"I've found the pearl of greatest price,
My heart doth sing fur joy,"—
Once wrote a Christian poet-but whose, heart is it, dear -reader, that sings for joy?
Think you, is it the heart of him who hath found Christ, and in finding Him hath discovered a jewel of untold wealth and luster,-an ocean of unfathomed depth and boundless limit; a spring of abiding perennial light and joy and sunshine?
No doubt, all this and far, far more is true of such an one. How fully does it become such a heart to " sing for joy "-yea, and make known its gladness far and near. But, be not surprised when I say, that the heart that really sings for joy on the finding of the pearl is not that of the believer, but that of the Savior Himself!
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and, sold all that he had, and bought it."
Now, I have no question whatever that the merchantman referred to in this parable, is none 'other than the Lord Jesus Christ-and its object is just to reveal to us " His thirst for our salvation," and the wondrously high estimation in which He held that church of Elis-that pearl of price,-for which He died.
Notice first, " He sought" the pearl. Think you, did ever a sinner, of himself, seek the Savior? Did the word in Rom. 3. ever prove false, "there is none that seeketh after God?" When did the world invoke the love of God, or beseech for the giving of His Son? Nay, did not the world hate God, and throw back His Son upon Him-taking Him and by wicked hands crucifying and slaving Him! It was not the sinner who sought Christ, but, blessed be His name, He sought the sinner. He "came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost."
Secondly. " He sold all that He had." Now tell me -is the sinner. ever asked to give anything for salvation? True, he needs it, for he is lost, but does God sell it to him for the price of tears, or works, or reformation, or penance, or self denial, or for giving up this, that or the other thing? No He need sell nothing, surrender nothing, do nothing for. God's salvation. And why? Because it is free. The purchase price has been paid by. another, and hence the earnest cry, " He every one that thirsted", come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy wine and milk with. out money and without price." Or again, " whosoever will, let him take the water of life FREELY."
. Now there is no contradiction in the Word of God. If salvation be "free" it is clearly not purchasable-not to be bought for money, I therefore say that He who sold all that He had was Christ, that thus He might purchase and redeem from Satan's grasp His precious pearl. Oh I reader, look at Him, laying aside His eternal scepter, entering the manger at Bethlehem, treading our sin-stained earth, lone and weary and spotless, behold Him on the cross giving up His life-His heart's blood-His all! He "sold all that He had."
Thirdly. He " bought the, pearl," and could, therefore, claim it as " His own." How dear to Him! how infinitely valuable. If we pay high for that we value, surely Christ paid high for us! The pearl lies deep down beneath many a fathom of deep and sullen waters-and so the church lay far beneath the heavy tide of sin and disgrace and shame. Peril is in the path of the pearl diver-death lay in that of Jesus. He died-but He rose triumphant, and now the church is " His own "-and in the midst of it-He sings praises to God. (See Heb. H. 12.)
May I say it, 'tis Christ whose heart is singing for joy.
As the Shepherd rejoiced on finding the lost sheep, so does Christ now rejoice! Wondrous truth And the day is fast approaching when Ile shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied—when He shall " present the church to Himself a glorious church "—and see in her the evidence and illustration forever of His power aril His love.
Blessed Savior, we adore Thee, and as knowing the love of Thy heart, we would gladly yield unto Thee all we have.
Praise the Savior ye who know Him,
Think, O think, how much we-owe Him,
Gladly lot us render to Him,
All lye are mid. have." J. W. S.