Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

[LXXXV. Ben.]

On the words of the Gospel, Matthew 19:17 , “If you would enter into life, keep the commandments.”

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 you will enter into life, keep the commandments”? What then have I to say but, “If you will 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 you do not wish to keep the commandments, why do you seek after life? If you are slow to the work, why do you hasten to the reward? The rich young man in the Gospel said that he had kept the commandments; then he heard the greater precepts, “If you will be perfect, one thing is lacking to you, go sell all that you have, and give to the poor;” you shall not lose them, but “you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me.” For what shall it profit you, if you shall do all the rest, and yet not follow Me? But as you 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 sits in heaven; but He does 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 you will not do the greater things, do at least the less. If the burden of the greater be too much for you, at least take up the less. Why are you slow to both? Why settest yourself against both? The greater are, “Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and follow Me.” The less are, “You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness. Honour your father and your mother; and, You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” These do; why do I call to you, to sell your possessions, from whom I cannot gain, that you would keep from plundering what is another's? You have heard, “You shall not steal;” yet you plunder. Before the eyes of so great a Judge, I find you not a thief only, but a plunderer. Spare yourself, have pity on yourself. This life yet allows you respite, do not refuse correction. Yesterday you were a thief; be not so today too. Or if perhaps you have been so today already, be not so tomorrow. Put a stop sometime to your evil doing, and so require good for a reward. You would have good things, and would not be good; your life is a contradiction to your desires. If to have a good country-seat, is a great good: how great an evil must it be to have an evil soul!