Sermon XXXV.
[LXXXV. Ben.]
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, “If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the com-
mandments.”
1. The Gospel lesson which has now sounded in our ears, Brethren, requires rather an
attentive hearer and a doer, than an expositor. What is more clear than this light, “If thou
wilt enter into life, keep the commandments”?2795 What then have I to say but, “If thou wilt
enter into life, keep the commandments”? Who is there that does not wish for life? and yet
who is there that does wish to keep the commandments? If thou dost not wish to keep the
commandments, why seekest thou after life? If thou art slow to the work, why dost thou
hasten to the reward? The rich young man in the Gospel said that he had kept the command-
ments; then he heard the greater precepts, “If thou wilt be perfect, one thing is lacking to
thee, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor;” thou shalt not lose them, but “thou
shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.”2796 For what shall it profit thee,
if thou shalt do all the rest, and yet not follow Me?” But as ye have heard, “he went away”
sad and “sorrowful; for he had great riches.” What he heard, have we heard also. The Gospel
is Christ’s voice. He sitteth in heaven; but He doth not cease to speak on earth. Let us not
be deaf, for He is crying out. Let us not be dead; for He is thundering. If thou wilt not do
the greater things, do at least the less. If the burden of the greater be too much for thee, at
least take up the less. Why art thou slow to both? why settest thyself against both? The
greater are, “Sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and follow Me.” The less are, “Thou
shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shall not
367
bear false witness. Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself.”2797 These do; why do I call to thee, to sell thy possessions, from whom I cannot
gain, that thou wouldest keep from plundering what is another’s? Thou hast heard, “Thou
shalt not steal;” yet thou dost plunder. Before the eyes of so great a Judge, I find thee not a
thief only, but a plunderer. Spare thyself, have pity on thyself. This life yet allows thee respite,
do not refuse correction. Yesterday thou wast a thief; be not so to-day too. Or if peradventure
thou hast been so to-day already, be not so to-morrow. Put a stop sometime to thy evil doing,
and so require good for a reward. Thou wouldest have good things, and wouldest not be
good; thy life is a contradiction to thy desires. If to have a good country-seat, is a great good:
how great an evil must it be to have an evil soul!
2. The rich man “went away sorrowful;” and the Lord said, “How hardly shall he that
hath riches enter into the kingdom of heaven!”2798 And by putting forth a comparison He
2795 Matt. xix. 17.
2796 Matt. xix. 21.
2797 Matt. xix. 18, 19.
2798 Matt. xix. 23.
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, ‘If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.’
770
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 17, ‘If thou wouldest enter into…