The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-01

that he was not perfect and conscious
that he lacked something. He was, in
one word, sincere and anxious inquirer.
In answer 10 the inquiry of the young
man, "What shall I do to inherit eternal
life?" Jesus said unto him, cording to
Matthew's account, "Ifthou "ouldst ell
ter into life, keep the commandments" "
The young man promptly inquired,
"What commandments? ?" Our Saviour
replied, "Thon shalt not kill, thou shalt
not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal,
thou shalt not bear false witness, honor
thy father and thy mother, and thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself." And
Marx explains what is meant by "thou
shalt love thy neighbcr as thyself," by
s'thou shalt not defraud." These com.
mandments embrace all the second table
of the moral law. The young man
promptly replied that he had Kept all
these commandments from his youth, and
anxiously ard honestly inquired further,
"What lack I yet?"
This surely was e most remarkable
young man. From his childhood he
had been faithful in discharging all the
duties required by the second table of the
moral law. His character was without 8
stain. He had as boy and man lived
uprightly before the world. He bad
contracted none Of those bad habits which
young men of wealth and social position
so often contract. Neither man uor
woman could justly bring any charge
against him. He was neither drunk
ard nor debauehee, he Vas honest in
all his dealing, courteous and gentleman.
ly in his manners. He was, in one word,
when viewed from human standpoint,
high toned, digui6ed gentleman.
Nature had done great deal for him
There was something amiatlc about him.
Even our Saviour, when he looked upon
him, loved him.
In his iu,ense anxiety, this voting ruler
asked the Saviour what he elacked besides
keeping these commandments that he
mipht enherit eternal life. This inquiry
the Saviour answered thus: "Ifthou wilt
be perfect, go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, aud thou shalt have
treasure in heaven; and come follow
me-" When the young man heard this
his countenance changed and lowering
cloud ofdisnal gloom mantled his cheeks.
His brow fell and deep sorrow filed his
heart, "for," it is said, che was very
rich" This simple answer Of our Saw
iour revealed the fact that with all his
amiable traits Of character, and honest
dealings with his fellow men, he was
nothing but sincere self righteous inquir-
er. he had no just conception of what
eternal life meant, or the channel through
which it is attainable. "Wkat good
thing" be asks, shall l 10 hat I may
have eternal life?' or "what shall I do
that / may inherit eternal life?" as
Mark and Luke state it. He, in the
sincerity Of his unregeneruted heart,
thought there were two ways By which
he could become possessed of eternal life.
The one was by doing some "good thing" "
the, other by receiving it as an inheri.
tance. No doubt he had inherited his
great riches. Before, however, he got
full possession of these riches, he had to
comply with some legal forms. He bad
heard, in all probability, that Jesus
Christ was Offering eternal life to men,
and be was anxious, intensely anxious,
to learn the condition on which he might
inherit enternal life. Poor man, be had
wealth, social position, good moral habits
and something which had striking res
emblance to true religion, but he lacked
one thing, ard that one thing was every
thing so far as eternal life to him was
concerned. He lacked new heart. He
was anxious to know what good thing be
should do to inherit eternal life, and
Jesus gave him an opportunity to do good.
What better thing could be have done
than give his possessions to the poor, and
thus exchange earlhl.-riches for atreasure
in heaven. The simple truth is, the rich
young man had nothing but the most
vague and i'll defined ideas of what is
meant by eternal life. He did not desire
the eternal life that Jesus Christ was
offering to the people. He wanted some.
thing, bu! he did not want anything that
required him to break his hold or the
world and follow Jesus.
It is evident that this rich young man,
with ell his many excellent traits of char,
acter and moral uprightness, had 20 just
knowledge of the extent and spirituality
of Gods law. In tie sincerity of his
heart he said that he had, from his youth
loved his neighbor as himself; but there
was not word of truth in what be said.
lie was, in reality, bundle of selfish
ness. Because this young man vas rich
he went away sorrowful when Jesus
advised him to sell his property and give
to the poor and follow him. He went
away, and so far as we are informed he
never again came to Jesus.
The practical feature of this interview
of the rich young man and our Saviour
is, that what was necessary on the part
of the rich young man to enter into eter-
nal life is required of all men. We are
required to be willing 10 give up every
thing earthly, if God in his providence
- ,,,1 t,t,o ,p o,r nvn., n Il