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SERMON I. ON MARK X.17.
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one run∣ning, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit Eternal Life?
ANY reigning Sin maketh us uncapable of Faith, and by consequence of Salvation; of which we have a notable Instance in the Confe∣rence that pass'd between Christ and a young Ruler of the Iews. The story begins in the words read: And when he was gone forth into the way, &c. The words give an Account of a Question put to Christ. And here,
(1.) The Time and Place when and where this Question was put to him, When he was gone forth into the way. In the tenth Verse we read he was in some private House, where the Pharisees did resort to him, and dispute with him about Di∣vorce: And v. 13. They brought young Children to him, that he might bless them. Now when he had pleaded their Right, and layd his hands upon them, and blessed them, Matthew tells us, that he departed thence, Chap. 19.15. and by the way-side, as he was in his Journey to some other place, this Ruler comes to him. Thus doth our Lord find new Occasions of doing good; in the House, and by the Way-side: Acts 10.38. it is said, He went about doing good. The Life of Christ was a constant course of Service to God, and Bounty to men; he went about; and he went about doing good. This is the Time and Place when and where.
(2.) The next Circumstance is the Person by whom the Question was put, the Text saith only, There came one running to him. What this one was, we shall find by laying several Scriptures together. (1.) This One is said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Young man, Math. 19.20. (2.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Rich man, v. 22. He had great Possessions. (3.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Ruler, Luk. 18.18. What is meant by that? Possibly one of the chief Pharisees, for they were called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Rulers, Luk. 14.1. or a Ruler of the Synagogue; or as Grotius thinks, one of the Magistrates of his Town; or rather, the Head and Chief of his Family: The Honourable Families among the Iewes had their Heads and Chiefs, whom they called their Rulers. Now such a Ruler, a young Man, an honourable Person, a Head and Chief of his Family, he comes to Christ, and puts this Question to him.
(3.) The Manner of his Address to Christ; it was Voluntary, He came, saith the Text, that is, of his own accord; it was Zealous and Earnest, he came running to him: It was Humble, he kneeled down to him: and besides, it was Civil and Respectful, he calls him Rabbi, and gives him the title of good, Good Master; he comes with a kind Compellation, which shews his Reverence and Respect to Christ: This was the Manner of his Address.
(4.) The Question it self, which is weighty and serious, What shall I do to In∣herit Eternal Life? Out of all these Circumstances take this Observation:
Doct. That men may go very far in a sense of Religion, and yet come short of True Grace.
I give it with respect to the Context. This young man is a pregnant Instance, he went far; for as this Text delivers his Character to us, you will find few his Equals, and the most part of the World left behind him. Here's a Young