SERMON VII.

IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE

PROPHETS.

LUKE XVI. 31.

If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

LET us advert to the occasion on which these words were delivered, to the parable of which they form a part. The case there presented to us by the description of the rich man is unhappily of frequent occurrence in every age. Surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could furnish, he looked for nothing beyond them: how many fellow mortals there were near his dwelling, deprived of the necessities, while

he was revelling in the superfluities of life, was no care, no consideration of his; the selfish enjoyment of this world entirely absorbed his affections, and threw a veil over all expectation of a world to come: satisfied, that he had "goods laid by for many years," he imagined that he had nothing to do, but to "eat, drink, and be merry."

But such ignorance and insensibility did not prevent him from being called to account; such forgetfulness of his latter end did not retard the evil day. He died -and was buried, we may conclude, with costly preparation answerable to the splendour in which he had lived. This however, was the last service which his riches were able to render him; and melancholy it was, when contrasted with the state, in which his soul was existing, while his treasures were employed in doing honour to the lifeless body. He found in that state, what he might have discovered before, that riches, if selfishly employed in purposes of vanity and plea

IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES

sure, are a deadly snare; that earthly indulgencies, if pursued with excess, to the neglect of duty towards God and man, instead of being a blessing, are paving the way to misery; he found, "what an evil and bitter thing it is," to squander the favours of heaven without remembering "the author and giver of every good gift."

Perceiving therefore, by sad experience, his own deplorable condition, he is represented as being moved with a feeling of pity for his brethren: his first anxiety, indeed, was naturally for himself—for some alleviation, at least, of the wretchedness of his fate; but when he was informed that such desire was fruitless, that even the assuagement of his pain was impossible, that there was no means of conveying even a drop of water to cool the thirst upon his tongue, that the great gulf was finally and irremoveably fixed, he then hoped that something might be done for his brethren who were still surviving; they had not yet passed the boundary of life and grace;

AND THE PROPHETS

and therefore he entreats that, while the far-spent day was shining upon them, Lazarus might be despatched from his abode of bliss, to warn them of the untimely end to which they were hastening; and induce them effectually to repent before" the night should come, in which no man can work."*

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Abraham's answer is, they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." A messenger from the court of heaven could tell them nothing new; they are already acquainted with their duty and the consequences of neglecting it : Jehovah has revealed unto them His blessed will, and clearly made known what is required of them, "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God." His covenant with their fathers, and the promulgation of His law, have been attested by a series of signal miracles, which they do not pretend to dispute; and in every page of their history are recorded God's promised blessings to + Micah vi. 8,

*John ix. 4.

the good, and the execution of His vengeance upon the evil; and, therefore, in as far as knowledge is concerned, they have all the intelligence that can be desired.

But the wretched man, in the agony of his own feelings, and the earnest desire to preserve his family from such woe, still pursues his request. "Nay, father Abraham;" but, though they have neglected the ordinary calls of heaven, assuredly, if so astonishing an admonition were granted to them, as that of one risen from the dead, they would be thereby persuaded to repent. Then follows the answer of the text, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." And thus the conference ended.

From this conclusion of the parable, two important observations may be drawn ; first, that if men fail to be convinced and converted, to be led to their God and their duty, by those sufficient means of grace which are already vouchsafed to them, they would not be likely to yield to