The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-29
THE RICH YOUNG MAN.


them peculiar freshness. As related by
the Evangelists, they areintensely simple
and fascinating, but, at the same time,
full of instruction and comfort for the
child of God, aud solemn warning for the
worldling, hypocrite and mere nominal
Christian. At some point in the valley
of the Jordan, but at what particular
place, and at what particular time, is not
certainly known, conversation between
our Saviour and a certain individual
occurred which is intensely interesting
in all its parts. til recorded by Mat
thew (cbapter 10: l6-3O), by Mark
(chapter 10: 17--31), and by Luke
(ch1.,ter 1S: 1871, in nearly the same
words. This certain man is often referred
to by ministers in their sermons, as "the
young man in the gospel"
The first thing that arrests our atten'
ton with regard to this individual is the
indefinite way in which he is described.
His name is not given, neither are we
told whether he was Jew or Gentle.
Matthew states that zone came and said
to him Ito Jesus) Good Master" Mark
says, "therc came one running, and
kneeled to him." Luke calls him "a
certain ruler" Matthew relates further
of him that he was a "young man." We
may suppose that he was a Jew and that
he held some ecclesiastical position, or
we may suppose that he was Gentle
and held some civil Office. Nothing is
said with regard to his family or family
connections, neither is anything said as
to the party with which be was connected.
In this vague description there is some
thing very worthy of note. The man
was representative character. The
world has in it to-day many who may
see their own features in this "young
ruler"
The next thing brought to our atten-
ton is the interest which he manifested
in his own welfare, and the confidence
which be appeared to have in Jesus as
teacher. Mark says he came running to
the Saviour and kneeled to him. All
three of the Evangelists state the conver.
sation of our Saviour with this young
man rs having taken place Immediately
after some individuals had brought little
children to the Saviour that he might
touch them. This young man, whoever
he was, may have been present when the
Saviour took the children up in his arms
and blessed them. 1t is probable that he
was present and that his heart was
touched by what the Saviour said and
did on that occasion. When the Saviour
was going away from the place where the
children were brought to him into the
road, the young man came running up to
him, and having reached him, kneeled to
him. This may have been an act of
worship, or it may haye been only
an act of respect TO the Saviour. He
addressed the Saviour as Good Master, or
Good Teacher. From the answer of our
Saviour we are led to conclude that the
"young rulers" notions of the Saviour
were not we'll defined, or that he did not
mean to express by the words "Good
Master" what the words really do ex-
press. In haste-in the same breath in
which he addressed the Saviour as Good
Master, he asked him, "What shall do
that I may inherit eternal life" The
original, as recorded by Luke, is more
emphatic and far more suggestive than
the translation. Literally translated it
would read, Good Master, by having
done what shall I inherit eternal life"
As we learn afterwards, he was rich, and
still desired to add to this possession by
doing something which would give him
legal title to eternal life. In this his
carnal nature shows itself. He desired
eternal life, but his ideas of eternal life
were carnal, and he desired to obtain it
by carual means. There are multitudes
to.day, and always will be, who desire
eternal life, not the eternal life of which
Jesus Christ is the author, but an imagi
nary eternal life, which has an existence
only in their carnal minds, and which
they desire to inherit by doing something,
not by faith in the doing and dying of
Jesus Christ.
Our Saviour replied TO the young
ruler, Thou knowest the commandments.
Do not commit adultery. Do not Kill.
Do not steal. Do not bear false witness.
Defraud not. Honor thy father and thy
mother" The commandments here
mentioned embrace the second table of
the law, or that part of the ten com.
mandments which has special reference
to our duty to our fellow.men. The
young ruler promptly replied, master, I
have kept all these from my youth" In
all probability, so far as the letter Of
these commandments is concerned, the
young ruler spoke the truth. He was a
gentleman, in the usual acceptation Of
that word He was punctual in discharg-
ing his duty to his fellow-man. He
looked down upon the vile adulterer with
contempt; be was honest and prided
himself in his honesty he was truthful,
regarding it unmanly and unbecoming
his station 10 bear false witness; he
regarded his word as good as his bond,
and he not only honored his father and
mother, but be honored and treated with
proper respect, his superiors, both in age
and position. This is high praise, but
there are many to-day of whom the
same thing might be said. Much of it
might be said truthfully of some of the
heathen. Xenophon says in substance,
the same thing, with the exception of
adultery, concerning Cyrus, and no one
ever questioned his truthfulness. About
this younr ruler there was something