March 14

Is this the language of Paul? Is he the candidate for Christ? How well might he say, that, in the subjects of divine grace, old things are passed away, and all things are become new. What a change must have taken place in his own experience. Compare the man with himself. Now a blasphemer of the name of Jesus, and now asking at his feet, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Now persecuting his followers, and now preaching the faith that once he destroyed. Now living a Pharisee, and boasting of his Jewish privileges and attainments; now saying, "What things were gain to me, those I count loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

Yet had he not won him already? For many years he had known and served and enjoyed him. But intense affection makes us think that we are never sure enough of the object. Intense delight in any good makes us long after more fruition. There is this difference between a convinced sinner and an experienced believer in Christ; the former desires only from a sense of want, the latter desires also from the relish of the enjoyment. For he has tasted that the Lord is gracious. And hence he the more earnestly cries, Lord, evermore give me this bread. Taste provokes appetite. Advancement in knowledge produces humility and dissatisfaction. Hence the nearer any one approaches completeness in any thing, the more easily he discerns, and the more mortifyingly he feels his remaining deficiencies. And no wonder, therefore, the apostle should here say, "I have not attained, I am not already perfect;" for here, so immense is the blessing, that what is possessed will never bear a comparison with what remains; and as the object is infinite, and the faculty finite, there will always be a possibility of addition; and the happiness derivable from the Saviour will not only be eternal, but eternally increasing.

But is this prize attainable by us? In answer to this, how is he placed before us in the Scriptures? Is he exhibited only to our view, or proposed to our hope? Are not all allowed, invited, commanded to seek him, and all without exception? And could any be condemned for rejecting him, if he was not placed within their reach?

But what is necessary to make him our own? Not desert. Witness, the characters of those who are encouraged to hope in him. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He died for the ungodly. Indeed, if any meritorious qualifications were to be possessed, or conditions to be performed, in order to our obtaining him, our case would be desperate.

But desire is necessary. Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find. Warrant is one thing, disposition is another; unless we are convinced of our need of him, we cannot long after him; and unless we value him, the blessing could not gratify and content us if acquired.

Sacrifice is therefore needful; and when the desire is supremely urgent and active, and nothing can be a substitute for the object, we shall be ready to part with whatever stands in competition with him. Hence we read in the Scripture, of selling all to buy the pearl of great price. Buying, here, does not signify giving an equivalent for him, for who could think of this? But as in buying, something is parted with for the purpose; so it is here. And whether it be the pride of reason, or self-righteousness, or our worldly connections and interests, or our sins, that keep us back from him, we must forsake them all, and follow him. And shall we not be more, infinitely more than indemnified, if we win Christ?