The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-19
Eternal Life
Gained BY
.SPOTLESS PURITY.
DR.. McCuIlagh's Sermon at
Plymouth Church.

Rev Archibald McCullagh continued
his short sermons IN The conversations
of Jesus with a moralist, at Plymouth
Church last evening, taking for his
text Mark Y. a. zone thing thou
lackest."
He said in part as follows; As Jesus
was on his last journey TO Jerusalem
to offer his life as d sacrifice on the
cross, a young man came running to
him ON the public highway and mani
Tested great eagerness to obtain an in
terVieW with him. Re was a young
man Of high social rank, and occupied
the position Of ruler IN the synagogue,
IN the place where he resided, He pos
sessed large wealth ana lived morally,
a blameless life.
He manifested the utmost respect for
Jesus. kneeled at his feet and adj
dressing him, said: Good master,
what good thing shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life" II we do not ex-
anime carefully the questions which
were asked and tine answers which
We're given on the occasion, we will fail
to perceive the lesson this interview
was designed to teach and either mis-
apprehend the character of this young
man or fail into the error of charging
our Lord with laying down terms of
discipleship which We're severe and
impracticablc.
The question pTopounded by this
young man was rot the question of
one momentarily started in the midst of
worldly pursuits or sensual pleasures
to the interests of his soul. He was
honest and earnest and recognized the
sv,fr
future and the necessity of making
preparation for it,
His mistake was that he was at fault
as to the method by which eternal life
is attained The reply Of Jesus was,
Why callest thou me good? None is
good save one, even God, but if thou
Wouldst enter into life, keep the COM
mandments." The meaning of this an
swer is this: You want to know what
good thing you are to do to inherit
eternal life. and you come to me as
a teacher of the true and good to in
struet you on this point. But why do
you do this? There is only one who
is absolutely good and that one is God
He must be your teacher. His teach
ings are reflected in the command
ments.
The young ruler, supposing that
Jesus referred to some particular COM
mand that he had overlooked, asked
what command he was particularly to
observe Jesus replied You know the
moral law az contained in the deca-
logue ?" Master" was the prompt re-
ply, "all these things have I observed
from my youth" This was the honest
utterance of a self deceived man who
verify thought that he had fully
obeyed in letter and IN spirit the law
Of God
Our Lord had stated that the con-
dition of meriting eternal life was
obedience to the law Of God as re-
vealed in the decalogue, and here was
one who declared that he had fulfilled
the requirement. In the consciousness
of life free from every sin condemned
in the decalogue and with a feeling of
complacence, he asked, what lack
yet?"
The record is, Then Jesus beholding
him, loved him." The interview is con-
tinued and the next answer throws
open every chamber Of his soul: yet
one thing thou lackest: if thou wouldst
be perfect go sell that thou hast and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven and come follow
me-"
Jesus did not say that this man lacked
only one thing, but zone thing thou
lackest," and that one thing was vital
to everything else. This young ruler
possessed many things worthy of all
commentator, yet he lacked one
thing, supreme love to God, which is
the essence of acceptable service.
Propose this question to yourselves.
What shall 1 do to inherit eternal life?
in the spirit of this Jewish ruler with
the intention of meriting eternal life
and securing celestial honor and you
have undertaken an impossible task.
Such an achievement demands the eX-
hibition in life through all it's stages
of the same absolute sinlessness and
perfect holiness which exist in God
Conscious that we cannot attain to
this. we acknowledge our imperfection
and as sinners, trust for pardon and
acceptance in the grace of the Re
deemer. With Satan eXerting his ut
most skill to lure us from the path of
holiness, it is difficult to walk that
straight and narrow way of self-denial,
patience, gentleness and spotless purity
trod by the son of God, but by grace
it can be done. And to 10 it is to OBJ