LECTURE VIII. Excellency of Christianity. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellen cy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Philippians 3: 8. The author of our text, had been called to make many sacrifices because of his profession of faith in Christ Jesus. His advantages as a Jew, were many; but these he was compelled to relinquish, and to leave his honors, and endure persecution as a soldier of Jesus. I said his advantages and privileges as a Jew, were many-they were so. He was a leader among the sect of the Pharisees. And he was exceedingly profitable to the people as a religious leader, in supporting and propagating Judaism, and the traditons which had been incorporated with that religion. He says, when speaking of his former course of life, and of the success which had ever attended him, I profited in the Jews religion, above many of mine equals, being exceedingly zealous, for the traditions of my fathers.' Some of his brethren, like the Israelites of old, complained, because of the ease and comfort they had left, on account of the Gospel; but when he heard of it, he invariably set before them the losses to which he had been subjected, and the willingness with which he endured them- and also the low estimation he put upon all those things which were placed in competition with Christianity. Some of the Philippians were disposed to lend a listening ear to those injurious men, who were seeking to incorporate the law of Moses with the Gospel, and nullify the latter, by the burdensome forms, and rituals, of the former. And to accomplish their object, they had appealed to their sympathies, and brought forth the advantages they had forsaken, contending at the same time, that these might be enjoyed, and that they could receive the gospel, the same as now. The whole object of these men was, however, to burden Christianity, and at length to swallow it up in the law. When a knowledge of what was going on at Philippi came to the ears of Paul, he wrote them this epistle, and in it aimed to fortify their minds against the macinations of their adversaries. He set forth his own sufferings, privations, and resolutions, as an example, that they might be stimulated to the rightful discharge of their duty. 'Beware,' said he, 'of dogs; beware of evil work ers; beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. -If any other man think he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, and tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness of the law, blameless. But those things which were gain to me, I count lost, for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.' If a man of Paul's mind, could renounce all these individual, and national advantages, for a simple knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, what must be the nature of that knowledge, upon which he placed so high a valuation? He not only sacrificed these advantages, but many others 'I count all things but loss, and dross, &c. -We therefore are led to inquire In what did this knowledge consist? And a desire must be ours to possess the same, that our comfort may be like Paul's. It was an acquaintance with Jesus of Nazareth; not barely knowing there was such a person but being rightly informed of his character. Herod knew there was such a person and knew him as a remarkable being - but this gave him pain — and - filled him with sorrow, and called into action the most beastly feelings of his nature, even those of a murderer. The unbelieving Jews knew him personally-as a Nazarene, and were clamorous in their opposition to him. And many others were acquainted with him, but their knowledge was not like that, which in our text, is called excellent. The Apostle is very particular to say 'I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord.' I am satisfied, that most people who read the scriptures, lose much of the beauty, and truth which there exists, because they do not understand, nor realize the signification of many of those words which involve important subjects. Now, these names of Jesus let us into the secret of his character, and the nature of his work- and also portray his competency to discharge aright the duties assigned him. Christ, is equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah, and signifies the anointed of God. Jesus, means a Savior. Lord, a possessor-and is applied, in a two fold sense: meaning one who possesses, and one who deals bread to the hungry. The author of my text knew Jesus, first, as the Christ-or the anointed of God. I might, were it needful, quote passages from the Old Testament, and compare them with the New, to prove the correctness of this interpretation. For example - David said, 'The kings of the earth stood ‘The up, and the rulers took counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed.'- Ps. 2. In Acts 4, this is quoted by the apostles, as follows- 'The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.' Thus substituting the word Christ, for that of anointed, thus showing they are of one meaning. We inquire; What was Jesus anointed with? Ans: He was anointed with the holy Ghost, and with power. Peter said, when he preached at the house of Cornelius - Acts x. 38. 'God anointed Jesus of Nazareth, with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him.' He was qualified to discharge the work of a Redeemer. He had power given him from on highand by the Spirit of God, which he received without measure, he was instructed in all things, pertaining to his duty. - Jesus, associated with Christ, sets him before us, as the anointed Savior and then, if we inquire what he is to save us from, the answer is given in the language of the angel — 'Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.' Lord, signifies a possessor, or owner. We em ploy the word in that sense. We speak of the landlord and of the lords of the soil-meaning those who own, or possess real estate. Jesus is a Lord, or a possessor. He possesses all men. The father hath given all into his hands. He hath said — ' All |