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■^ , THE ,-7 
 
 HY 
 
 MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON. 
 
 Presbyterian Board ^oe;^ Publication. 
 821 Chestnut Street, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
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 N^^tV-- 
 
 YOUNG RULER'S QUESTION. 
 
 1. 
 IT E had riches, and ease, and honour, 
 
 And never a Jewish boy 
 Had passed on the banks of Jordan 
 A quieter youth of joy. 
 
 He had houses, and fields, and vineyards, 
 And blessings of all degree ; 
 
 None had a fairer portion 
 In beautiful Galilee. 
 
4 The Young Ruler's Question. 
 
 111. 
 Whatever this world could ofter 
 
 Of pure and innocent bliss — 
 Whatever his nature needed 
 
 ( )f goodliest gifts — was his. 
 
 IV. 
 
 He had felt no weary longings — 
 
 No wants that were uiisupplied ; 
 Upright, and just, and noble. 
 His spirit was satisfied. 
 
 V. 
 Only one thought had power 
 
 Ever a doubt to cast : 
 — Joy, to be wholly perfect, 
 
 Nfust be a joy to last : 
 
The Toung Ruler s Question. 5 
 
 VI 
 
 And he knew that his own was fleeting ; 
 
 For he read in the sacred Psalm, 
 Thai man must fade as a flower, 
 
 And it ^^oiiKtimis nKine*! his ia\\\\. 
 
 VII. 
 He turned to the holy Prophets, 
 
 Security thence to draw ; 
 And he listened to Moses' teachings, 
 
 And he strove to keep the Law. 
 
 VIII. 
 He tithed his anise and cuinmin — 
 
 He tithed his mint and rue : 
 He kucio he had earth's best treasures — 
 
 He hoped he had heaven's loo. 
 
6 The Young Ruler s Question. 
 
 IX 
 
 — In the mart of a busy city 
 It came to pass, one day, 
 
 That a throng of curious people 
 Were chf)king the n.irrow way, 
 
 X. 
 
 All pressing with upturned faces, 
 
 Eager to hear and see 
 The miracle-working Rabbi 
 
 Who had come to (iaiilee. 
 
 XI. 
 
 — *• Now, verily, what will it profit 
 A man, tho' he gain the whole 
 
 Of the world, with its utmost glory, 
 If yet he should lose his soul ? 
 
Th* Teung Ruler s Question. 7 
 
 * 
 
 XII. 
 
 " Come unto me, ye weary — " 
 Dropped on the passing ear 
 Ot the young and happy Ruler, 
 
 For he could not choose but hear. 
 
 XIII. 
 He did not pause to listen 
 
 .\s he skirted the crowd, but went 
 Hom«ward athwart the city, 
 
 Wrapped in his swe«t content. 
 
 XIV. 
 Vet ever and oft, the Teacher 
 
 Kose to his inward oye ; 
 Over and over the question 
 
 Waited his heart's reply. 
 
8 The Young Ruler's Question. 
 
 XV. 
 
 — Bliss that should be eternal — 
 — Pleasures that could not clo\ — 
 
 These were the very blessings 
 Needed to crown his joy ! 
 
 XVI. 
 Again through the palm-girt highways, 
 
 When noontide's sultry flame 
 Was searing the happy vineyards, 
 
 The wonfkrfnl Tearlu-r ramt-. 
 
 XVII. 
 And the Ruler hailed His coming ; 
 
 For harvest or vintage cheer 
 Never had silenced the question 
 
 That troubled his restless ear. 
 
9=*-*^ 
 
 mt^ 
 
 The Young Ruler's Question. 9 
 
 xvm. 
 IIa^lcning, he sought the Prophet 
 
 Whose words had waked the strife : 
 — 'What shall I do, good Master, 
 
 To inherit eternal life ?" 
 
 XIX. 
 
 As he kneeled so young and guileless, 
 
 Single in aim and art, — 
 Jesus, seeing him, loved him, 
 
 The' He read his inmost heart. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Anil he answered and said, as gently 
 As father would say to son : [ments ;" 
 
 — "Thou knowcst the Ten Command- 
 And he spake them one by one. 
 
lo The Young Ruler's ^uesfion. 
 
 XXI. 
 A look that was half reproachful 
 
 The eye of the Saviour met : 
 — " I have kept them even from childhood ; 
 Master, what lack I yet ?" 
 
 XXil. 
 And Jesus, seeing him, loved him, 
 
 And a humaji sympathy stole, 
 As He gazed on the earnest pleader, 
 
 Deep into His sacred soul. 
 
 XXIII. 
 All liiiiMingp tbi« lii« could bring him 
 
 Even now were his. He knew ; 
 But he coveted both ]>osseMions — 
 
 The earthly and heavenly toa 
 
Tk*' faung Ruler'f .'^uesUon. ii 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Never diviner pity 
 
 Melted the muurnful eye, 
 Never a tearftiller yearning, 
 
 Than softened the firm reply : 
 
 XXV. 
 
 ** Only one thing thou lackest ; 
 Give up thy portion here — 
 All of thy stored abundance — 
 Everything heart holds dear : 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 "C!hoose thee between the blcssinj^s — 
 
 This — or the life to l>e : 
 Thou shah have treasure in henven. 
 If thou wilt follow me !" 
 
12 The Young Rulcr^s ^ncstiott. 
 
 XXVII. 
 A sudden, surprised dejection 
 
 Flooded the lifted face — 
 Doubting and disappointment 
 
 Darkened the wistful gaze. 
 
 xxvni. 
 Verily, this was a doctrine 
 
 Hai'd for the flesh and sore; 
 I'his was a self-denying 
 
 Never conceived before ! 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Had there l)cen half required, 
 Then he might heed the call : 
 
 Dignities, loves, possessions — 
 How could he yield them all ? 
 
The Toung Rulers .^ueslion. 13 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Bitter the stern exaction 
 
 Fell on his heart that day ; 
 
 \ nd wavering— wishing— choosing— 
 lie sorrowfully went away. 
 
 XXXI. 
 —Ye who have read and marvelled 
 
 That Jesus, who loved him so, 
 should let him depart unhindered, — 
 
 Will ye, like the Ruler, go? 
 
 XXXII. 
 Fonder the solemn question 
 
 Deep in each conscience set. 
 Asking in soul-like earnest, 
 
 " Master, what lack I yet ?" 
 
14 The Young Ruler s Question. 
 
 XXXI II. 
 Choose ye, as every seeker 
 
 Who fiiideth Him truly doth, 
 — Earthly, or Heavenly treasure — 
 
 For ye cannot inherit both ! 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Ye may be near the kingdom — 
 Nearer than any know — 
 
 And Jesus may love and pity, 
 And yet — He may let you go! 
 
I 
 
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