June 5

But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which?—Matthew 19:17, 18.

WHEN Christ said, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, he saith, Which? Not tempting, far from it, but supposing there were some others besides those of the Law that should procure him life, which was like one that was very desirous. Then since Jesus mentioned those out of the Law, he saith, All these things have I kept from my youth up. And neither at this did he stop, but again asks, What lack I yet? which itself again was a sign of his very earnest desire.

What then saith Christ? Since he was going to enjoin something great he setteth forth the recompensees, and saith, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me.

Seest thou how many prizes, how many crowns he appoints for this race? If he had been tempting he would not have told him these things. But now he both saith it, and in order to draw him on he also shows him the reward to be great, and leaves it all to his own will, by all means throwing into the shade that which seemed to be grievous in his advice. Wherefore even before mentioning the conflicts and the toil, he shows him the prize, saying, If thou wilt be perfect, and then saith, Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and straightway again the rewards, Thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me. For indeed to follow him is a great recompense. And thou shalt have treasure in heaven.

For since his discourse was of money, even of all did he advise him to strip himself, showing that he loses not what he hath, but adds to his possessions, he gave him more than he required him to give up; and not only more, but also as much greater as heaven is greater than earth, and yet more so.

But he called it a treasure, showing the plenteousness of the recompense, its permanency, its security, so far as it was possible by human similitudes to intimate it to the hearer. It is not then enough to despise wealth, but we must also maintain poor men, and above all things, follow Christ; that is, do all the things that are ordered by him, be ready for slaughter and daily death. For if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. So that to cast away one's money is a much less thing than this last commandment, to shed even one's very blood; yet not a little doth our being freed from wealth contribute towards this.

But when the young man heard it, he went away sorrowful. After this the Evangelist, as it were to show that he hath not felt any thing it was unlikely he should feel, saith, For he had great possessions. For they that have little are not equally held in subjection as they that are overflowed with great affluence, for then the love of it becomes more tyrannical. Which thing I cease not always saying, that the increase of acquisitions kindles the flame more, and renders the getters poorer, inasmuch as it puts them in greater desire, and makes them have more feeling of their want.

See for example, even here what strength did this passion exhibit. Him that had come to him with joy and forwardness, when Christ commanded him to cast away his riches, it so overwhelmed and weighed down, as not to suffer him so much as to answer touching these things, but silenced and become dejected and sullen to go away.

"I would not sigh for worldly joy, Or to increase my worldly good; Nor future days nor powers employ To spread a sounding name abroad.

"'Tis to my Saviour I would live,— To him who for my ransom died; Nor could all worldly honor give Such bliss as crowns me at his side."