46. That it is safest to cleave to that good which is the choicest

Another principle by which a Christian should walk, is this: That it is safest to cleave to that good which is the choicest.

There never was one who thought he had made a bad market, by selling all for the pearl of great price.

Lord, to whom shall we go? for thou hast the words of eternal life. Peter knew that a soul who was changed, was not for changing. There cannot be a better being for us, than for us to be with the Lord: and shall those who have forsaken all to follow him, forsake him again to follow nothing?

Reader, you cannot tread in the steps of Christ, without drinking of the cup of Christ. The nearer you are to such a spring, the clearer will your streams be. When every other gourd is withered, he will prove a refreshing shelter.

How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God; how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. David was least

U alone, when he was most alone. His heart was like the needle in the compass, which always inclines to the northern pole. Believers are desirous of leaving their hearts with God one day, that they may find them with him another day.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. Let a believer search heaven and earth, yet he can find nothing comparable to God: and indeed he must be a conjuror at discovery if he could. As Judah said of Jacob, 'His life is bound up in the life of the lad;' so say I of a Christian, his life is bound up in the life of God. To be near to him in happiness, is to draw near to him in holiness.

Many unstable professors may justly be reflected upon. They will readily attend an applauded Christ, but will hastily desert a crucified Christ; but a true Christian is as willing to follow him to the cross, as to the throne. He has no desire to turn like a shadow from him, in whom there is no shadow of turning.

As there is no natural good in us to lead us to God, so there is no evil without us that shall finally draw us from him. Who but an idiot would address a picture instead of a person; or prefer a shadow to a substance? There is nothing can do us so much good as God's presence, or so much evil as his absence.

It is far better to part with a thousand worlds for one Christ, than with one Christ for a thousand worlds. How dreadful is their darkness who live in the absence of such a sun!

Reader, every step you take to Christ, is a step towards heaven; and every step you take from him, is a mortal step towards hell.

And he was sorrowful at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. This poor rich man, or rather, this rich poor man, came hastily to Jesus, and ran heavily from him. If he may not enjoy God and mammon, he will leave God for mammon. One was for selling all, but the other for saving all. Ah, what false balances are those, which will make corruptible silver outweigh an incorruptible Saviour!

The prince of darkness employs the men of the world to draw us from God, and the things of the world to keep us from God. Truly that good was never worth seeking, that is not worth keeping.

Reader, is it not a fault to depart from that God, in whom there is no fault? As Saul said to his servants, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds? So say I to sinners: Can sin, satan, or the world, do that for you, which God can? It is only the best of beings, who can convey the best of blessings. None but that God who has the keys of heaven, can open the gates of heaven. By him we obtain admittance into the celestial inheritance.

What is our life but a warfare; and what is the world but a thoroughfare? Know, sinner, if you reject the Saviour, you despise grace, which is the fairest jewel on earth; and glory, which is the brightest sun beyond this life.

No set of men are in greater danger of losing the life to come, than those who are contented with the present. A drop is more easily dried up than a river; and a spark sooner extinguished than a flame.

What powerful constraints does our God lay upon us to seek his friendship! I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. It would be better for us to leave all behind, than that he should leave us behind. It is not the brightest star that can constitute day, when the sun is set; nor the thickest cloud that can make a night, if it be risen.

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