[2.] We must not so take this as that he doth love good qualities so as to make them equal with christian virtues or the graces of the Spirit. Morality is good, but we must not lift it up beyond its place. There is something better, and that is grace, ' those things which do accom- pany salvation,' Heb. vi. 9. I observe this, because there are many
464 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. V.
secret atheists, that will cry up moral righteousness beyond its worth, and the virtues and honesty of the heathens, to debase the esteem of christian religion, which the world now is grown weary of. They think there v\'as more honesty by the natural institutions of the heathens than by the law of Christ, and cry up moral honesty to the great detri- ment and prejudice of the true religion. I do confess, if we compare some honest heathens with many christians in name, that liave defiled themselves with monstrous impieties, it is not hard to determine which are the belter men. Loose professors dishonour their religion, but the sound grapes in the cluster must not be judged of by the rotten ones, nor is the beauty of a street to be measured by the filthiness of the sink and kennel. Those that are the sink and disgrace of Christianity are unfit to show forth the virtue of it. I confess we are fallen into days wherein moral men may justify themselves, Non quod honi sunt, sed quod mediocriter mali, as Augustine saith — Not that they are perfectly good men, but they are tolerably good in comparison of many .sinful christians. Compare those that have felt the power of religion with heathens, and then you may see the power of christian graces is far greater than of moral virtues. Compare the continency of Alexander and Scipio with the continency of Joseph ; they forbore to defile Darius' wife out of gallantry, but Joseph he forbears to com- mit such wickedness that he might not ' sin against God,' Gen. xxxix. 9. They were not solicited by their captives, but he yielded not when solicited by his mistress, that was able to prefer him on the one side, or undo him on the other. What once was said of Alexander in a time of drought, when a soldier brought him a helmet full of water, he poured it out, saying, ' I will not drink ; the hearts of these men would faint,' pointing to his companions, because they had not the like. Compare this with David's action : 2 Sam. xxiii. 16, 17, ' He would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord, and said, Be it far from me, 0 Lord, that I should do this ; is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives ? therefore he would not drink it.' So that if you compare these things, their morality is but like a field flower to a garden flower, or wild fruits to orchard fruits ; it is a wild thing in comparison of grace, and not any way comes up to the height of it.
[3.] We must not from hence make this use, that we should think ourselves to be in a good condition because of moral qualifications. Men may be viceless, but yet if they be Christless, and graceless, and never brought to brokenness of heart (for certainly that is necessary to prepare men for faith, and for pardon of sin), they may perish for ever- more. Without faith and gospel conditions and qualifications, you can never have any acceptance with God ; though they may be profitable to others, yet they are not acceptable to God. Sine Christo omnis virtus in vitio est. saith Jerome ; in point of salvation they fail and fall short, though in a civil and human respect they are useful and commendable ; these moral virtues do not gave us a title to eternal life. Jesus loved the young man, as approving the matter of his obedience, but not his state and condition. He tells him, 'One thing thou lackest.' Oh! when you have all your moralities, something is lacking still. This moral righteousness proves a snare to you when it keeps you from evan-
VeR. 21.] SEUBIONS UPON" MARK X. 17-2v. 4G5
gelical rigliteousness and seeking reconciliation with God. If we rest in it, and are conceited of it, 'Publicans and harlots shall go into the kingdom of heaven before us,' Mat. xxi. 31, and so we might have been better if we had been worse.
2. Positively. What use may we make of this, that Jesus loved this young man ?
[1.] If Christ did love civility, much more will he love true grace in any of his, though mingled with much weakness. Certainly he that delights in the obscure shadow of his image will much more delight in the lively picture and impression of it upon the souls of his people, though we have our weaknesses. John xi. 5, it is said, ' Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.' Martha is mentioned, and in the gospel story we find her twice tripping. She was busy about the house, and neglected the one thing necessary, Luke x. 39, 40. At an- other time we find her questioning Christ's power : John xi. 39, ' Lord, by this time he stinketh;' yet Jesus loved Martha. There is much difference of growth in God's children, and some have their blemishes more than others, yet Christ loves true grace how weak soever it is. It is notable to observe what a veil and cover the scripture puts upon the imperfections of the saints : Heb. xi. 31, ' By faith the harlot Pialiab perished not, when she had received the spies with peace.' Alas ! there was dissembling in the case, and weakness, but the faith is mentioned and the lie covered. So James v. 11, ' You have heard of the patience of Job ; ' Ay ! and of his impatience too. and murmuring, when he cursed the day of his birth ; but the Holy Ghost puts a finger upon the scar, and covers the failing. So 1 Peter iii. 6, ' As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.' Mark, the scripture that is alluded to in that place is Gen. xviii. 12, ' Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also ? ' The whole speech savoured of unbelief; there is but one good word in it, 'lord,' expressing her reverence to her husband, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of that, picks a jewel out of a dunghill. The Lord takes notice of the least act of sincere obedience to his commands, when it is mixed with many sin- ful failings.