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from the following considerations: —

I. From its essence and capacities. The body is composed of dust, like the bodies of other animals, but the soul was infused by the breath of God. It is capable of the heavenly exercises of love, pity, and mercy. The extent of its capacities is amazing. It is capable of exerting itself like an angel in the employments of the heavenly world. Vast capacities has the soul for happiness and misery. The happiness which appertains to the soul is far the most noble in its kind. If to contemplate the sun and moon produces a delight full of dignity, what does the contemplation of Him who spoke these orbs into being? The soul alone is capable of enjoying God. What is the world to this?

II. From the amazing respect that has been paid to it. God has discovered His high regard for the soul by the pains He has taken to give a written revelation to the world. Angels also discover their high regard for the soul by leaving the realms of glory to consume their time upon this distant planet by daily ministrations to its salvation.

II. What completes the value of the soul is its immortality and perhaps eternal progression.How may we best know the worth of the soul? By considering —

I. What is meant by the soul.

1. "Soul," or ψυχὴ, the word here used, is put for life, by a metonymy of the efficient for the effect, because our life depends upon the soul. Thus: "Take no thought for your life" — ψυχὴ (Matthew 6:25).

2. The word "soul" is put for the whole man frequently in Scripture. Thus, the number of persons "that came with Jacob into Egypt" is reckoned by so many "souls" (Genesis 46:26).

3. This word "soul" is taken most properly and strictly for the form, constituent, and better part of man; that breath that is breathed into him from God, when man becomes a living soul (Genesis 2:7). In this acceptation we proceed to inquire —

II. What this "soul" is.(a) The soul is a distinct substance from the body. This will appear if we consider

(1)  that such things as are proper to distinct substances — as, to " dwell in the body," whilst a man lives; to "leave the body " when he dies — are attributed to the soul;

(2)  that it does " substare," i.e., is the subject of accidents — such as are virtue and vice, arts and sciences; which cannot inhere in bare matter;

(3)  that it was made after the body;

(4)  that it exists separately from the body — "Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). It is certain his body was not with our Saviour's.

(b) The soul is a spiritual substance.

1. Were it only that the soul is so often called " a spirit " by God Himself in His Word, it were a very considerable argument to prove that it is a spirit (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Zechariah 12:1; Acts 7:59).

2. That the soul is a spiritual substance, is evident in that it is not produced out of matter (Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7).

3. A third argument to prove that the soul is a spirit, is, because in it man bears the image of God — "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24).

4. The actions or operations of the soul are such as cannot proceed from any bodily being.

5. The soul is a spirit, in that it is in the body, and one body cannot be in another. The soul takes up no place, as bodies do; it is tota in tote.

6. In what the soul's excellency does appear.

I. The first thing that speaks the soul's prerogative is its original. It is accounted no small privilege to be nobly born.

II. Then again in the end it is designed for.

1. The soul of man is made for to bring glory to God.

2. The soul of man is made capable of enjoying God.The endeavours that are used for to gain souls.

I. God's endeavours.

1. His parting with His Son, and Christ with His heart blood and life, for them.

2. I might add unto God's giving of His Son for our souls, His giving of His Spirit to the soul.

3. God's valuing of our soul appears in the care and pains which He takes for our souls daily.

(a) In that He hath instituted means whereby He might come to obtain our souls, nay, to strengthen and comfort them, and have communion with them.

(b) He bears with us, and exercises a great deal of patience towards us, if so He might at length gain our souls; and says, "when shall it once be?"(c) His bearing with the whole world of wicked men, notwithstanding their blasphemies and open defiances of Him, is only out of love to some few souls who serve and fear Him.

(d) All the providences of God. in which He worketh hitherto, are intended by Him for the good of our souls, and done by God out of respect unto them.

II. Endeavours used by Satan for our souls.

(e) The duration of our souls. APPLICATION:

1. If the soul be so precious, we have heard enough to make us abhor sin for ever.

2. This does recommend and endear our blessed Saviour to us.

3. This commends holiness in all its parts to us.

4. Have a care that ye do not lose these souls that are so valuable. Consider that —

(1)  the danger your souls are in is very great;

(2)  the loss of your souls is very great;

(3)  the loss is never to be repaired.

(4)  Shall I add, that this soul is thine own, and that thou hast not, nor ever shalt have, another, and therefore it behoves thee to keep it safe.

(5)  Thou must answer for the loss of thy soul: God hath entrusted it with thee.

(P. Vinke, D. D.)

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KJV: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

WEB: For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?