not kept one of the commandments when rightly understood. "What lack I yet ?" Nothing, if he had spoken the truth. See whether or not something like this is not lurking at the bottom of your hearts, to keep you from Christ. 21. Jesus said unto 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. "If thou wilt be perfect," in thy obedience; on which alone thou buildest for thy salvation. This command was absolute, suited to the person's case and circumstances, and what Christ knew to be necessary for him; but not given to all. He promises that he shall have treasure in heaven. Be as rich in reality, as now he was poor. “And come and follow me." By taking up the cross; and to learn of him more perfectly the way of righteousness. 22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. : Wonder not at this, till you are sure that nothing makes you turn your backs on Christ and his commands. You have not great possessions; but if your hearts are in the world, a small matter may be a strong chain about you. O Jesus, we would have thee, and our own wills; and if we cannot have both, are apt to choose the latter. We are sorry to leave thee; but too many of us do leave thee. Oh! do thou teach us to see ourselves in this glass; and convince us of the necessity, the joy of being wholly resigned to thee. 23. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now, therefore, consider if it is really the great, prevailing desire of your hearts to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and secure to yourselves that treasure; and also, whether the poor have any cause to repine at their lot, or murmur against God, for keeping this great, and almost insurmountable difficulty out of the way of their salvation. 24. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. The secret wish, great business, and steady purpose of the generality of mankind, whether rich or poor, is to be this camel. 25. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? Who, in such circumstances? Or, who of all mankind? as all would be rich, and have the same hearts. Or they might mean, If those, who have so much greater advantages for knowledge, shall hardly be saved, who can? I am sure this is the very thing you say. Nothing is more common than to hear the poor complaining of want of time, and learning, and, in direct opposition to Christ, making their station in life a pretence for not working out their salvation. 26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. "Jesus beheld them," intending they should take particular notice of what he said, and carrying conviction in his looks. "And said unto them, With men this is impossible." Namely, for a rich man not to trust in his riches, nor to think more highly of himself for them; to be humble and modest, meek and condescending; to sit as loose to the world as if he had nothing in it; to give his heart to God, and make the riches of grace his treasure, and supreme delight. If this is not impossible to man, what is? But do not deceive yourselves; worldliness and pride, forgetfulness of God, and stupid unconcern for the soul, can dwell in a cottage; and the heart of every man is hard to work upon, and will for ever be what it is, without the grace and power of God. There is comfort for all in the next words. "But with God all things are possible." Rich and poor, there is your remedy. Fly to God. We have heard much already in this Gospel of the power of Jesus; and it is the design of all Scripture to bring us to him, helpless in ourselves, for strength to overcome all difficulties, and to do what is impossible to nature. Till we know this, that God's work must be done, and that he only can do it, and under this conviction cleave to him for help, we are in the darkness of unbelief. 27. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? Their little was their all. Nevertheless, it must be owned that the disciples were yet too worldly; and though they had forsaken all, it was probably too much with a view to a better bargain for themselves, by their temporal advancement under Christ. 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. The apostles, in a peculiar sense; all, in their degree. Are you come to this point, that to be a follower of Jesus in truth and sincerity, is a high and holy name, and the happiest of all conditions? And are you, therefore, resolved to follow him? Mark your blessedness. In the regeneration, the apostles will be advanced to the super-eminent dignity here spoken of. But observe, the regeneration itself, the happiness of that new state, or Christ's glorious kingdom, will be common to all who have been regenerated here. 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. At the first preaching of the Gospel, there was a peculiar reason for this self-denial, and many were called to it. To the spirit of it we must always attend. Every affection must give way to Christ, and nothing in the world be so dear to us as the honour of the Gospel and our interest in him. "Shall receive an hundred-fold." Not an hundred-fold of the things of the same kind; the words, father, mother, wife, exclude this sense. No, that never is the Christian's wish and aim; but an hundred-fold more enjoyment in "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost," than he could possibly have from all earthly comforts, relations, or posses sions. "And shall inherit everlasting life." The Christian's hope, a most superabundant recompense for the greatest self-denial, and the crown of all. Let it sink down in your hearts, and be the anchor of your souls. 30. But many that are first shall be last: and the last shall be first. Many, like the young man, high in their own and the world's esteem, but not coming to Christ, and not receiving all his commands, shall be last; that is, have no share in the everlasting inheritance: this was generally the case with the Jews. Whereas others, now visibly bad, but repenting, believing, and obeying, shall find grace, and be received into the kingdom of heaven: this was the case of the Gentiles. Lord, as we are now first, and thy people by profession, and outward privilege; we beseech thee, keep us steadfast in thy fear and love, increase our faith, and make us little in our own eyes. And, whenever we are so unhappy as to make ourselves last, by falling from thee, have mercy on us, and grant us repentance unto life for Jesus' sake. SECTION XLIX. Chap. xx. ver. 1-16. PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS. 1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. The kingdom of heaven is partly in this world; that kingdom, or state, in which we are received to the grace of Christ, and live by his rule. It is proper to observe this, not only that you may understand generally what is meant in this, and the other Gospels, by the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of heaven, but also consider it as your necessary state of preparation for the eternal kingdom of heaven, value the great privilege of belonging to it, and hold it fast as the comfort of your lives. Are Christians now of the household of God, his beloved children, rejoicing in their adoption, led by the Spirit, and training up for immortal glory? Then ask yourselves this question, Are you separated into this family and kingdom, as members and subjects of it, to partake of its blessings, to be governed by its laws; and do you resolve to live and die in it? For you must first be in and of it here upon earth; and if you live and die out of it, so you will be found at the day of judgment. He who came to set it up in the world, is always ready to set it up in our souls; and you will have a fresh call, from his own mouth, to enter into it. God grant that it may sound effectually into your hearts. It may be the last that some of you will ever have. "Which went out early in the morning." In the morning of the world, from the day of Adam's fall, at sundry times, and in divers manners; and the Jews, more especially, had their call early. They, indeed, foolishly supposed they were always to be the only covenanted people and servants of God; and to beat down their presumption |
