339 SERMON XXXIII. MATTHEW XIX. 24. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. UR blessed Saviour, who at all SERM. times and in all places endeavoured to convince mankind that his kingdom was not of this world, and to fet them right in their mistaken notions of happiness, in the verses just preceding my text, had commanded the young man who required of him the means of eternal life, to leave all his treasures and follow him but when he heard that fay XXXII.' XXXIII. SERM. ing (fays the apostle) be went away forrowful; for he had great poffeffions: whereupon Jefus immediately makes the following reflection, naturally refulting from the event: Verily I fay unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Some learned commentators on this paffage have affected to give a different interpretation of it, and having difcovered that the word in the original, which is here conftrued camel, will admit alfo of another fignification, have changed the image, and fuppofed that our Saviour faid, it is easier for a cable to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. The propriety of the metaphor they contend is here better preserved, the sense equally |