The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-04-23
THE YOUNG MANS CHOICE.
Interesting Discourse by Rev.
j. j. wilkins of Calvary
Church.

Calvary Episcopal church was we'll
felled last night and after the evening
prayer and lesson was concluded Rec.
tor Wilkins took for his
theme that pathetic incident
found in st. Mark, X17-22,
which narrateS the conversation be-
tween the rich young man and Jesus,
concerning the inheritance of eternal
life.
How very real and very graphic.
sail the rector, land yet how pathetic
and sorrowful is the simple story as
told by the disciple of Christ. We
can almost see the young man stand
ing by the roadside and when Jesus
appeared in sight, running eagerly to
kneel at the feet of the Master. and
ask question upon which hung his
life and happiness. He was in earn
est; not one of your ne'er do wells.
who stand ON the street corners, ad.
miring himself, but young man of
character, a man of reverence and
anxious to learn what he was living
for. He knew that life was not a
trihe, thin as air; at any moment
death might loose the silver cord and
break the pitcher at the fountain and
so he was ready to exclaim, "GOod
Master, what shall / do to inherit eter-
nal life?" How sal and sorrowful
the sequel He came to us like a
meteor out of the darkness and then
disappears. Morality could not sat-
isfy him, nor the observance of
the commandments He had
wealth, morality, position in society,
everything that makes life pleasant,
bit these did not satisfy him. He
lacked one thing. How many of us
nave observed all the command
ments ? Alas, not many"
Continuing, the rector dwelt upon
the statement by the divine biogra-
pher that Christ loved The young
man." He admired and loved him
for his dignity and character, for his
truthfuluess and morality, for NOR
atty is the basic principle of human
ity' Sooner or later every man must
face his record. How many of us ex-
perience moments of bitterness
brought upon Us by the cruel effects
Of misieeds in the past-efeets which
leave our lives like dead sea fruit,
tyrning to ashes upon our lips. "Sow-
ing wild oats Never was there
more diabolical lie framed in the
mind of man than that we Gan re-
cover from early sins and indiscre-
tons. | tell you that the law of
moral recOmpeEse must take Its course,
and these early sins will mar and scar
and scar the soul for all your after
life. The scar of the pit will remain.
Christ loved the young man be-
cause of his obedience to the law, and
vet when the earnest inquirer claimed
that he had observed ali the COM
from his youth, Jesus
sail One thing thou lackest 60
thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven and come,
lake up the cross and follow me-" 1t
was the fual test Of devO-
ion TO Christ. You must
lot only observe ali the COM
nandments, but you must give up
everything Tor the Christ. The things
IF the world have no comparison with
Jesus. This young man was brought
% the tesla practical test of disciple
hip. In whatsoever position we may
De placed God claims all. and he who
keeps back part is an AnaniaS.
Ii was a sorrOwful scene, that by
he roadside. There was the young
nan with face aglow with all the
health that Gods sunlight and breez
5 give; his eyes kindling with earnest
lager searching for the secret OF eter.
nal life. The Lord puts him to the
est and there is change. His lips
luiSer and his eyes grow dim with the
udden quenching of his hopes. His
mind is Osciliating to and fro like
pendulum between Christ and the
he world, and alas the latter wins |
lie is gone. Jesus looks upon him
With wistful entreaty. but he event !
way grieving, for he had great pos
essions." He loved his possessions
more than Christ. He was sad as he
lever was sad before for he knew that |
lie loved money better than his Lord. |
N that one interview with Christ he
earned to lOathe himself as the drunk
nd loathes his bondage and yet places
he cup to his trembling lips. He
.ould not resign the pleasures of time
or the wealth of eternity. Thus he
and thus he disappears from
ne pages of Gospel history.
Compare him to Zaccheus