of was a young man, and a Ruler: but though a young man of rank and wealth, he did not consider these earthly distinctions as exempting him from the necessity of seeking after a heavenly inheritance, or as entitling him to conduct himself, towards a Teacher of Religion, haughtily and disdainfully. On the contrary, he approached our Lord in the most respectful manner, even kneeling before Him; and inquired, with becoming earnestness, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"-So far, appearances were in his favour they gave promise of a character which we should be glad to see further developed.

Our Lord Jesus Christ-who knew his real character, all that was latent, as well as what met the eye of man-in reply to his inquiry, first noticed the title by which he had addressed Him, "Good Master." The young man had used it without much consideration, only with the intention of doing honour to Him as a Teacher; that title being affected by the Jewish Rabbies. But Jesus, wishing to bring him to serious thought, especially about the nature of goodness, asked him how he could call Him good:-"Why callest thou me good? There is none good, but one, that is, God."

We

do not here understand our Lord as really objecting to being called "good";-that would be inconsistent with many passages of Scripture, which declare, that, even in His human nature, He was perfectly free from sin; but only as intending to lead the inquirer to think, more seriously than he had yet done, about the nature of goodness. He spoke agreeably to the notion which the young man entertained respecting Him, as a mere man, intending to lead him on to further inquiry; and with this intention He proceeded to reply to the question, "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" The young man had no notion that any thing could be required of him, for the obtaining of eternal life, which he would be unable or unwilling to do. He had a good opinion of his past performances, and entertained no doubts or misgivings respecting his disposition or ability to do all that could be required of him, for the time to come. To this state of mind, which needed information and correction, the reply of our Lord was suited: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man said unto Him, "Which?" Jesus said: “ Thou shalt do no murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness;

Honour thy Father and thy Mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

You observe, that our Lord says nothing here of that which He elsewhere speaks of, "as the First and great Commandment:" "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."* I notice this, that you may clearly perceive that His intention, in this reply, was, not to state to the young man the whole of what was necessary to the obtaining of eternal life, but only to lead him first to a knowledge of his own heart, and of the defectiveness of his own goodness, with which he was, as yet, unacquainted. The young man, not understanding the spiritual nature and extent of these commandments, answered, without any intention to deceive, but ignorantly and presumptuously, "Master, all these have I observed from my youth;" and added, "What lack I yet?" The apparent easiness of the demands thus far made upon him probably led him to suppose that he was almost perfect-that but little more could be necessary to be done and the question, "What lack I yet?" implied that he would engage to do whatever more should be required of

* Matt. xxii. 37, 38.

him. If he had known the actual extent even of the commandments referred to by our Lord-that adultery may be committed by a lustful look, and murder by an angry word or thought, and how much is contained in those words, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" — instead of saying, "What lack I yet?" he would have humbled himself under the conviction of his numberless past transgressions of the Law of God, and have learned that no good thing which he could do would ever wash away his guilt already contracted, much less complete his title to eternal life. And if, from the commandments of the Second Table, he had turned to the first four, which require the unreserved dedication of the whole soul to God, he would have seen there far more than enough to repress those vain words; he would rather have been disposed to smite upon his breast, and say, "God be merciful to me a sinner*!" But, instead of this, knowing neither himself nor God, he said, "What lack I yet?" It seems, however, that he spake even these words with so much of apparent simplicity, that Jesus, who had the feelings of a man as well as the holy mind of God, was touched by his manner. We read in St. Mark's account, "Jesus, beholding him, loved himt." Doubtless he was the more tenderly + Mark x. 21

*Luke xviii. 13.

affected towards him, because he saw through the fair outside; which imposed upon all but Him, who knew what was in man. He knew that this bloom, so lovely to the eye of sense, was connected with a root of bitterness, which would nourish no fruit to perfection. It resembled, perhaps exceeded in show, the blossom of some fruitful trees; but it would mock the expectations of those who discerned not its true character.

But now it was time to expose this self-deceiver to himself. In answer, therefore, to the question, "What lack I yet?" our Lord said to him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come, and follow me." What words were these! What! sell all! Does He, then, know my circumstances, and my very thoughts? And has He hit upon the very thing, almost the only thing, which I would not do, to inherit eternal life? And has He, moreover, enjoined me to do that which is scarcely less hard to do-to follow Him? Him, the despised leader of a few poor despised fishermen?'-Yes! He knew-what thou didst not know-the secrets of thy heart. He knew, that that heart was set upon covetousness, and on the honour that cometh from man; and therefore He bade thee