The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05

reproof it may be, but done in SYM
pathy and love. In the case of the
Young Ruler there was a want of IAN
dor, of deep conviction. He had a
passing emotion, a suddenly awaken
ed desire perhaps to live a new life, to
do something to be saved forever for
he had heard of the marvellous teach
er of new, strange doctrines. He re-
solved to at once seek an interview
and he went in a great hurry. But he
had not counted the cost. He had not
weighed conditions. He did not know
of the exalted standard Of the Good
Master" he sought. He wanted eter-
nal life, but not at a great sacrifice.
A man may have freshly awakened de-
sires, may be ~momentarily stirred as
to his future destiny and will make a
start. But when the real test comes
and the conditions are heard he turns
away from the promises of eternal life
and perishes in his sins. The young
ruler was a moral young man with pro-
badly some noble principles. He was
satisfied that there was a future state
of rewards and punishment. His in
quiry shows that. He was ready to try
some test, to do some good thing to his
fellow-man. But when a special COM
mand came-when the Saviour named
the sacrifice he must do, to secur
heaven at last, "he was sad and grieved
at the saying" He was covetous, he
loved riches, and he preferred present
indulgence to any prospective promises
beyond this sad vale of tears" His
carnal nature was at the fore, his ma
tural appetences were on guard assert
ing their power, and he vas SO welded
to this fallen world and it's pleasures,
he would not win redemption and eter-
nal happiness at the price demanded.
Burkitt says that the carnal man will
Christ rather than the world,
when the world and Christ stand in
competition" 1t is a sad lesson, but a
very common, every day one We are
learning. Men will not take up the
cross until they are moved upon might
lily by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Men to be saved must be deeply, genu-
inely converted. The first step is in
evitably and neutrality-suspicious..
In this lesson we learn something of
Cnrist's answer as to the way OF life,
and how hardly the rich men enter into
the Kingdom of Heaven. The Saviour
left the world that so much needed it
this solemn, irreversible, unrepealable
lesson"How hard is it for them that
trust in riches to enter into the king
dom of God" Remember that morali-
ty however c~ommendable and desira-
BILE and adOring does not save. The
young ruler was moral, correct, exem-
plary. He said he kept important laws
of God. You may faithfully discharge
all known duty to man and yet you
may neglect every duty to God. zone
lI1luS LuOu ldChSSL. OdCIluCC lOI
Christ's sake and the reward will not
fail of coming. A wise, suggestive
commentator, Warren, says excellently
OF Matthew'S report of the Young
Ruler "It is when the world, be it
much or little, gets into the heart, that
entrance into Christ's kingdom be-
III H. 49,
camel. II y Every beloved object re-
linquished from love to him, (Christ)
becomes henceforth hallowed with
celestial glory; a treasure laid up for
eternity. 1t is the heart which has
been most thoroughly emptied Of
earthly good that has in it most room
for Christ, and the blessedness which
flows from His divine presence"