The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1910-09-29
The Treasure
and the Pearl
b. REV. z. SINCLAIR SMITH
Pastor Of Wessnsinsssr Presbyterian
Church. Hessson. Tszas

Text: What Is the summum bonum-
| the chief good.-Matt. is;ff-e
Again the kingdom OF Heaven Is Ike
unto treasure hid In n field. the
which when man hath found he
hideth and for Joy thereof goeth and
selleth all that he hath and buyeth
that field.
Again the kingdom OF Heaven II
like a merchant man seeking goodly
pearls, who when he hath found one
pearl Of great price went and sold all
that he had and bought II.
Prof. A. d. Bruce characterizes
these two parallels as the Treasure
and the Pearl Tor the kingdom of
God as the summum bonum or chief
good.
These two parallels constitute but
one text and teach tho same general
lesson. the Incompatible worth OF the
Kingdom OF Tod. They show how the
Kingdom Of God ought TO be- esteemed
In whatever esteem Il may In fact be
held.
Something that II is worth while
giving up everything else In order to
attain H. What is this supreme good
OF human life? We are ill looking for
hidden treasure. We are all seeking
goodly pearls The only question Ii
what treasure Is worth the most7
What pearl has the greatest valuef
What Is best worth living fort What
r. the summum bonum? What. accord
ing 20 Jesus Christ. is the chief goodf
The treasure IL IL worth while 10 bar
ter everything else for? The price
less pearl whose value Is greater than
all elsef Is II not the kingdom OF
God set up In q mans hearth To
have Gods kingdom set up in q mans
own heart. TO be In touch and sympa-
thy with the great interests OF Christ's
eternal kingdom: this is worth while.
worth living for. worth dying for.
This Is the only interest deep
enough. high enough. comprehensive
enough 90 absorb a mans affection;
arouse his energies. develop the best
and broadcast life. There Is only one
thing worth living for-the kingdom
OF God. Christ teaches and expert
ence proves the truth OF his teaching
that only the kingdom OF God set up
in a mans heart can satisfy him. He
may have everything else under the
sun. but unless he has entered into
living. loving fellowship with God his
soul will thirst for the living God and
will never DO satisfied until satisfied
In God.
Mans chief good Is God. The liv-
ing. loving God az recalled In Christ
enthroned In the heart, the source Of
life eternall this is mans chief good.
This Is life eternal that they might
know this the only true God and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent"
Another term our Savior uses In de-
scrIbing the chief good "a eternal
life" II men only knew the signih-
canoe OF those two words--eternal
iife-they would give up everything
they had on earth rather than not pos
sess II.
| Like the man who found the hidden
treasure, they would sell all that they
had TO possess that field. Like the
merchantmen seeking goodly pearls,
when they found this pearl OF great
price they would give up everything
they had rather than TO give up this
priceless pearl.
Let us study these parallels little
more closely. They represent two dif-
ferent classes Of men. The parable
OF the man who found the treasure hid
In the field represents man going
about his daily business. living a sur
face life, unaware that Just below the
surface. II he would dig little deep
er, he would find a rich treasure. not
knowing that there 10 a richer. better
life In store for him. until accidental
iy. as Il we're. he stumbles upon "the
Christian secret OF happy life" and
goes on through life rejoicing In his
newfound happiness.
The parable of the merchantmen
seeking goodly pearls represents DIFF.
ferent type OF q man. one OF high
ideals and expectations. always reach
ing out after something better than
he possessed, until at last. In his seek
ing. he comes across the pearl Of great
price revealed in the peerless one, and
he gladly parts with all that he has
gained that he may possess H. Such
choice soul was Paul, who said:
What things were gain to me these
have I counted loss for Christ. Yea.
verify. and count ali things to be loss
for the excellency OF the knowledge OF
Christ Jesus my Lord. for whom I
suffered the loss OF all things and do
count them but refuse that may gain
him."
Another choice soul was Justin,
martyr. one of the early Christians.
who tells us In his writings how he
had travelled through the whole circle
OF Greek philosophy. seeking every
where for that which would satisfy
the deepest needs OF his hearts soul,
and ever seeking in vain. TIL he found
II at length In the gospel OF Christ.
This parable represents an earnest,
seeking soul finding at the end of its
weary quest Christ. Gods answer to
the hearts need.
We show our appreciation OF tho
value OF this treasure. this pearl. by
a.. -.rnoetnaoa NTH xhtok -