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SERMON IX.

THE VALUE OF THE SOUL.

MATT. XVI. 26.

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

It

MANKIND, in general, pursue those things which they esteem good and desirable, would be well, therefore, if their judgments were always rightly informed, and their affections duly regulated, that they might invariably seek those objects which are altogether worthy of their regard. For, since man is a compound of body and soul, as he is not only a child of the earth, but is destined to be an heir of immortality, he is required to provide for the interests of both parts of his wonderful structure. The cares and concerns of this world ought not so far to engross his time and

thoughts, as to make him unmindful of his welfare in his future state.

He should look

upon himself as a candidate for immortal glory, and should consider his earthly condition as only a preparatory stage for eternal life. Man, however, through the influence of a depraved nature and the allurements which surround him here below, is too apt to forget his real destination, and he acts his part as if the present moment alone were deserving of his notice. Hence we find that a person may be wise as to the objects of time, and yet may deprive himself of everlasting life by an undue attachment to things that are temporal. It behoves us then, my brethren, to give a close attention to this solemn question of our Lord, in the words of our Text; What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?* or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? These words evidently imply, First, that the soul may be lost. Secondly, That there is nothing in the world which can be put in competition with the eternal happiness of the soul.

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I. We observe that the soul may be lost. "Soul," or "life." If the animal life is generally account. ed dearer than all the world, how much more valuable is that eternal life, which the soul is capable of enjoying in the world to come?

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The Scriptures lead us to consider the soul as distinct from the body, though acting by it in its present state; and that after death it will take its flight into the world of Spirits, and will then return unto God who gave it. After death it will be fixed in a region of happiness or misery, according to the righteous decision of the supreme Judge, "who will render to every man according to his deeds." Now "the wages of sin is death," eternal death, not a ceasing to think and feel, but a state of gloomy despair and agonizing pain. This state of punishment is represented under images that are the most dreadful to the human imagination, as "the blackness of darkness," and "an unquenchable fire." Whatever it is, it will be eternal. The same God who is represented as being good and merciful, even love' itself, to those who are reconciled unto him and who are devoted to his service, will prove "a consuming fire"s towards all his enemies, who have resisted his will, during their lives, and who died at last in their sins, unrenewed and unfit for heaven. The Scriptures assure us, that "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, d Matt. iii. 12. Hleb, xii. 29.

a Rom. ii. 6. b Rom. vi. 23. с Jude 13.

* Matt. xxv. 46. f 1 John iv. S.

and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power.""
The awful con-
dition of those who are lost will be this, they
will be for ever excluded from the regions of
happiness, and will be filled with anguish and
despair, in that place "where their worm dieth
not, and the fire is not quenched."1

Is there, then, any probability or danger of the soul's being lost, in this way, without further hope or remedy? We are assured on the best authority that there is very great danger of this sad event.

1. The soul of any man may be lost, even through carelessness, through a want of due attention to its eternal interests. The mind may be too much occupied and engaged, even in lawful things. A man may be so buried in the cares and business of this life, as scarcely ever to turn his thoughts to the important concerns of another world. He may be so distracted by earthly cares and pleasures, as never to think, with any seriousness, about the future condition of his immortal soul. The business and concerns of this world are, to a h2 Thess. i. 7—10. i Mark ix. 44.

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certain degree, proper and necessary; but the great difficulty is, to keep them in their due place; we are in danger of considering them as the only things of importance, and of regarding all solicitude about the soul as weakness and folly. Our minds are apt to be absorbed by the visible and fascinating scenes of this life, in which we are daily occupied ; we are naturally drawn towards the earth, and we set our affections too much on things below. The concerns of this life, "the deceitfulness of riches," and the enticements of pleasure, are continually drawing off our attention from the things that are eternal; they frequently choke any rising thought and desire which would lead us to prepare for a mansion beyond the skies. We are surrounded with snares and difficulties of this kind, which entangle us the more easily, because we are not apprehensive that any danger will arise from them. These things ensnare us, because they appear in a plausible form, and are allowed, to a certain degree, to be lawful and expedient.

But, however valuable they may be in themselves, however properly they may claim a due regard in their appointed season,-if they engross our whole time and thoughts,-if they

* Matt. xiii. 22.

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