Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-07-05
Che freeman.
sunday School Lesson Notes.
~ REV. j. o. sHERBURS.

he is at once met by one of the most in
teresting characters that ever CAME In
contact with him-a man who comes with
one of the most weighty questions that
wss ever put to Christ: What shall do
to inherit eternal life?" His approach to
Jesu. wa. evidently not at all Ike the
crafty and designing approaches OF the
Jewish leaders He was in very proper
sense an honest seeker after truth. But
the brief account here given ofhis coming
to the Master reveals some defects in his
manner of coming.
In the first place there was too much
though.lessness in his adysuce toward
Christ. He did not properly consider what
he was doing. Unconsciously. perhaps,
be was deceived about himself. His
whole conduct shows an impulive nature.
lie came running; bis address to Christ
was fluent, and he showed some under
sanding OF the weighty matter which be
brought to our Lords notice. But Chris
c1ecks him at once. He saw that the
Young man had not well considered the
great matter he came TO inquire about.
lie did not understand who be was ad-
dressing. His language was eminently
respectful, but be did lot give to Christ
the high place that belongs 10 him. Good
Master, he said, but as he used the phrase
it only meant a courteous address TO one
above him in knowledge.
Jesus " :ook him up" as we say, on his
form of address, and says, why calles
thou me good There is none good save
one; that is Cod The words Of Jesus
have this import; You have given me a
title fit only to be given to God. Do you
really address me as divine2 Have you
considered carefully that am more than
arise teacher, even the Son Of God?
This check came 70 make the ardor Of
the young man more thoughtful, and lead
him to feel the seriousness Of the step he
wss taking. We are often deceived by
the apparent promptness on the part Of
some who come to Christ. Their eager.
ness and their forwariness appears prom.
sing; yet how many times has i: been
found tha. the hes: takers have the most
faulty conception of the practical require
ments Of religion, snl often it appears
that real stability is abou. in inverse ratio
with apparent zes: and earneslness
As the question asked was, What shall
I do to inherit eterral life - Jesus at o1ce
turns the youth to the law, with which be
seems TO have been familiar, and asks OF
him wha. the lsw required Of him. The
commandments, he says. thou knowest,
and the plain declaration Of the law was,
He that doo,h these things shall live by
them The answer is prompt and self.
assured: All these have I kept from my
youth up"
The account Of this mater given in
Matthew makes this confidence appear
even more strongly; for the young man
asks " VIVA: lack yet?' Jesus replies
0se h.Tg." To lack one thing is tc
fail OF everything when one looks to works
for salvation.
Mark tells Us what no other evangelist
does about this young man, namely, that
Jesus looking upon him As considering
hin, loved him. God puts high esti
mate upon correct living, and while it was
doubtless true that this man failed tc
f1thom what he said, when he declared
that he had lived fauluess life so far a.
tue law was concerned, still his outward
carefulness was good as far as i. went
and his coming to Christ in the spirit o
hontst inquiry was commeudable.
Jesus saw in him much that was loyab.e
But he also saw much that fell below III,
requirements OF true discipleship, muct
that was contrary to the spirit required tc
enter into life. So as the question hat
been direct and put with confidence, Jesu
applies the ties. at once 70 show the mai
bis real condition: eive up all world
goods and take up the cross aud follow
me. These word, came as death blow
to the hopes which the young man hat
cherished. lie had thought to become
perfect By Observing the requirements c
the law. Christ puts before him the highe
law Of love, love which ahandons self an
seeks to do good to others. He also dc
tected the point Of failure in the characte
Of this man. He was welded to th
world, and must become separated there
from before he could enter intolif eterna
Christ had probed the inner heart OF th
man and he went away sorrowful, unwi
ling to give up bis earthly goods that b
might secure title to riches on higt
The world /, full of just such mourner
to-day. aud the sad thing about the matte
is that many do not understand the caus
OF their trouble.
Jesus turned sorrowfully to his disc
pies. and with such look as fixed itse
upon their memory, be said: How hard
shall they that have riches enter into Ii
kingdom Of God?' He then uses wh;
seems TO have been a csrrent hyperbo
for a very difficult thing, the cam
going through the needles eye, an
declares that such a thing is easi,
than for rich man TO enter the kin!
dom of God. At this statement Il
disciples were greatly astonished. an
RAILING the general desire for richie
they inquire with solicitude, who the
can be saved'" Jesus, with the sau
serious look as before, tells them thi
while humanity considered, and to huma
strength such thing is impossible. y,
With God that aud ali things are possible
Divine grace eau overcome and subdI
worldliuess SO that It need not be a fat,
bar TO eternal life.
Peter, now. nearly as rash a talker
the young MAD Just leaving them, begir
to laud the devotion which he and b
fellow disciples have shown. and inuuire