in possession of an eternal inheritance. In the mean time, live in faith, in hope, in patience; and for your daily consolation, remember that " The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and that He knoweth them that trust in him."

SERMON V.

THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF
CHRIST JESUS.

PHILIPPIANS, iii. 8.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.

OUR Saviour compares a true Christian to a Merchantman. He says, that He is "like a man seeking goodly pearls; who, when He has found one pearl of great price, selleth all that he hath, and buyeth it."

St. Paul, in the text, illustrates these words of our Lord. He tells us what this Pearl is, even "the Knowledge of Jesus Christ:" and he bears decided testimony to its value and excellence. We may, in fact, consider him in this passage as deliberately casting up his accounts; comparing his profits with his losses; and announcing the balance in his favour. By embracing Christianity he had

indeed exposed himself to severe deprivations: but what had He gained? He had gained "the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord." Here was a treasure which more than compensated for all the losses that he had sustained in procuring it which so enriched and ennobled him, as to render every thing else in his eyes worthless and even contemptible. "Yea doubt

less, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."The form of expression betrays a sort of triumphant feeling in the Apostle's mind, "Yea doubtless."It was the language of one who contemplated the choice which he had made, and the advantages which he had derived from it, with satisfaction, complacency, and delight.

In order more distinctly to see the grounds of this conclusion, let us more minutely consider,

I. What had been St. Paul's Losses by becoming a Christian, and,

II. What had been his Gain.

May the Spirit of God assist us in this consideration, and bless it to all our souls!

I. When we speak of what had been St. Paul's Losses by becoming a Christian, we mean what were the things which on embracing the faith of a crucified Saviour he had voluntarily relinquished. He tells us in

«Yea

the text, that they were all things. doubtless, and I count all things but loss," that is, all those things which He had once. esteemed and valued; all those things which the world accounts to be valuable and of prime importance. I will mention some few of the things which are here intended.

1st. When St. Paul became a Christian, He gave up all those high notions which he before had of his own merits and righteousness. St. Paul was naturally a very proud selfrighteous man. He was one of the sect of the Pharisees, who in general were persons of this description; persons "who thought themselves righteous, and despised others." He tells us himself, that "touching the righteousness, which was in the law, He was blameless." He was a strict observer of all the ceremonies and forms of religion; very attentive to the letter of the law; and having, as he supposed, a great zeal for God and His honour. The consequence was, that he was puffed up with pride and self-conceit. He deemed himself a very religious man; and one who, by his own goodness and works, had a claim on the favour of Heaven. Such was St. Paul before he became a Christian. But all this pride and vain glory, all these claims and pretensions, he then relinquished. He renounced his own righteousness, "which was of the law." He for ever parted with all

hopes of justifying himself before God, or of meriting any thing good at his hands. He saw, felt, and owned himself to be a Sinner, nay the chief of Sinners; and was contented

to pray for grace and mercy. In short, the self-righteous Pharisee became a penitent Publican. Instead of proudly thanking God "that He was not as other men are, He smote upon his breast, and cried, God be merciful to me a Sinner." Nor let us suppose, my Brethren, that this was a little sacrifice. Let us not suppose that the Apostle, in thus giving up his own righteousness, and these high notions of his own merits and goodness, gave up little. He gave up a great deal: for there is not any one thing, with which man in his natural state is more unwilling to part, than this good opinion of himself. He cleaves and clings to it with all his might and we may sooner prevail with him to cut off a right hand, or to pluck out a right eye, than to renounce his own righteousness. He proudly maintains it throughout his life; and the nearer he comes to death, the faster he holds it. This, then, was one of the things which St. Paul relinquished for Christ.

2dly. He relinquished his worldly prospects; his hope of preferment; his expecta tion of rising to distinction and eminence, of becoming a rich, and, in the opinion of the