صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

surely, is no crime: it is always mentioned in the Old Testament as a sign of God's favour. In the gospel we are told, that " godliness has the promise of the life that now is:" and there is a provision in the order of things, that, to a certain extent, it shall be so. The Christian is prudent, diligent, temperate; honest in his dealings, and simple in his habits; and these qualities, in every situation of life, have a tendency to procure and increase wealth.

It was not, therefore, the possession of wealth, but the use which he made of it, which deserved the censure of our Lord.

Look then at his conduct. He found himself rich, his farm had been productive, his trade lucrative, a large inheritance had fallen to him. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? His question is not, What shall I do to express my gratitude towards the source of every good? How shall I promote the glory of Him who has thus far loaded me with blessings? His thoughts are all upon his own enjoyment, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life;" Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Multitudes act upon these thoughts, who do not utter them, or put them into words: for what else is in their minds, but to take their ease, eat, drink, and be merry? In this pose their thoughts are occupied; for this

S

pur

pur

pose their income is expended, and for this purpose they will almost contend that life was given them. At the end of a month, or of a year, what else have they done, what else have they pursued? Nay, to this purpose, even their religious duties are subservient. They could not take their ease so perfectly, if they did not quiet conscience by some attention to the observances of religion; so that Sunday has its business as well as other days; "They come unto God as the people cometh, and they sit before Him as His people, and they hear His words, but they will not do them for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."1

:

If the parable does not condemn such a life as this, what does it condemn? Here is no mention of excess; no mention of open sin; no mention of any thing which the world would generally accuse or blame; such a person would be praised by many as an excellent member of society, as one who spent his fortune liberally,

But He does not praise him who came to tell us what life is meant for, and teach us real wisdom. He blames the folly of such a life; Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? He blames his impiety; so is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich towards God.

It is then a duty to be rich towards God, and

1 Ezek. xxxiii. 31.

this man is condemned for his neglect of it. How may we avoid his condemnation ?

Had this man been a disciple of Christ Jesus, he would have learned of Him to consider life as a stewardship of which he must give account; to consider wealth as a talent, which he who lends it expects to receive again with usury. The Lord has not said, Take the portion of goods which falleth to thee; but He has said, "Occupy till I come." The Lord has not said, Enjoy thyself, but, Deny thyself.

The Lord has not said, Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry, but, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

With these general remarks before his eyes, he would have asked advice of God, and of the Scriptures, and of his conscience, and of pious men, how, in his particular station, he might so order his goings, as to be rich towards God, and make to himself friends of the mammon of unrighteousness. So Job used his wealth, (Job xxxi. 16-19 ;)" He did not withhold from the poor their desire, or cause the eyes of the widow to fail: he did not eat his morsel by himself alone, without sharing it with the fatherless, or see any perish for want of clothing." And so it was the first inquiry of David, when God had blessed him with wealth and power, how he could manifest his gratitude by promoting God's 2 Eph. v. 15.

honour; (1 Chron. xvii. 1;) "Lo, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains:" He who has caused me to lodge in a palace has no temple worthy of His name.

When the summons of death is sent to one who has thought and acted thus, it is in terms very unlike those of the parable, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Such an one does not indeed expect eternal life as the reward of what he has done, or the remuneration for what he has denied himself. He has a better and more enduring trust, founded on "the unsearchable riches of Christ;" but still the words are designed for him, "Come, thou blessed servant of my Father, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." So is he which layeth up treasure for himself, not on earth, but in heaven, where he shall find it after many days.

LECTURE XLVI.

WARNING AGAINST SLOTHFULNESS, AND NEGLECT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

LUKE Xii. 35-48.

35. "Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning. 36. "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately."

Two qualities are here implied as requisite in the Christian: activity and watchfulness. The long and flowing garments worn in the East impede the free use of the limbs. Those, therefore, who had need to employ themselves actively, had their loins girded about, fastened up their garments, or girded them more tightly. And so must the Christian lay aside every weight which encumbers him, and disentangle himself from such affairs of this life, as would prevent his being ready and prepared for his Master's business.1 Again, the parties who were instructed to wait for their Lord till he should return, had their lights burning. If the lord or the guest arrive, and find all darkness, no light shining before men, no lamp of life held up, there can be no surer proof that he comes before he was expected, and that those within are not ready to open unto him immediately. But,

37. "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily, I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."

66

38. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39. "And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

1 See 2 Tim. ii. 4.

2 There is no kindness or condescension which he will not show them. He will not only give them all that they had hoped, but much which they had never dared to hope.

« السابقةمتابعة »