following a sinM calling. It matters not what our in- come may be, whether we are burdened witii riches or pinched with poverty. Grace, and not place, is the hinge on which our salvation turns. Money will not keep us out of heaven if our hearts are right before God. Christ can make us more than conquerors. Christ can enable us to win our way through every difficulty. "I can do all things," said St. Paul, "through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philip, iv. 13.)
Notes. Luke XVIII. 18—27.
18. — [A certain ruler asked 7iim, dc.j The coDnection between the history of the rich ruler and the verses which immediately pre- cede it ought not to be overlooked. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all relate it as following the account of our Lord's sayings about little children. It seems intended to show us how a man may miss heaven for want of a childlike indifference to worldly riches.
The man before us appears to have been one of a far better spirit than the Scribes, and Pharisees, and Sadducees. He was anxious about salvation. He had evidently a feeling of respect for our Lord. Yet through love of money, his one besetting sin, he lost his soul.
[ JVhat shall 1 do to inherit.] The literal i^ndering of the Greek words in this place brings out the legality of the ruler's mind more forcibly than our translation. It would be literally translated, " What, having done, shall I inherit ? "
19. — [Why callest thou me good f] The paraphrase of Whitby on this verse is worth noticing : — " Why givest thou me a title not ascribed to your reverend rabbins, nor due to any mere man ? Thinkest thou there is anything in me more than human, or that the Father dwelleth in me ? This thou oughtest to believe if thou conceivest the title " good" doth truly belong to me, seeing there is none good but one, that is God."
20, — [Thou knowest the commandments.'] Gualter here remarks, that our Lord treats the ruler as a wise physician treats a sick patient He administers the medicine most likely ultimately to conduce to his spiritual health. He addresses him in the way most likely to bring him to self-knowledge. As the ruler spoke of *' doing," Jesus begins by speaking of God's commandments.
[Do not commit adultery, Sc] Let it be noted that our Lord