The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 369

him to conquer." But, if we examine the matter with 1my degree of accuracy, we shall find that this bold adventurer overran only a few countries of tbo then known world, and but e. very inconsiderable portion of those immense continents and many islands which modern geographical discovery has added to the present huge dimensions of the globe. We hsve all heard of another in modern times who grasped at the sceptre of univers&l empire, who rose rapidly from a lieutenant of artillery to captain, and from captain to colonel, and from colonel to general of division, Soon he became first -consul for ten years, then for life, and afterwards ascended the imperial throne. The empire of France he increased by one-third; but what was that to the high-vaulting ambition of Napoleon? He must needs reign supreme and without a rival in Europe, and in prosecution of that gigantic scheme of conquest he actually added to his empire Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hanover, the Hanse towns. He seized on Spain and Portugal, and set his kinsmen on foreign thrones. He sought Russia, but above all he sighed for England. He pounced on Egypt; thence, as the most potent point of attack, he fixed his eye on India. India. once gained, the world, he thought, would be laid subject at his feet, and he its one and sole possessor. This, doubtless, would have been the result of its successful invasion. But the tide of fortune ceased to flow, To his failure in Spa.in succeeded his retreat from Moscow, next his defeat at Leipzig, then his banishment to Elba, and, last of all, his final and fearful overthrow on the plains of Waterloo. No one indi vidnal has ever yet attained to the possession of the world; no one has advanced beyond a distant approximation to it. But let us for a moment fancy the supposition to have become an accomplished fact. Let us suppose the wide empire of earth in the hands of one man; let us take for granted that the possession of the world-the whole world-is realized by a single individual ; let us imagine all the benefits of that vast dominion-its conveniences and comforts, its riches and honours, its pleasures, praises, and profits, all at the command of one man. IIL THE DURATION OF BUCH PROFIT BRIEF. What then would be the continuance of such? Why, he would find it impossible to retain it for any considerable length of time. We cannot calculate with certainty on the continuance of any worldly posses- sion during the whole of life; we cannot reckon on its la.sting for even a few years of that life in advance; ud, even if we could, we are not sure of life itself for a single moment. " Life is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away;" " There is but a step between us and death;" "This night the soul may be required." There is no permanence of possession upon earth; there is no fixity of tenure here below. The heirioom handed down from father to son, and again from son to father, shall pass into strangers' hands. The hereditary estate, secure it as you may by deeds and settlements, will soon, notwithstanding all your caution, change proprietorship. The baronial residence will in time become a ruin grey, round which the ivy twines. 1.'ruly as well as eloquently has the poet said- " The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palo.eee, The solemn temples, the great globe itstllf, Yea, a.II which it inherit, uhall dissolve." ', Our most cherished possessions must soon revert to others. It matters not how firmly we hold them; force, or fraud, or casualty, or imprudence, or disease, or death-one or other of these will wrench them from our reluctant grasp; and the question may be asked of us, as of the fool in the Gospel, "Then whose shall these things be? " If, then. we possessed the whole world, every instant we lived in it we should run the risk of losing it or leav.ing it, of being taken from it or having it snatched from us, of being ,compelled to give up the possession either by the open violence of enemies or tile treacherous avarice of friends, by folly on our part or dishonesty on that of others, by some sudden reverse of fortune or by some sad dispensation of providence. IV. THE ENJOYMENT OF IT IllfPOSSIBLE, Further, if we had the whole world in actual possession, and were able to retain it in inalienable and never-failing proprietori;hip, i;till we could not enjoy it all. With all the progress of modern times, with all the advances of science, with all the forward strides of this nineteenth century, with all that geological research and chemical analysis and botanical skill have discovered, there are still many plants and many substances of which we know not the nature, or at least have not yet learned the use. So long as the properties of any object remain unknown. OIi. VIII. 1~-38.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING ro ST. MARK. 367