{"collection":"philosophy-ethics","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_62162/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_62162","id":"gutenberg_62162","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62162","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Philosophy & Ethics","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Redemption","Soul"],"text":"Transcribed from the nineteenth century A. Applegath edition by David\nPrice, email ccx074@pglaf.org\n\n                 [Picture: Public domain pamphlet cover]\n\n                                                                  No. 179.\n\n\n\n\n\n                                   THE\n                            WORTH OF THE SOUL.\n\n\nTHE soul of every man is of more worth to him than all the world.  What\nwould it profit him, if he were to gain the whole world, were he thereby\nto lose his own Soul?  Such is the uncertainty of life, he might not long\nenjoy his power, his riches, and his pleasures.  If he could possess all\nthese, with health and friends, and live to very old age, an eternity\nthen succeeds, and all that is past is but as a tale that is told, or as\na dream of the night.  For a small portion of the things of time men are\nall activity and life.  They are ingenious in managing their trades,\ncareful in preserving their health, and watchful in securing their\nproperty.  But should the care of the Soul be overlooked?  Should the\nhealth of the Soul be neglected?  Should the future happiness of the Soul\nbe disregarded?  How many have lost their Souls through _ignorance_,\n_impenitence_, _unbelief_, _disobedience_, _fleshly lusts_, _love of the\nworld_, _fear of man_, _love of ease_, _or some profitable or pleasant\nsin_, _or neglect of the great salvation_; _yet how plain and decided are\nthe oracles of God on all these points_.  Observe each in its order.  On\nthe subject of _ignorance_, it is said, \u201cMy people are destroyed for lack\nof knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject\nthee.\u201d (Hos. iv. 6.)  Of _impenitence_, \u201cExcept ye repent, ye shall all\nlikewise perish.\u201d (Luke xiii. 3.)  Of _unbelief_, \u201cHe that believeth not\nthe Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.\u201d (John\niii. 36.)  Of _disobedience_, \u201cTo them who are contentious, and do not\nobey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, he will render indignation and\nwrath.\u201d (Rom. ii. 8.)  Of _fleshly lusts_, \u201cThey war against the soul.\u201d\n(1 Pet. ii. 11.)  Of _the world_, \u201cLove not the world, neither the things\nthat are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father\nis not in him.\u201d (1 John ii. 15.)  Of _the fear of man_, \u201cIt bringeth a\nsnare.\u201d (Prov. xxix. 25.)  \u201cThe fearful and unbelieving shall have their\npart in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.\u201d (Rev. xxi. 8.)\nOf the _love of ease_, \u201cIf any man will come after me, let him deny\nhimself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\u201d (Matt. xvi. 24.)  Of the\n_profits or pleasures of sin_, \u201cIf thy hand offend thee, cut it off.  If\nthine eye offend thee pluck it out.\u201d (Mark ix. 43, 47.)  Of _neglect of\nsalvation_, \u201cHow shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?\u201d (Heb.\nii. 3.)  On this point read also Prov. i. 24\u201333.\n\nHow striking are the examples recorded in the same oracles!  _Adam_\nrisked his soul, through desire of vain knowledge, (Gen. iii. 6.)\n_Cain_, through hatred to true religion, (Heb. xi. 4.  1 John iii. 12.)\n_Achan_, for a wedge of gold, (Josh. vii. 21.)  _Esau_, for a mess of\npottage, (Heb. xii. 16.)  _Balaam_, for a reward, (Jude 11.)  _Absalom_,\nfor a kingdom, (2 Sam. xv. 10.)  _Ahab_, for a garden of herbs, (1 Kings\nxxi. 4.)  _Judas_, for thirty pieces of silver, (Matt. xxvi. 14, 15.)\n_Ananias_ and _Sapphira_, through a lie, (Acts v. 4.)  _Herod_, for vain\nglory, (Acts xii. 22, 23.)  _Pontius Pilate_, for popularity, (Mark xv.\n15.)  _The Gentiles_ in general, through a dislike to retain God in their\nknowledge, (Rom. i. 28.) and the _Jews_, through hypocrisy,\nself-righteousness, and unbelief. (Matt. xvi. 3, Rom. x. 3. xi. 20.)\n\nVarious are the baits that are employed by the great enemy of the human\nrace.  His designs are, to keep men in sin, or draw them from true\nreligion, or hinder their peace and usefulness in the ways of God.  His\nwarlike stratagems and subtle snares are all to catch souls. (Ephes. vi.\n11. 1 Pet. v. 8.)  Therefore, through the blessing of God, it may serve\nas a guard against our danger, if we consider the following things:\u2014\n\nI.  _The nature of the Soul_.  It is spiritual, and is designed for an\neternal existence. (Gen. ii. 7.)  It is formed to be the residence of\ntruth, holiness, and happiness.  It is capable of knowing, loving, and\nserving God; (Deut. vi. 5.) and nothing can render it truly happy but\nthis knowledge, love, and service.  Then how sad the consideration that\nerror, sin, and misery should occupy it!  If it lose an eternity of joy,\nhow dreadful the reverse!  It cannot cease to exist.  It cannot be\nannihilated.  It must endure positive pain.  There is a \u201cworm that dieth\nnot, and a fire that is not quenched.\u201d (Mark ix. 44.)  With what anguish\nwill a ruined sinner cry, \u201cHow have I hated instruction, and my heart\ndespised reproof.\u201d (Prov. v. 12, 13.)  I was warned, but I disregarded\nthe warning.  I was invited, but I refused the invitation.  I was\nentreated, but I neglected the entreaty.  I was threatened, but I\ndisbelieved the threatening.  If an occasional thought of eternity\nobtruded itself, it was an unwelcome guest.  I went to my farm, to my\nmerchandise, to my pleasures, to my sins; but could find no time or\ninclination to go to my Bible, my Saviour, my God.  Evil spirits have\nbeen my tempters, they are now my companions and tormenters.  I am\nwithout hope; darkness and despair have seized my Soul, \u201cthe harvest is\npast, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.\u201d (Jer. viii. 20.)  My sins\nand negligence are set in dread array before me, and this is their\ndesert.  I see others entering into the kingdom of heaven, but I am shut\nout. (Matt. xxv. 10.)  The only sound I hear from heaven, is, _Eternity_!\n_Eternity_! _Eternity_! (Rev. xiv. 10, 11.)\n\nThus, if we consider the capacity of the Soul for happiness or misery, we\nmay learn something of its nature and worth; and surely this ought to\nserve as a guard against neglect of its welfare.  Shall we run into\ndanger, and risk the loss of so invaluable a treasure?  Shall we be\ncontent that it should remain doubtful whether we shall be saved or lost?\nShall we take such a leap in the dark, when, if we be found wrong, there\nis no remedy?  He who once loses his Soul, loses his all.  He is like a\nmerchant whose ship sinks with all his property on board.  A man may\nrecover many losses on earth, but the loss of the Soul is a loss never to\nbe repaired.  _Once lost_, _lost for ever_.\n\nStill more shall we discover its worth, if we reflect on:\u2014\n\nII.  _The price of its redemption_.  O! learn the value of your Souls by\nthat astonishing truth, \u201c_God was manifest in the flesh_.\u201d (1 Tim. iii.\n16.)  \u201cThough he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.\u201d (2 Cor.\nviii. 9.)  He became \u201ca man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.\u201d\n(Isaiah liii. 3.)  He tabernacled thirty-three years in our evil world.\nHe was obedient to the law for man. (Dan. ix. 24.)  He was made a\nsacrifice for sin. (2 Cor. v. 21.  Gal. iii. 13.)  \u201cHe was wounded for\nour transgressions.\u201d  \u201cHe was bruised for our iniquities.\u201d  \u201cHe poured\nout his soul unto death.\u201d (Isaiah liii. 5. 12.)  By all he did and\nsuffered, by the mystery of his holy incarnation, by his holy nativity\nand circumcision, by his baptism, fasting, and temptation, by his agony\nand bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and\nburial, by his glorious resurrection and ascension, and by his second\ncoming to judge the world, an infinite dignity and incalculable value are\nstamped on the Soul.  \u201cYe were not redeemed with corruptible things, as\nsilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.\u201d (1 Pet. i. 18,\n19.)  Shall such a price be paid, and will you not regard your Soul?  If\nimmortal Souls were so precious in the sight of God, that he gave his\nonly begotten Son, that through him they might be saved.  If they were so\nvaluable in the sight of the divine Saviour, that he did not shrink from\nlaying down his life for their sake, let then your own Soul be precious\nin your own sight, and seek its present and everlasting salvation through\nhim, for he freely offers you his salvation, yea, beseeches you to accept\nit at his hands. (2 Cor. v. 20, and vi. 1.)\n\nTo this end, let it be your immediate object to consider,\n\nIII.  _The means appointed for the soul\u2019s spiritual welfare_.  _Ministers\nlabour_ continually.  \u201cThey watch for your Souls as they that must give\nan account.\u201d (Heb, xiii. 17.)  They are the appointed messengers of God\nto warn men to flee from the wrath to come, and to invite them to lay\nhold on eternal life. (Col. i. 28.  1 Tim. vi. 12.)  By them the blessing\nand the curse are continually set before you. (Deut. xxx. 19.)  _The\nGospel is preached_, that faith may come by hearing. (Rom. x. 17.)  And\nthe spirit of God waiteth to apply it, and make it effectual. (Isa. xxx.\n18.  Rev. iii. 20.)  It is brought near, and its blessings freely\noffered. (Rom. x. 8\u201313,) and the consequences of neglecting it are fully\nstated. (Acts iv. 12.  2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.)  _The holy scriptures are\nwritten_ \u201cfor doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in\nrighteousness.\u201d (2 Tim. iii. 15\u201317.)  They are an infallible guide, \u201ca\nsure word of prophecy,\u201d (2 Pet. i. 19,) a light to guide the soul into\nthe way of peace. (Ps. cxix. 105\u2013130.)  _Conscience_ admonishes and\naccuses. (Rom. ii. 15.)  Oftentimes, with a voice too powerful to be\naltogether resisted, it whispers, \u201cTake heed to thy soul.\u201d (Acts xxiv.\n25.)  _Providences_ are arranged by infinite wisdom in such manner, that\nthey may speak a warning voice.  (Luke xiii. 4.  Mark xiii. 37.)\n_Afflictions_ are sent to awaken a concern for eternity.  (Isaiah\nxxxviii. 1.)  And the _Holy Spirit strives_, yea, condescends to invite\nto a conference, with the promise of a happy result. (Gen. vi. 3.  Isaiah\ni. 18.  Acts iii. 19.)  _Destruction has no covering_, that we may not\nfall into the pit, (Luke xvi. 23,) and _Heaven darts its splendours_ from\nafar to attract the notice of immortal souls. (Ps. xvi. 11.  Rev. xxi.\n23\u201327.)  Then neglect not to use those means which are placed within your\npower.  _Wait on God_ continually. (Isa. xl. 31.)  _Remember that thou\nkeep holy the sabbath day_. (Isaiah lviii. 13, 14.)  _Search the\nscriptures_ daily. (Acts xvii. 11, 12.)  _Be earnest in prayer_.  Cry\nmightily unto God, to enlighten your mind, and renew a right spirit\nwithin you. (Luke xi. 9\u201313.)  Plead the promises of God, and you will\nfind them faithful and true for the welfare of your souls. (Isa. lxv.\n24.)\n\nUpon the whole, therefore, observe.\u2014They who neglect the means of grace\ndeprive their souls of good. (Heb. iv. 1, 2.)  They who do not reverence\nthe Son of God and trust in him, lose their Souls for ever. (John viii.\n24.)  In this there is great folly, as well as guilt.  He who is more\nanxious about time than eternity, and disregards spiritual things, is\nmore foolish and cruel than the man, who, when his house is on fire,\nlooks after trifles, and exposes himself, or leaves his child to perish\nin the flames.\n\nWill you postpone the consideration of these things?  What, and if this\nnight your soul should be required of you?  Be ye therefore ready. (Luke\nxii. 20\u201340.)  \u201cBehold, _now_ is the accepted time, _now_ is the day of\nsalvation.\u201d (2 Cor. vi. 2.)  \u201cSeek ye the Lord _while he may be found_,\ncall ye upon him _while he is near_;\u201d (Isaiah lv. 6.) lest you resemble\nthe _Roman Emperor_ who, in his dying moments, said, \u201cMy poor vagrant\nSoul, whither art thou going;\u201d or the _unbelieving Voltaire_, who\ndeclared to his physician, he would give half his fortune to have his\nlife lengthened half a-year; or the _Jewish Rabbi_, who said to them that\nasked him why he wept, \u201cIf they were carrying me before a king of flesh\nand blood, who is here to-day, and to-morrow in the grave; who may bring\nme into bondage, but cannot keep me there, only for a season; who may\ndestroy my body, but cannot touch my soul, even in these circumstances I\nshould weep.  But now I am going before the King of Kings, the only\nblessed God, who liveth and endureth for ever and ever, who, if I die\nimpenitent, will consign me to the pit whence there is no redemption.\u201d\n\nInstead of being thus left, with Pagans, Infidels, and Jews, to dread\nuncertainty, on a subject so amazingly important as the future state of\nthe immortal soul, instead of the dreadful risk which all must run who\nare careless or indifferent on such a matter, you may, by that grace of\nthe Holy Spirit which you are encouraged to seek, by that repentance\ntowards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, which you are\ninvited to exercise, and which is the gift of God, be enabled to triumph\nover _death_, and say, \u201cI know whom I have believed, and am persuaded\nthat he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.\u201d (2 Tim. i.\n12.)  \u201cO death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?\nThanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus\nChrist.\u201d (1 Cor. xv. 55.)  You may carry your imagination beyond the\ngrave, and say, in the prospect of an appearance at the _judgment_ of the\ngreat day, \u201cWho is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died.\u201d (Rom.\nviii. 34.)  You may look forward to _eternity_, and say, \u201cI have fought a\ngood fight, I have finished my course, 1 have kept the faith; henceforth\nthere is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.\u201d (2 Tim. iv. 6, 7.)\n\nThat God of his infinite mercy and love may bless you with this grace,\nand lead you to the exercise of this repentance and faith; or, if you are\nnow penitent believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you may be kept\n\u201csteadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,\u201d is the\nhearty desire of the friend who thus wishes to draw your attention to the\n_Worth of your Souls_, by leading you to consider, _their nature_, _the\nprice of their redemption_, and _the means of their spiritual welfare_.\n\n    What were thy gain, couldst thou survey\n    The spacious land, and boundless sea,\n    And view a world at thy controul,\n    But lose thyself, th\u2019 immortal soul?\n\n    Blessings of mind, or better health,\n    Can well supply the loss of wealth:\n    A ruin\u2019d soul what can restore?\n    That loss can be repair\u2019d no more.\n\n    Where will the trembling sinner find\n    A ransom for the guilty mind?\n    What jewel of uncounted cost\n    Can purchase back _that jewel_ lost?\n\n    What madness thus to throw away\n    A soul for trifles day by day!\n    For dear-bought joys yourself undo,\n    And barter bliss for certain woe!\n\n    Amazing folly Lord we own\n    Our guilt, with penitential moan:\n    While our vain hearts have been engrost,\n    With meaner cares, our souls were lost.\n\n    For what in nature\u2019s spacious range\n    Would happy saints their bliss exchange?\n    Or what in time can sinners gain\n    To balance everlasting pain?\n\n        [Picture: Decorative graphic of rural cottage with trees]\n\n                                * * * * *\n\nLondon: Printed by A. APPLEGATH, Duke-street, Stamford-street; and sold\nby J. DAVIS, No. 56, Paternoster-row, and by J. NISBET, No. 15,\nCastle-street, Oxford-street. {1}\n\n\n\n\n\n                                FOOTNOTES.\n\n\n{1}  In the printed version there\u2019s neither title page nor cover and the\nprinter\u2019s statement comes at the bottom of the page.  It\u2019s been moved to\nthe end in this transcription.\u2014DP.","title":"The Worth of the Soul: No. 179","tradition":"philosophy-ethics","translated_text":null,"word_count":2686}