t impossible that they should be
saved,[5] presents an object of contemplation widely different. Faith
can only lay hold of the fearful declaration;--"It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for those who have
riches to enter into the Kingdom of God"; and if the situation of
such a family is irretrievably fixed, and that by our exertions, the
contemplation of it may well bring alarm and sadness and distress
upon the last hours of a Christian Parent. And these feelings may
well rise to anguish, if he is conscious that his system of
accumulation was carried on in defiance of solemn admonitions; and if
he is persuaded that the wealth he has amassed--as it were to shut
out heaven from the hopes and prospects of his children--if it had
been dedicated day by day, as God had prospered him, as a
manifestation of his love, and a tribute of his gratitude to his Lord
and King, might have been the means of feeding with the bread of life
some of the hundreds of millions who lie in darkness, hopelessness,
and sin, because the Son of Righteousness has not arisen on them with
healing in his wings. Such are the views and feelings which an
unbiassed consideration of the words of our Saviour is calculated to
produce.

Some, however, may be prepared to assert that his words give no
encouragement or allowance to any such conclusions; and this
assertion they may support by another--that a love of riches was the
peculiar failing of the young man, whose conduct suggested the
observations of our Saviour. It ought, however, to be remarked that
he does not say, How hardly shall this rich man enter into the
Kingdom of God!--but in the most general terms,--to "How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!"--it may be
desirable for those who consider the expression...--"Trust in
riches"--used in the parallel passage of St. Mark (10. 24) as
mitigating considerably the severity of our Saviour's declaration to
view the connection of the several parts of the passage in which the
expression is found. 23. "Jesus looked round about, and saith unto
his disciples--'How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the
Kingdom of God.' 24. And the disciples were astonished at his words.
But Jesus answered again and saith unto them,--'Children, how hardly
shall they that trust in riches enter into the Kingdom of God!' 25.
'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for
a rich man to enter