The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-05

fact, and Jesus would have his dis
ciples keep ii in mind. 1t Is with
painful difficulty that rich man can
enter into the kingdom of Christ and
live the life Of q Christian. II is
absolutely impossible for one who
trusts In riches to enter into the King
dom of Christ. There Is no reason why
these words OF Jesus should be soft
ened That 1t il hard for a rich
man to be q Christian no one Is more
ready TO admit than the rich man
himself. His temptations are legion.
II is hard for one who liz rich and in
creased in goods to feel that he In in
need Of Saviour. 1t is hard for him
to humble himself. His business and
social alliances are often against him.
There are few who sympathixe with
him, few to reprove him and point
out the way. They that will be rich
fall into temptation and snare and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts
which drown men in destruction and
perdition." That II IL impossible for
one who trusts in riches TO become
Christian IL too evident for argument;
the man who trusts In riches cannot
trust In God; ne cannot serve God and
mammon. But the man who trusts In
riches may be a millionaire or he mar
be iaborer: for In many instances
the riches we trust In most are not
the riches we have but the riches we
are after.
Note the distinction. 1t Ia impossi-
BILE for one who trusts in riches to
enter into the Kingdom of Christ. II
liz difficult, but by no means i'm possi-
bile for a rich man TO enter into the
Kingdom OF Christ. for God. with
whom all things are possible. can open
his eyes to see his real poverty. can
loosen his grasp on his wealth, can
give him new heart and a new
inhibition and grace sufficient for even
rich mans temptations.
The Lesson Illustrated.
l. In the East mothers crave tina
blessing of the great and the good for
their children. IL great man comes
to q village they will often crowd
around him with their little ones and
implore him tn put his hands on their
Children's heads and bless them. Iris
tram in his Eastern Customs I'm Bible
Lands relates that at Askeion one
day he went into house to see some
antiques and left his daughter outside
with q native servant Hearing an
unusual commotion fastened out and
found the whole female population OF
the place with their babes Rowling
round my daughter while my servant
was vehefnently gesticulating and
brandishing a stick 10 Keep on the
crowd. AS soon as ! ascertained the
cause of the excitement rebuked my
man who with the Oriental pride
esteemed II a degradation for an Eng
lish lady to recognize a poor FeilahiB.
and my daughter gladly complied with
their Wishes They had never seen
q western woman before. for Askeion
Is quite out OF the tourists route, and
wonder stricken by the sight Of the
fair-skinned. iight-haired, smiling girl
perfectly at home on her side saddle,
another wonder for them they we're
sure that her touch would bring bless
| ing 10 their little ones. When she
began by taking babe In her arms
and kissing 1t they explained that
there was no need for that that Il
touch OF her finger was quite enough.
The babes were touched on the cheek
and the little toddiins ones on the
head. The ceremony ended, we rode
off amid the blessings and grateful
looks of these simple women.
2. some time ago the newspapers
told this story OF Judge Lindsay. OF
Denver. the boys friend. A newsboy
came into his court one day while he
was engaged in n very important case
involving millions of dollars. The
shabby little fellow was making his
way through toward the Judge when
court oflicer stopped him. Hold on
these" cried the Judge. "A live hoy
IL worth more than dead mans mil
lions. Court 10 adjourned for five
minutes srhsle ! inquire isate HE e@se.
What 10 1t. little citi1en7" SO the boy
went up and told his trouble. and
the Judge stopped to write note for
him.'
3. We imagine that because we are
not rich this parable has no applica-
ton for u.s. We are mistaken. The
little child whose devotion 70 her doll
ther chief treasure, her richest leads
her to neglect and duty she owes to
God. or to her mother. who II Gods
rspresentative-who deliberately re-
fuses for example. to 20 1t her Inoth-
er's call rather than give UP her doll
playing very nearly In this
same position Of the rich young ruler.