part" which Mary chose, and which, our Lord as- sured her, should never be taken from her. To inculcate this lesson, and to induce this habit, was the real scope of our Lord's address to the Rich Youth, who desired to know what he must do in order to obtain eternal life. Our Lord told him to " keep the commandments." And, when the Young Man, ignorant of their spiritual import, affirmed that he had kept them all from his youth up, our Lord said to him, " Go and sell all thou hast, and come and follow me ; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven0 ;" by which he meant, not that the sacrifice of earthly treasures would purchase those which are eternal ; but that by disencumbering his mind of earthly cares, and attending diligently on the instructions that should be given him, he should gradually be guided into all truth, and finally attain that eternal life about which he had professed so much concern. This is what our Lord requires at our hands also ; and not at the commencement of our career only, but through- out our whole lives. After he had taught his Dis- ciples during the whole of his ministerial life, even after he was risen again from the dead, he botli " expounded to them out of the prophets all that related to himself," and " opened their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures'1:" and in like manner must we, to the latest hour of our lives, come to him for the illumination of our minds by his word and Spirit. We shall still need the same teaching as at the first, and must come to him for that spiritual "eye-salve which he alone can give6."
Next we must follow him as our Master, to rule us. " We call him Lord and Master ; and we say well ; for so he is." But " to what purpose shall we call him Lord, Lord, if we do not the things which he says?" His word must be a law unto us at all times, and under all circumstances. There is no authority whatever that is to be regarded in comparison of his. When the Disciples were forbidden to preach in his name, they made this appeal to their Rulers;
c Matt. xix. 21. d Luke xxiv. 44, 45. e Rev. iii. 18.