A certain rich man came to Jesus, and asked Him what he should do to inherit eternal life: to whom Jesus replied, Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt not defraud; honour thy father and mother. He answering said, All these have I kept from my youth. Jesus looked upon him, and loved him; and yet He said . . . One thing thou lackest; go, sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor; thus thou shalt have treasure in the heavens; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Mark x 17-22.

[2] It is said that Jesus loved him. This was because he said that he had kept the commandments from his youth. But, because he lacked three things, namely, that he had not removed his heart from riches, that he had not fought against lusts, and that he had not yet acknowledged the Lord to be God, therefore the Lord said that he should sell all that he had, by which is meant that he should remove his heart from riches; that he should bear the cross, by which is meant that he should fight against lusts; and that he should follow Him, by which is meant that he should acknowledge the Lord to be God. The Lord spoke these words, as He did all His words, by correspondences (see THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE, No. 17). For no one can shun evils as sins unless he acknowledges the Lord and approaches Him; and unless he fights against evils, and thereby removes lusts. But more will be said on this subject in the article concerning combats against evils.