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d
HOPEFUL YOUTH
DERM.
VIII.
First,
The
love which
our
Saviour manifested
to
this
person,
was
not
properly a
divine
love,
for
that
would
have changed
his
nature, and
refined
his
carnal
desires,
and
conferred grace and salvation upon him: We
must
understand it therefore
only in this
sense,
that
the
affec-
tions
of
his
human
nature
were drawn
out
towards
something
that
was
valuable and excellent
in this young
Israelite
:
He approved of
those accomplishments
which
he beheld in
him,
and felt
a sort
of
complacency
in
his
person and character. He had an innocent and
human
desire
of
his
welfare, he gave him divine
instructions
for
this
end,
and pitied
him
heartily
that
he was so
far
gone
in
the
love
of
the world,
as
to
neglect the
offer
of
heaven.
Secondly,
The
qualities
which
might
attract
our
Savi-
our's
love, were such as
these: He
was
young and
sprightly, and
it
was
probable
that
he
had something
very agreeable
in his
aspect:
His carriage
was
courteous
and
obliging, for he
kneeled before
our Lord, and
sa-
luted
him with
much civility:
He
had
a
religious
educa
tion, much
outward sobriety and
virtue,
so
that
he was
ready
to
think himself
a
complete saint. All these com-
mands,
says he,
have
I
kept
from
my
youth;
and
yet
he
was willing
to receive
further
instructions,
if
any
thing
else were
necessary, in
order
to
eternal
life.
Add
to all
this,
that
he
was
rich and
powerful, he
was
a
ruler
among
the
Jews,
and
had large
possessions, which
made
his
humility and
other
virtues
appear
the more amiable,
be-
cause they
so
seldom
are
found
in
persons
of
an
exalted
station.
Thirdly,
The
remarks
that
were
made upon a
person
that
had
so
many good qualities,
and yet
missed of
heaven, might
instruct
us
not
to disclaim any thing
that
is
worthy and excellent, though
it
is
mingled with
much
iniquity
;
but
to pay
respect and
love, as
our Lord Jesus
did,
to
persons
that
have any thing valuable
in
them,
though their virtues are imperfect, and
fall
short
of
saving grace.
We
may
learn
also,
that God
chuses not
as
man would
chuse,
nor
saves all those
that
a
wise
and
good man
may well bestow his love
upon. We
are
taught
further,
that
many lovely accomplishments,
joined
together, are
not
sufficient to
attain eternal
life, unless
we
renounce
this world,
and
follow
Christ;
and
we
are