his duty towards the Gentiles, He sent him a vision' which was repeated " three times.*' (Acts x. 16.)
We learn, firstly, from these verses, to what lengths men may go in self-ignorance. We are told of " a certain mler," who asked our Lord what he should ''do to inherit eternal life." Our Lord knew the ruler's heart, and gave him the answer which was most likely to bring to light the real state of his soid. He reminds him of the ten commandments. He recites some of the principal requirements of the second table of the law. At once the spiritual blindness of the iuqiurer was detected. ^'All these," said the man, "I have kept from my youth up." — ^An answer more full of darkness and self-ignorance it is impossible to conceive ! He who made it could have known nothing rightly, either about himself, or God, or God's law.
Does the ease of this rich ruler stand alone P Do we suppose there are none like him at the present day ? — If we do, we are greatly deceived. There are thousands, it may be feared, in all our congregations, who have not the least idea of the spiritual nature of God's law, and con- sequently know nothing of their own sinfulness. They do xiot see that God requires " truth in the inward parts," and that we may break commandments in our heart and thoughts, even when we do not break them in outward aetions. (Psalm U. 6. Matt. v. 21 — ^28.) To be delivered such blindness is one of the first things needful to salvation. The eyes of our understandings must be enlightened by the Holy Ghost. (Ephes. i. 18.) We must le&m to know ourselves. No man really taught of the gpuit win ever talk of having ''kept all God's command-
272 EXPOsrroKY thoughts.
ments from his youth/' He will rather cry with St. Paul, " The law is spiritual, but I am oamal." '* I know iliat in me dwdleth no good thing." (Rom. vii. 14 — 18.)
We learn, secondly, from these verses, whai harm one master-sin may do to a soul. The desires which the rich ruler expressed were right and good. He wanted ''eternal life." There seemed at first sight no reason why he should not be taught the way of God, and become a disciple. But there was one thing, unhappily, which he loved better than *^ eternal life." That thing was his money. When invited by Christ, to give up all that he had on ear&, and seek treasure in heaven, he had not faith to accept the invitation. The love of money was his master-sixiL
Shipwrecks like this are sadly common in the Ghnit^h of Christ. Few are the ministers who could not put their finger on many cases like that of the man before us. Many are ready to give up everything for Christ's sake, excepting one darling sin, and for the sake of that sin are lost for evermore. When Herod heard John the Baptist, he ^' heard him gladly and did many things." But there was one thing he could not do. He could not part with Herodias. That one thing cost Herod his sool. (Mark vi. 20.)
There must be no reserve in our hearts, if we would re- ceive anything at Christ's hands. We must be willing to part with anything, however dear it may be, if it stands between us and our salvation. We must be ready to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye, to make any sacrifice, and to break any idol. Life, we must remember, eternal life is at stake ! One leak n^leeted, is enough to sink a mighty ship. One besetting sin,