come, believing that "as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." And then we may humbly hope that "our Lord Jesus Christ will vouchsafe to receive those infants, will sanctify them with the Holy Ghost, will give them the kingdom of heaven, and life everlasting."

In this manner the Israelites were taught to believe, that the ignorance and weakness of infancy did not render their children unacceptable to God. As infants they were solemnly dedicated to him by the covenant of circumcision. And trusting to this intimation of the Divine will, confirmed as it is by numerous scriptural arguments, we bring our infants into covenant with Christ, at an age when they are themselves unconscious of the blessing. We believe that he will receive such children into his favour; will consider them as heirs of his kingdom; will shed abroad his Spirit upon their hearts, and lead them in the way everlasting.

At present, this inestimable privilege is derived from their parents' faith. Hereafter, when they come to age, it must be confirmed and preserved by their own.

6 See Baptismal Service.

Matt. xix.

16-30.

LECTURE XCVIII.

THE QUESTION ANSWERED, WHAT SHALL I DO
TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?

DANGER OF RICHES, SHOWN BY THE CONDUCT
OF THE INQUIRER.

MARK. X. 17-31.

17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came Luke xviii, one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good 18-30. Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.1

19. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hust, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

In the account of this instructive history, which we find in three of the Evangelists, one circumstance is noted by St. Mark alone. Jesus, beholding him, loved him.

'Alluding to the flattering titles which the Jewish teachers delighted to receive from their hearers.

He was, therefore, a well-meaning inquirer; he neither came out of malice, nor idle curiosity, but he kneeled before Jesus and gave him a title of respect, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

It seems probable, for the same reason, that where he says of the commandments, Master, all these have I observed from my youth, he did not mean to make a self-righteous boast, but to say that he knew the will of God as contained in the law, and that he had directed his life generally according to that law. Otherwise, we should hardly be told that Jesus beholding him, loved him, except as he loves all mankind :-he would hardly have felt a special interest in him.

He loved him, and would have made him his disciple. One thing thou lackest. God is making a further revelation to his people. He is accomplishing the promise made to your forefathers. "You believe in God, believe also in me ;" "in him whom he hath sent." Go, part with thy worldly possessions; distribute the produce to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

This, however, was a sacrifice for which he was not prepared. He was sad at that saying, when he found that he could not inherit eternal life on easier terms; and he went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

This gives occasion to point out the danger of worldly advantages: the danger of riches, because they open the way to those earthly enjoyments, by which the heart is too likely to be ensnared.

23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Not because riches exclude them. "Charge them that be rich in this world, that they be rich in good works, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come." 2 But because it is hard to have riches, and not to trust in riches: not to be attached to what they will procure; and so attached, that they, and not the kingdom of God, shall be sought in the first place, and treated as the "one thing needful."

Great indeed must be the power of divine grace, when it breaks through the net of these allurements, and enables those who may have the full enjoyment of things temporal, to set their affections on things eternal.

26. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

21 Tim. vi. 17.

28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

30. But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, und lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

31. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

One sign of the extraordinary wisdom with which the Scriptures are written, is found in this; that they show us real characters, characters of men of like passions and circumstances with ourselves. We see how these have acted; and we see the consequences of their conduct; and we are thus enabled to judge, with more accuracy and effect than would otherwise be possible, whose example is to be imitated and whose avoided.

In this history, for instance, we see a man who refused the advice of the Redeemer, when he invited him to take up the cross, and follow him, and he should have treasure in heaven. And we see others who did not refuse; who did leave all, and follow him. Which made the choice of wis

dom?

Without doubt, at the time, the choice of this young man would have been thought wisest by those around him. Had he sold all that he had, and divided it among the poor, and become a disciple of Jesus, his relations and friends would surely have wondered at his folly.