4. How it is spoken. It is represented by a similitude that im- plietli impossibility, or at least an extraordinary difficulty without a miracle of peculiar grace.
Then look about you, sirs. Such speeches of Christ were doubly entertained — with wonder, as by the disciples in the next verse, ' They were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then
VeR. 26.] SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. 59
can be saved ? ' or witli scorn : Luke xvi. 14, ' The pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and derided him.' For the rever- ence jou bear to Christ, I hope you will not entertain it with scorn, but rather with wonder, holy fear, and solicitude.
I expect now you will say, What shall we do to prevent this mis- chief ?
[1.] Eemember your condition in the world. You are not a free- holder, but a tenant-at-will : Luke xii. 20, ' Thou fool ! this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall all those things be which thou hast provided ? ' You are not owners, but stewards ; not lords and masters of what you have, but only must improve it for God ; and you must give an account : Luke xvi. 2, ' Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward.' You are not citizens but strangers: 1 Peter ii, 11, ' Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.' The world is our inn, where we abide but for a night ; our dwelling is there where we live longest.
[2] Judge of your estates to be good or bad to you, not as they do accommodate the flesh, but as they help or hinder you in your way to heaven. Make heaven your end, and consider all things else as means and helps. Ordinances are the next means, riches and estates are remote helps to heaven. All things are measured by the great and last end, therefore you are to judge of all things as they help you on in heaven's way. Better to be preserved in brine and pickle than to rot in honey.
[3.] Devote your wealth to the Lord : Luke xii. 21, 'So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.' Kiches are snares, and will certainly prove means of our damnation if we do not so. That is the best condition for us in which we may do most service to God, and not to the flesh : Gal. vi. 8, ' For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.'
SERMON XIII
And they ivere astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can he saved ? — Mark x. 26.
In this verse you have the entertainment of Christ's doctrine concerning the difficulty of rich men's being saved. The effects of it are two — (1.) A great wonder or deep sense of this difficulty, 'They were astonished out of measure ; ' (2.) An anxious question, ' And they said among themselves. Who then can be saved ? '
For the first branch, their great wonder, 7repiaacb<; i^eirKrjacrovro, they were struck at heart, ' astonished out of measure.' We meet with it be- fore at the first proposal of this difficulty, ' They were astonished at his words ; ' but now, when Christ had rendered the reason, and reassumed
60 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. XllL
the former difficulty, ' It is easier for a camel,' &c., this doth increase the astonishment, and it is not barely said, ' they were astonished,' but 'out of measure/ Let us a little inquire into the reason of this won- der. Why should the disciples be so troubled at this speech ? They were poor, or, however, had left all and followed Christ, as it is in the next words.
1, Some say it was for others, to see so great a part of the world cut off from all hopes of salvation. Though all have not wealth, yet there are few but do desire it, and that desire may hinder as well as the enjoyment ; therefore, they being solicitous for the salvation of others, they were astonished, and said, ' Who then can be saved ? ' Certainly it is good not only to Avork out our own salvation, but to effect the salvation of others. We have a saying, Om7ie bomcm est sui diffu- sivum — All good seeks to propagate itself; as fire turns all things about it into fire. This is the disposition of God's people ; when they have found any comfort and benefit by Christ themselves, they desire others should share with them, and be partakers of the same grace and heirs of the same promises. David, after many roarings and disquiets, when he had found that penitent confession of sin was such a notable way for the easing of his own conscience, and had seen the fruit of humble dealing with God, he pens the 32(1 psalm, which is ' Ma- schil, a psalm of instruction/ and so is willing to teach others the way. So Andrew calls Peter when he had found Christ, John i. 41, and Philip calls Nathanael, ver. 45. Carnal things are possessed with envy. They that are rich and great in the world would shine alone, and when they are gotten to the top themselves, they are loath to teach others the way to climb up after them. But it is not so with spiritual things, grace is charitable and communicative. Indeed, where any take up religion out of faction and carnal aims, they would enclose the common salvation, and envy the profession and hope of it to others, that they may be the better esteemed and respected themselves. It is observed of mules and other creatures that are of mixed and bastard production, that they never procreate and beget after their kind. Mongrel christians are envious rather than communicative ; but those that have really tasted of the sweetness of Christ themselves are glad of company, and it is a great satisfaction to them to hear that others are in a towardly or hopeful way of salvation : 1 John i. 3, ' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.' The apostle had fellowship with Christ, and therefore was so zealous to bring others to the enjoyment of that privilege ; therefore, this might be one reason why the disciples, that were safe as to their own particular, and had left all and followed Christ, were troubled to hear that it was so hard for rich men to be saved. Surely this charitable disposition becomes us well, and answers the great patterns we have in the world. We read of some that were so zealous for the salvation of others that in some sense they preferred it before their own : ' Blot me out of thy book that thou hast v/ritten,' saith Moses, Exod. xxxii. 32 ; and Paul, ' I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,' Horn. ix. 3. So much of personal happiness as resulted to him