2. This " one thing " is nothing less than the crucifying of the old man (which in the case of this youth existed in the form of attachment to riches), and so is equivalent to " all things," inas- much as in the one thing all things are included. The entrance into this one thing is also the way to " perfection " (Matt, xix. 21), for this reason, that it can be effected only in the strength of God ; and man can become perfect and good only in this way, that the one perfect and good God make his heart His temple.
^ A poor drunken man once reeled up to old Bishop Wilber- force in St. James's Square, and said, " Bishop, how am I to be sure of getting to heaven ? " The bishop looked at him, and said, " Don't you know that ? My mother taught me that as I knelt at her knee in my childhood. My poor friend " — the poor wretched creature under the power of strong drink was reeling at his side — " my poor friend," said the bishop with that calm, quiet face that we remember so well, " turn to the right and go straight on." 3
3. There are four stages in the development of our nature — animality, intellectuality, morality, spirituality. Most people will allow that morality stands above the first two, but many forget that there is something higher. Moses brought men to
1 F. Audiews. " Ibid. » G. H. Wilkinsou.
266 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
the level of morality, Jesus led them to the level where morality passes into religion. It was not His business to enforce the Ten Commandments, it was His to replace them by the principle of love.
^ Much may be done to the tree by training, much to the man by teaching, but you cannot learn to do what you have not the heart to do. You cannot learn to manage, on any stream, a vessel that draws more water than the depth of the stream supplies.^
4. We are confronted with two opposite schools of doctrine, and hear the one saying, The man is worse than a profligate ; and the other. The man is safe, and only wants perfecting. The one says, Better any immorality than the vice of self-right- eousness. The other says, Morality is the differentia of human being ; give me virtue, and for all else let bigots fight. The one says. No case so hopeless as that which has no need of repent- ance ; which, not having consciously fallen, can dispense with a Saviour ; saying I am rich, is deaf to the counsel, Buy of Me without price. The other says, The end of religion is virtue — reach virtue any way, and God cannot condemn. Against the former of these views is the " Jesus loved him " : against the latter is the " went away sorrowful." It is better to be moral than to be profligate ; yet to be moral is not salvation. We must not sever what the text has joined in one. "Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest."
^ You will admit that the dahlia in gorgeousness of colour falls not a whit behind the choicest productions of the best cultured nursery. But it is minus one important thing — scent. If its scent were only equal to its beauty, its aroma to its colour, it might even enter into friendly competition with the rose, the ac- knowledged sovereign of the garden. Art has done its best to supply this deficiency of Nature — botanists have strained their skill to per- fume this magnificent flower, but in vain. No fragrance can be imparted or developed. The dahlia is very beautiful, but not sweet. The perfection of a flower, however, consists in exquisite- liess of colour and deliciousness of fragrance. ^
1 T. T. Lynch. ^ F. Andrews.
ST. MARK 267
III.
Treasure surrendered on Earth is Treasure laid up IN Heaven.
" Go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven."
1. There are very few extraordinary openings of any kind / in most men's lives ; but there are sure to be at least a few very testing hours. And these hours often come just as the youth is turning man. He has professed, and has really felt, much admiration for noble things and noble persons. Education has directed his enthusiasm, and the world has not yet damped / it. What lacks he ? Courage, perhaps, to become a foremost advocate of an unpopular truth, which truth he has privately seen and honoured : or, perhaps, " hardness " enough to become soldier for anything. He has a silver tongue, but not a strong hand ; he will be trumpeter on gala days, but must not be looked for among the slain, or the surviving, in decisive hours. Many have preached the Kingdom of heaven, saying, " It will come, it is at hand," who, when it has come, but with " garments rolled in blood," have fled, not tarrying to welcome it. How indeed could they welcome such a coming !
^ I heard a clergyman tell this story of a Jewish maiden brought to Christ through his instrumentality. She lived with her mother, whose only daughter she was, in Germany. Her mother was a widow, and very well-to-do. At first she kept secret from her mother her acceptance of the Christian faith, from fear of the pain it would cause her. One evening she felt she could keep the secret no longer. She asked her mother to kiss her, which the mother did, wondering at the request. It was the last embrace between mother and daughter. For at midnight the clergyman and his wife were roused by the young girl, driven from her mother's house, penniless. Work was found for her to do ; but, unfitted for battle with the hard world, she early succumbed. When her end was very near the clergyman, raising her head to put a glass of water to the parched lips, asked, "Are you happy?" Unhesitatingly came the answer, •'So happy!"!