VeR. 21.] SEIIMONS UPON MAIIK X. 17-27. 471
then, a precept, it is not a general precepi, binding all christians, for then it could not be omitted or neglected by us without sin, or without a great contempt of Christ's authority. Yea, many would sin if they should sell all, neglect their families, and cast themselves upon snares and temptations. There is no command given by Christ to all to do so, and this command obligeth none but those to whom it was given. There are some things that are due to Grod, ex officio generally by vii-tue of the general duty we owe to him ; some things, ex vocatione speciali, by special call are to be done, such was this command of our Lord, and the lawgiver had power to try this young man in anything he saw fitting. It was a personal command for trial, such as that was to Abraham, who was no more to dispute against it, but to offer Isaac, Gen. xxii. 1, 2 ; so this was a special command given to this young man to discover his hypocrisy, and make him sensible of his disease. The law doth not bid us sell all, but the law commands us to be ready to do the whole will of God, whatever it cost us, and condemns those evil affections and inordinate respects to temporal things which would hinder us from so doing.
2. Let me vindicate it ; for it may seem in the thoughts of some as if our Lord had dealt hardly with this young man, in putting him upon so severe a trial. A young rich man comes to him with such ajffection, and yet for Christ to bid him sell all ! But consider —
[1.] Such words and thoughts must not be heard against our sover- eign Lord and lawgiver ; and Christ speaks here as a vofio6er7]<i, a law- giver, which the Ebionites could not endure, for they owned him only as a naked interpreter of the law, and therefore foisted in some passages to corrupt this part of the gospel (see Grotius). Christ hath absolute power to command. If he bid Abraham to offer up Isaac, he must do it ; and the Israelites to spoil the Egyptians, it was lawful. Certainly then he that was the Lord of all might with very good reason bid this young man sell all.
[2.] Christ, who is theAVisdom of the Father, knew the best way of discovering this young man to himself, and therefore toucheth his privy sore, that, being sensible of his defect, he might know that his conceit of being perfect was but a vain dream, and it was in mercy to him to put him out of his dream.
[3.] The precept was not so hard, considering three things —
(1.) What was required of all those that were in a special manner called to be Christ's disciples, or trained up for the ministry in Christ's company, and by special converse with him. When he called any to be of his family, and to be as it were, his menial servants and constant attendants, they left all and followed him: Mat. iv. 19, 20, 'He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men : and they straightway left their nets, and followed him ; ' their nets, that is, their whole estates ; they had less to lose indeed than this rich man, but they could but lose their all. They that were to be trained up for the service of the gospel, were to walk up and down with Christ, and to live in an itinerary ambulatory manner, without any settled abode, and afterwards to go abroad and preach the gospel in all countries through- out the world. The possession and administration of earthly things was not consistent with their office, therefore he would have them to
472 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. YI.
leave all, and trust his providence, which, without their care and solicitude, would provide them necessaries for the present life. And if Christ would call this young ruler to the like emj)loyment, it was but convenient he should bid him sell all.
(2.) Consider, it bindeth all christians, quoad animi affecium, in vow, purpose, and preparation of the heart, though not actually, to leave all and follow Christ. These are not hard terms, if you consider what is required of every one that will be saved Christ doth not hide his terms from any ; for what is here ' sell all, and give to the poor, and take up the cross and follow Christ,' is expressed by self-denial : Mat. xvi. 24, ' If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' Self-denial in effect implies as much. We should all in the preparation of our hearts follow Christ naked, destitute, and deprived of all things, and be contented so to do if he should see fit.
(3.) The precept will not seem so hard if you consider the state of that country, which was near destruction ; and that was one reason why the believers in that age sold what they had, and cast all into a common bank : Acts iv. 32, ' The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul, neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, for they had all things common ; ' and the reason of the command Christ gives, Luke xii. 33, ' Sell that ye have, and give alms ; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth,' It was a prudent course, when there was such a general destruction to come upon them.