Thomas Boston (1676 – 1732)
Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. - Philippians 3:8
THE apostle, in the preceding verse, having spoken of his privileges in his unconverted state, and told how meanly he thought of them for Christ; doth in this go out with full sail, in running down all things whatsoever, in comparison of Christ. In the words. Consider how things weighed in his esteem. That which was of the greatest weight with him, and was absolutely highest in his esteem, was the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. That is the excellency of the practical knowledge of Christ, saving acquaintance with, and interest in him. Next what was downweighed by it, all things; not only his good works done in his unconverted state, but even these really good, done by the influence of the Holy Ghost. In a word, all things imaginable, without Christ, he counts loss; and in comparison of Christ. We have also his certainty in this matter. He was not in doubt about this reckoning, but with the utmost certainty was come to a point, "Yea, doubtless."
We have a remarkable evidence of a superlative esteem of Christ; namely, that whereas he had suffered the loss of all things for him, on a review thereof, he counted himself no loser, but fully made up, so as he might but win Christ. So much for a general view of the words. More particularly, before we enter on the matter of the text, we shall attend, first, to the apostle's manner; and, secondly, to his grand scope.
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Table of Contents
SERMON I : I count all things but loss
SERMON II: My Lord
SERMON III: For whom I have suffered the loss of all things
SERMON IV: For whom I have suffered the loss of all things
SERMON V: For whom I have suffered the loss of all things
SERMON VI: And do count them but dung, that I may win Christ
SERMON VII: And be found in him
SERMON VIII: Not having mine own righteousness
