Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-16

/ 10 eoo SVtHuo1s sho vas CASmPtined in
the character of hin, to whom the great.
est Teacher Of mankind addressed thea.
words:
He was young man. Youth 10 bro.
missing season it is spring the season
of hope, followed by the showers Of sum.
mer, the abundance of autumn, and bv
what cheers the gloom of winter. Our
youth had great possessions, being very
rich /; on the principles found in scrip.
ture, these are not to be sought after.
nor confided in, but considered as a
trust committed to some, whereby thew
may become eninenily useful. The ad.
vantages which they afford. are neither
to be neglected nor despised. Besides,
he was a ruler or young magistrate with
whom our Lord now conyer.ed, WORTHY
of the trust committed to his charge. q
of the chair of justice, to which he wa,
| advanced.
Having heard of the fame of Jesus
and believing him to be Teacher sen,
from God, he was determined to profit
by his instruction. Eager for his com.
pany, he ran to meet him and in his
presence, he kneeled before him babi.
tuated to high life, he used phraseolo.
gy, respectful indeed, but too often un.
meaning: GOOD Master, what good
thing shall l do that may inherit eter.
nal life /" Jesus, intending to censurs
an unmeaning phraseology, and to en-.
courage simplicity in our intercourse
with fcllow.men, demanded, "Why Cal.
lest thou me good, there is none good
save one, that is God" By the censure
implied in these words Jesus awoke at.
tention, as well as by the notice which
he took of his question: "Tbou know
est the commandnents-don not com.
nit adultery; do not kill /; do not
steal; do not bear false witness honor
thy father and mother" Our youth ig.
norant of the law as spiritual, extending
to the heart as well as the condsct, said
"All these have / kept from my youth,
up"
Such an assemblage Of amiable quail.
ties-youth, rank, an unbiemi.hed cha
racfer, a becoming concern to secure his
future weLfare, is uncommon Jesus be-
holding him, loved him, and said, "yet
lackest thou one thmg"-and may not
one thing be dispensed with Just in
his transactions with men, regular in the
worship oiGod, concerned Ior his future
safety, il he be pleased with his abund.
ance which enlarged his sphere CT use
fulness, was this SO culpabie Can it
shade thousand acts Of humanity and
justice, Of obedience and worship! Il
cannot, these must overbalance the small
defect. and secure from God favorable
regard. Such the decision of men. and
In the decision multitudes acquiesce.-
They pronounce the character herfect,
and perfect it is when compared With
the character of others But the deci.
sion of God differs ,frem the decision Of
men /; what they account of ne conse.
quence, he knows to be essential by
his decision we must stand or fall Let
1t be our rule now, that we avoid fatal
consequences afterwards.
One thing thou lacxest, which thy o.
Their good qualities cannot compensate.
Thou iovest the 1uorrd and the things
thereof In this thou traRsgressest .
law of the Gospel, and insuItest the au-
thsrity OF Jesus by which that Law is en-.
forced. This was the ruin of young
man otherwise very amjable against
this rock Demas dashed and made ship.
wreck OF the faith; you cannot serve
God and Manmon in friendship with
the world you are at enmity with God,
worshipping this idol, you will never
with the knee bow to Jesus in willing
submission, nor with the tongue confess
him Lord. The Gospel is feast OF
which multitudes are invited to partici'
pate, but they excuse themselves, being