27. And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

This young man, who knew the law and observed it, still lacked one thing. His heart was not devoted to God; his affections were not mainly set on things above. There was still something which he loved better than God or eternal life: or otherwise he would not have hesitated to sell all that he had, and distribute to the poor, and follow Jesus. The poor disciples, removed from their usual course of life and livelihood, must be supported: and it was needful that those who went to preach the kingdom of God, should leave their worldly affairs. "So that as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold; and distribution was made to every man according as he had need." (Acts iv. 34-47.) This was proof of the truth of those words of Jesus, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. God can overcome the worldly and and make it seek treasure in heaven. proved so in the apostles themselves. they were not like this ruler, who was very rich: they had what was dear to them: they had houses, and kindred, and wives, and children. Difficult as it is to abandon these, the Spirit had enabled them to obey the call of Christ, and to enter into the kingdom of God. As we read in what follows.

The grace of carnal heart,

It had been

For though

28. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

29. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There

is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

30. Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Here we may be disposed to ask, How can this be? How shall he who has left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, receive manifold more in this present time? What has life more than these? What sources of enjoyment remain, when these are taken away? We evidently see, therefore, that the promise refers not to temporal, but spiritual blessings. The promise is, that whoever resigns things that are naturally dear and valuable to him for Christ's sake and the gospel's, shall receive a return, even in this present time, which shall be far more precious to him. What he resigns, is often accompanied with cares and anxieties: for it is uncertain, it may be short-lived: and at best, if it does not leave him, he will be called from it. What he receives, is without such alloy: it is sure and permanent. What he resigns, may contribute to outward comfort: but cannot afford that, without which outward comforts avail nothing. What he receives, is that inward peace which results from peace with God, and passeth all understanding. For there is this peace, this "joy in believing," "shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost." It is joy to know that the Almighty Father, the High and Holy One that inhabiteth eternity, regards the Christian with favour, as being reconciled to him through the Son of his love, made his own child by adoption and grace, and designed for an

everlasting inheritance. There is joy in knowing, that whatever the occurrences of this world may prove, whether agreeable or disagreeable to the natural heart, still "all things shall work together for good to them that love God." There is joy in believing, that notwithstanding the dangers which beset, and the infirmities which hinder, he who has begun the good work will perform it unto the end, and has taken the soul under his almighty care. In all this, and in more than all this, of which the Christian is assured, there is a joy with which a stranger intermeddleth not, and a peace which this world can neither give nor take away: for it is not of the earth, earthly, but it comes from above, and is sustained by power from above: and therefore it is manifold more than any worldly advantage which he may have resigned.

It may be said, however, that the promise is not always made good. Many sincere Christians are strangers to inward peace and spiritual joy. True. But they are not placed in the circumstances here supposed. They are not called to leave house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake. They are not the less under the watchful care and tutelage of God: and he, as a wise and tender Father, dispenses or withholds the comforts which he has in store for his children, as he sees to be most expedient for them. It may be needful that they should be depressed, rather than exalted: forced to put their entire dependance upon him: forced to afflict themselves, and mourn, and weep, that hereafter they may be lifted up. Should they ever be called to circum

stances of worldly trial, they may still have experience of the truth, that God rewards those who suffer for the kingdom of God's sake with manifold more in this present time.

"

99

Still it must be remembered that as the Christian's rest is not here, so neither is his recompense. What he looks to, is future; in the world to come, life everlasting. It was a future recompense which the Captain of his salvation foresaw, when "for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame." It was this which enabled the apostles and their followers to "count it all joy, when they fell into divers temptations: they could rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great was their reward in heaven." They "reckoned, that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory which should be revealed." And in proportion as the mind is enabled to realize this life of glory, it will consider things temporal, whether prosperous or adverse, as subordinate to things eternal; it will rejoice with moderation when earthly desires are gratified, it will secure comfort from above when present comfort is denied.

Lord, evermore give us this faith! To overcome the world, and the things that are in the world, is, with man, impossible: we are plainly told so, and we daily find it so. They are present; and we are naturally led by things present. But the things which are impossible with man possible with God. And "whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world." 1

1 1 John v. 4.

LECTURE LXX.

JESUS PROCEEDING TOWARDS JERUSALEM RESTORES SIGHT TO A BLIND MAN WHO SAT BY THE WAY SIDE.

LUKE Xviii. 31-43.

(Matt. xx. 17-34. Mark x. 32—52.)

31. Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the son of man shall be accomplished.

32. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on :

33. And they shall scourge him, and put him to death; and the third day he shall rise again.

34. And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

35. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging. 1

36. And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what

it meant.

37. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

38. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

1 Matthew speaks of two blind men. Probably one is here specified, as a man generally known; being named by Mark as "blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus."