have I broken from my youth up. He Would have confessed himself a sinner and cried for salvation, rte throws down the gauntlet: " W h a t lack I y e t ? " and the Lord accepts the • challenge. The searching test. The Lord has a sure test for every soul. If this young man is honest, if he really wants eter- nal life, and wants to do something, he shall have his desire granted. ' ' Sell all. ' ' This reply startled the enthusi- ast. He was rudely awakened. He was looking for some new commandment. He was unprepared for such a demon- stration as this. He wants life, but he is staggered at the cost. Sell all, leave his possessions and position, part company with his wealth, follow the lowly Nazarene! His eternal destiny hangs on a decision. He must choose between Christ and his possessions, be- tween a house on earth and one in heaven. He would gladly have raised his hand for prayer, or joined a church, but to decide out and out for Christ, this was too much for him; the love of wealth masterèd him, and he turned away sorrowful. He came running, went away reluctantly; he came hope- ful and went away hopeless. He came seeking and went away sorrowful. His désire for life was secondary to his de- sire for wealth. He went back to his possessions and attempted to be happy and to enjoy the things which cost him eternal happiness. Self renunciation is the price of real life. He did not know how much he loved his possessions un- til he faced the prospect of losing them. "Follow m e " — " W h e r e ?" The motley CTowd was not attractive; the prospect not pleasing; riches in heaven were vague, he thought; his own riches were so real. To every man there comes some lot which tries his soul and reveals his real desire. (3) LUCRE LOVING. " I t is hard for a rich man." • Here is an awfully solemn warning concerning the snare or riches. All through the New Testament are the red lights, warning of the danger of wealth. " A n d the rich man He sent away emp t y ." Luke 1-53. " T h e ground of a certain ' rich man ' ' Luke 12:16.' " T h ou fool, this n i g h t ." " A certain rifih man clothed in purple," and " i n hell he lifted up his e y e s ." Luke 16:19-22. " T h e deceitfulness of r i c h e s" Mark 4:19. " G o to, ye rich men; weep and h ow l ," Jas. 5:1. " N o t to trust in uncertain riches, " 1 Tim. 6:17. " T h ey that will be r i c h ." " S o
also shall the rich man fade in his wa y s ," Jas. 1:11. " I t is not impos- sible to save a rich man. . . With God all things are possible:" It is not only those who are rich, but those also who are poor and who love, riches. What makes it hard for a rich man or for a man who wants riches is the test applied to his heart. The Lord looked upon him and loved him, but he looked not upon the Lord to love him. He loved his riches. He did not love God with all his heart, and he did not love his neighbor as himself. Riches so often form a curse. Most of the chil- dren of the rich are absorbed in world- liness and never have any heart for the lowly Christ. The love of money proves to be a root of all evil. • POINTS PRACTICAL. Whoever is called to partake of sal- vation is called to participate in ser- vice. The world is the vineyard and the work is varied. The worker is worthy of his wages and the Lord will pay the price. God carefully notes the conduct of the servant and the character of his service. The Ignorant, Indifferent and Idle will suffer loss. He who takes advantage of the open door for. service will be first'; who trifles with opportunity will be last; LESSON VII. Sunday, August 14. Laborers and Vineyard (Matt, 20:1-16). Golden Text—Matt. 19:30. THEME: Work and Wages. OUTLINE. 1. The Call to Service. 2. The Conditions of Service. 3. The Compensation of Service. , ,4. The Controversy over Settlement. I t is of importance in the study of this Parable that it be viewed in its proper setting. Much of diflHiulty would be obviated if we were more thorough in our habits of Bible study. We are inclined to take passages out Qf their context and endeavor to make them fit any theory we may hold. Pol- lowing the incident of the rieh young ruler when the Lord said " A rich man shall haTdly enter into the Kingdom of H e a v e n" and the disciples answered " Wh o then can be s a v e d ?" Peter asked another question, "Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee. What shall we have t h e r e f o r e ?" Then Jesus made the promise, that they should be seated upon the twelve
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