
We conclude with suggesting some interesting sub- jects of self-examination —
'• Heb. xii. 9. God himself is " the Father of our Spirits," with- out the intervention of any second cause.
' Acts XX. 24. Heb. xi. 35. ^ Luke xvi. 24.
^ ^vyjjy — compare ver. 25. and 26. in the Greek. T" Prov. xi. 4. " Eccl. ii. 16.
1378.] EMJAH's advent in JOHN BAPTIST, 463
[Which have I more regarded hitherto, the world, or my
own soul ? Which do I intend in future to prefer ?
What will be my thoughts respecting them in the day
of judgment? What answer shall I make to Christ,
when he shall call me to account for despising that, for which
he paid so great a price ? What would I not gladly
give in exchange for my soul, if ever it should be lost through
my present neglect ? And, if ever my soul should
be saved, shall I not then account as dung all which I had lost in order to promote its salvation ? If these ques- tions be duly weighed, we shall soon be like-minded with the great Apostle °."]
0 Phil. iii. 13, 14.