The Insulted Merchant
God is grieved when people undervalue His grace and bargain with His gospel.
"A merchant that hath a precious commodity, and one biddeth a mean price, he foldeth up his wares with indignation." We have seen the exhibitor turn away in utter disgust when some uninitiated spectator has offered pence where pounds would not have been accepted. The jeweller or artist has been as much offended as if he had been personally insulted by such a depreciation of his valuables. Do you wonder that the Lord God is grieved when men set a base price upon his priceless grace, and begin to bargain and chaffer as to what sins they will give up, and what duties they will perform? Do you wonder that he should take his gospel away from such a people, and turn to others who will set more store by his goodness? Not for ever will Jesus cast his pearls before swine. Woe to that man who at last angers his God into turning from him, and taking the despised gospel elsewhere! He well deserves to perish who counts eternal life to be of less value than a passing pleasure, or reckons the righteousness of God to be no better than his own poor works.