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I. GOLD IS GENERALLY FOUND BURIED IN THE EARTH, mixed with sand or other material, and therefore requires to be dug out and separated from those materials. So Christians have been taken out from the elements of this world. They have been hewn from nature's quarry by the hammer of God's Word and made separate (Ephesians 2:1, etc.).

II. GOLD, THOUGH REGARDED AS A PURE METAL, HAS YET SOME DROSS IN IT. At the same time, there is not any metal more free from dross and rust than gold. Christians, though holy and precious to God, are not without sin; there is some dross of corruption in the best of them.

III. GOLD IS REFINED IN THE FIRE, by which it is rendered pure, solid, and strong. Christians are put into the fire, or furnace of affliction, to purge and to refine them from their dross (Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 4:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:7).

IV. GOLD IS PRECIOUS. It is esteemed the most valuable on earth. Hence things of very great value are in the Scriptures represented by gold. Christians are a precious people, the excellent ones in all the earth. God esteems them as His portion.

V. GOLD IS VERY PLIANT. You may bend and work it as you please. So are Christians. God having infused His grace into their hearts, they have hearts of flesh; and God, by putting them into the fire, makes them more resigned and teachable, while others rebel and repine.

VI. GOLD, THOUGH IT BE FREQUENTLY PUT IN THE FURNACE, LOSES NOTHING BUT THE DROSS. The fire purifies it and cannot destroy its precious nature. However fierce and raging the flames, gold retains its excellency. So the people of God endure the trial. They are not burned up or consumed in the furnace of affliction, though heated sevenfold.

VII. GOLD IS OFTEN FORMED INTO VESSELS for the pleasure, honour, and use of princes. So God forms His people for most excellent service — vessels of honour to hold the treasure of the Gospel, to communicate it to others (2 Corinthians 4:7), and are stewards of the Gospel.

VIII. TO OBTAIN GOLD, men endure much fatigue, losses, sacrifices, etc. So Jesus Christ endured great pain and loss for His people. He laid down His life for them.

IX. GOLD IS USEFUL. It is that by which we obtain what is essential for life, etc. So Christians are useful — in their families, neighbourhood, to the world at large. They seek the salvation of sinners and the glory of God. The purposes of God, in reference to the diffusion of His glory in the world, will not be affected without them.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

WEB: But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.