Transcribed from the nineteenth century A. Applegath edition,
No. 179.
THE
WORTH OF THE SOUL.
The soul of every man is of moreworth to him than all the world. What would it profit him,if he were to gain the whole world, were he thereby to lose hisown Soul? Such is the uncertainty of life, he might notlong enjoy his power, his riches, and his pleasures. If hecould possess all these, with health and friends, and live tovery old age, an eternity then succeeds, and all that is past isbut as a tale that is told, or as a dream of the night. Fora small portion of the things of time men are all activity andlife. They are ingenious in managing their trades, carefulin preserving their health, and watchful in securing theirproperty. But should the care of the Soul beoverlooked? Should the health of the Soul beneglected? Should the future happiness of the Soul bedisregarded? How many have lost their Souls throughignorance, impenitence, unbelief,disobedience, fleshly lusts, love of theworld, fear of man, love of ease, or someprofitable or pleasant sin, or neglect of the greatsalvation; yet how plain and decided are the oracles ofGod on all these points. Observe each in itsorder. On the subject of ignorance, it is said,“My people are destroyed for lack p. 2of knowledge; because thou hastrejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.” (Hos. iv.6.) Of impenitence, “Except ye repent, yeshall all likewise perish.” (Luke xiii. 3.) Ofunbelief, “He that believeth not the Son, shall notsee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John iii.36.) Of disobedience, “To them who arecontentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,he will render indignation and wrath.” (Rom. ii. 8.) Of fleshly lusts, “They war against the soul.”(1 Pet. ii. 11.) Of the world, “Love not theworld, neither the things that are in the world; if any man lovethe world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 Johnii. 15.) Of the fear of man, “It bringeth asnare.” (Prov. xxix. 25.) “The fearful andunbelieving shall have their part in the lake which burneth withfire and brimstone.” (Rev. xxi. 8.) Of the love ofease, “If any man will come after me, let him denyhimself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. xvi.24.) Of the profits or pleasures of sin, “Ifthy hand offend thee, cut it off. If thine eye offend theepluck it out.” (Mark ix. 43, 47.) Of neglect ofsalvation, “How shall we escape if we neglect so greatsalvation?” (Heb. ii. 3.) On this point read alsoProv. i. 24–33.
How striking are the examples recorded in the sameoracles! Adam risked his soul, through desire ofvain knowledge, (Gen. iii. 6.) Cain, through hatredto true religion, (Heb. xi. 4. 1 John iii. 12.) Achan, for a wedge of gold, (Josh. vii. 21.) Esau, for a mess of pottage, (Heb. xii. 16.) Balaam, for a reward, (Jude 11.) Absalom, fora kingdom, (2 Sam. xv. 10.) Ahab, for a garden ofherbs, (1 Kings xxi. 4.) Judas, for thirty pieces ofsilver, (Matt. xxvi. 14, 15.) Ananias andSapphira, through a lie, (Acts v. 4.) Herod,for vain glory, (Acts xii. 22, 23.) Pontius Pilate,for popu