Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

FIRST, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, Matth. xix. 17. That is, if thou wilt by doing, enter into life, then perfectly keep the ten commands. For the scope of these words is, to beat down the pride of man's heart; and to let him see the absolute need of a Saviour, from the impossibility of keeping the law. The answer is given, suitable to the address. Our Lord checks him for his compliment, Good Master, ver. 16. telling him, There is none good, but One, that is God, ver. 17. As if he had said, you think yourself a good man, and me another? but where goodness is spoken of, men and angels may veil their faces before the good God. And as to his question, wherein he discovered his legal disposition, Christ does not answer him, saying, Believe and thou shalt be saved; that would not have been so seasonable in the case of one, who thought he could do well enough for himself, if he but knew, what good things he should do; but, suitable to the humour the man was in, he bid him keep the commandments; keep them nicely and accurately, as those that watch malefactors in prison, lest any of them escape, and their life go for their's. See then, O unregenerate man, what canst thou do in this matter; for if thou wilt recover thyself in this way, thou must perfectly keep the commandments of God.

FIRST, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, Matth. xix. 17. That is, if thou wilt by doing, enter into life, then perfectly keep the ten commands. For the scope of these words is, to beat down the pride of man's heart; and to let him see the absolute need of a Saviour, from the impossibility of keeping the law. The answer is given, suitable to the address. Our Lord checks him for his compliment, Good Master, ver. 16. telling him, There is none good, but One, that is God, ver. 17. As if he had said, you think yourself a good man, and me another? but where goodness is spoken of, men and angels may vail their faces before the good God. And as to his question, wherein he discovered his legal disposition, Christ does not answer him, saying, Believe and thou shalt be saved; that would not have been so seasonable in the case of one, who thought he could do well enough for himself, if he but knew, what good things he should do; but, suitable to the humour the man was in, he bid him keep the commandments; keep them nicely and accurately, as those that watch malefactors in prison, lest any of them escape, and their life go for their's. See then, O unregenerate man, what canst thou do in this matter; for if thou wilt recover thyself in this way, thou must perfectly keep the commandments of God.