Discourses Upon the Rich Man and Lazarus, Collection of sermons · Sermon 11
SERMON XI.
Luke xvi.xxxi.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be perswaded, the one rose from the Dead.
HAving consider'd the Rich Man's Reply to Abraham's first Answer in the foregoing Verse, I come now to Abraham's final Answer in these Words; He had told him before, that the sending of Lazarus was unnecessary, because they had Moses and the Prophets, whom they might hear; v. 29. Here he also let him know that it would be less useful to his Brethren, if it were granted; for the entertain'd a mistaken Opinion of its Success, and was deceiv'd in what he asserted so positively about their Repentance. And he said unto him, &c.
In which last Words upon this Subject, we have two Parts, a Supposition, and a Conclusion from it. 1. A Supposition; [If they hear not Moses and the Prophets] i. e. if they will not do, as I have already suggested and advis'd, but continue refractory and incorrigible, notwithstanding such Opportunities and Means; if they will do, as those furious Murderers of Stephen did, Acts 7.57. Stop their Ears, and make Light of that which they have so much Reason to value and improve; there is little difference between their Case and yours. They indeed are yet on Earth, and you in Hell, but their Condition is desperate and hopeless, and the Life which they are now living in the Flesh, will issue as yours hath done. Abraham does not say, whether they would hear or not, for he leaves that still doubtful and undecided (as the Events of our Ministry are to us for the present, with Reference to them that are sitting under it) but he clearly intimates what their End must needs be, if they always refuse to hear. 2. The Conclusion from this Supposition; [Neither will they be perswaded, tho one rose from the Dead.] Our Lord says, that if the mighty Works which were done in Chorazin and Bethsaida, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long before in Sackcloth and Ashes, Mat. 11.21. But if Lazarus or any other were sent from the Dead to Preach to unconverted Sinners that harden'd themselves against the stated Preaching of the Gospel by Living Men, it would have no saving Effect upon them, nor conduce to their sound Conversion; it would never prevail with them to quit their Lusts, and return heartily to God. They who turn God's ordinary Messengers behind them (as Jehu did Joram's, a Kings 9.18, 19.) will never be brought to set their Faces towards Sion, as they should do, by this more unlikely Means. Whatever probability Men may apprehend in this Way and Method above the other, they do but flatter themselves with a false Notion; the Rich Man's Brethren would have remain'd really as far from the Kingdom of God, and in as much danger of Damnation, as they then were, tho he had been suffer'd to speed in his extravagant Request for them.
Obs. Where the daily Ministry of the Word works not, the sending of one from the Dead would be fruitless also, and avail nothing. Here
First, Shew, how unavailable the sending of one from the Dead would be.
Secondly, What are the Reasons of its being so.
Thirdly, Wherein it appears Inferior to the Ministry of the Word, and not to be compared with it.
Fourthly, The ƲSE.
First, To shew in general, how unavailable and fruitless the sending of a Preacher from the Dead to a sinful World would be. There are several Evidences of this, which put together, do sufficiently Confirm and Assure it to us. As
1. There have been Persons raised from the Dead, who have wrought nothing upon ungodly Sinners by their Revival. When Joram, that wicked King of Israel, was enquiring of Gehazi, concerning the great things which his Master Elisha had done, the Shunamite and her Son whom the Prophet had restor'd to Life, very providentially presented themselves before the King, 2 Kings 8.4, 5, 6. Which, tho it extorted one Act of Justice from him at that Time, yet we do not find, that it made any Reformation in his Course of Life. When Lazarus was raised from the Dead by Christ, the Chief Priests were so far from being Converted by that Miracle (tho they were Convinc't of it, John 11.47.) that they consulted how to put him to Death, because that others believed on Jesus by Reason of him, John 12.10, 11. There were others also, whom our Lord rais'd up, in the Days of his Flesh, as the Widow's Son at Naim, and the Daughter of Jairus, the Ruler of the Synagogue, &c. Many that arose and came and appear'd in the Holy City after his Expiration on the Cross, Mat. 27.52, 53. And yet all these contributed nothing to the Cure of that People's stubborn Infidelity. Above all, Christ himself rose from the Dead; and tho he did not shew himself openly to all the People, but to a select number of Witnesses, Acts 10.41. Yet the number was considerable, for he was seen of above five hundred Brethren at once, of whom the greater part were alive and remain'd, more than twenty Years after, 1 Cor. 15.6. And 'tis manifest, that his Enemies were perswaded of the Truth of his Resurrection, and therefore invented a lye to smother it, Mat. 28.13. But instead of embracing his Doctrine afterwards upon this account, they persecuted his Apostles most maliciously, for publishing of it to the World.
2. They who are Dead, tho they be not raised, do loudly speak to us. It is said particularly of Abel, a Righteous Person, and the first Martyr in the World, that being Dead, he yet speaketh, Heb. 11.4. (For this Version seems more proper, than that he is yet spoken of.) As the Voice of his Blood cried to God from the Ground, when it was newly shed, so his Blood hath a very significant and intelligible Voice with respect to us still. Abel to this Day by his untimely Death speaks to Saints, what barbarous Enmity they must look for from unreasonable Men; and he speaks to those, who like his Brother Cain, are of the Wicked One, what Vengeance and Wrath they must look for from a Just and Holy God; and this is a Language and Speech which may as well be understood, as if he were now alive to utter it with his own Mouth; like the Writing which Elijah left behind him to be produc'd and deliver'd after his Translation into Heaven, 2 Chron. 21.12. The sweet Experiences of God's deceased Servants, which testifie their gracious acceptance with him, call to us to make the same Trial and Proof of Religion which they have done. Their Works which (like those of the Vertuous Woman, Prov. 31. ult.) Praise them in the Gates, do naturally provoke and stir up us to Imitation, as much as if we heard them expresly saying, Be followers of us, and deserve as much to be regarded.
3. We have seen others going to the Dead, when God hath been stripping them of the Body, as Moses did Aaron of his Garments upon the Mount, (Numb. 20.28.) It is probable that several of us have been Spectators of some in their last Moments, when they have been passing to Eternity, and but a step betwixt them and it. We have beheld them setting, which is next Degree to a conversing with them risen again; and what Advantage have we ever gotten by this, unless the Word also hath taken hold of us? Perhaps we have seen both sorts, good and bad Men, upon the immediate border of the World to come, and if so, we cannot but have likewise seen a manifest difference in their several departures. If we have mark't the end of the Perfect and Ʋpright Man, that hath been Peace; Psalm 37.37. But how contrary hath the end of the Hypocrite or the Prophane been? The one hath had (like Stephen) the Heavens open'd, and the other hath had a view of Hell naked before him; one hath rejoyc'd in the Hope of approaching Glory, the other hath left this World in the fearful Expectation of endless Misery. It cannot be denied, that such a difference often is; and yet Multitudes who have had the Opportunity of seeing it, have nevertheless liv'd and dyed in their Sin, after it.
4. It is also likely that we have been in Deaths many times our selves; like Isaac, who was receiv'd by Abraham, in a manner, from the Dead, Heb. 11.19. It is no uncommon thing for Persons to have the Sentence of Death in themselves, and yet to outlive it; to be in David's Case, when the Sorrows of Death compassed him (Psalm 116.3.) And yet to break through them; to be in Hazekiah's Case, who reckon'd that he was depriv'd of the residue of his Years, and should then go down to the Gates of the Grave, (Isa. 38.10.) And yet to recover and come up again. Thousands have been reduc'd by prining Sickness to such great Extremities, that the Pit was ready to take them in, and shut it's Mouth upon them, who by a marvellous and unthought of Deliverance, have obtain'd a kind of new Life; and yet that new Life hath been as shamefully mispent and abused as the former, if not a great deal worse. How little Fruit is generally to be seen of Men's sick-bed Repentings? How frequently do they return to their Folly, assoon as they arise from their Beds of Languishing? What numerous Instances have there been of such, as have made themselves twofold more the Children of Hell, than they were before? Whose fresh relapses into their old Sins have had more dreadful Symptoms, than their first wickedness was attended with? As some Malefactors, who have been brought back from the Gallows, where they lookt Death in the Face, have after this exceeded all the Villanies of their past Lives.
Secondly, What are the particular Reasons, why the sending of one from the Dead should be thus ineffectual? Ans. In three things.
1. There would be invincible Difficulties and Objections against the Credit of such a Messenger. If any one should come and testifie (as was desired here) what Testimonials could he bring, that might not be scrupled and call'd into Question? How should we know, that he is not a false Witness, or that it is not a cheat, and an imposture, and cunning Artifice to ensnare and beguile us? Tho it may be true, how shall we be fully satisfied that it is so? And besides, Sinners who are Mad upon their Lusts, will not be very easie to receive Satisfaction; whatever serious Messages are brought, they will seem (like the Words of the Women that came from the Sepulchre, to the Apostles, Luke 24.11.) as idle Tales, not fit to be believ'd. When Lot told his Sons in Law of Sodom's intended and approaching Destruction, he was to them, but as one that mocked, like a Man in Sport, and in Jest, and so they took no more notice of it, Gen. 19.14. Thus, if a Nunico from the other World should appear to a Company of Jolly Sinners in the midst of their Excesses, they would be ready to deride him; if Lazarus had been sent where the Rich Man requested, would they not (do you think) have been apt to cry out, with those Jews, John 9.29. We know that God spake to Moses, but as for this Fellow, we know not from whence he is? He brings up an evil Report (as one expresses it) of our Deceased Brother, raises a scandal on our Family, and therefore is fitter to be puisht, than hearken'd to!
2. Apparitions of the Dead, tho they might possibly work upon the Passion of Fear, would not alter the Frame and Temper of the Soul. It may be, they would scare and affright the weak and the timorous, who are not so impudent and stout-hearted as the rest; but what is this, to the renewing and transforming of the Mind, and turning the Bias of the Will? When the Angel descended from Heaven, and sat upon the Stone at the Door of Christ's Sepulchre, it is said indeed, that the Keepers shook, and became as Dead Men; Mat. 28.4. But did this make them new Creatures? Did it put another Spirit within them, or render them Proselites to our living Redeemer? We read of no such Effect. So when Herod heard of the Fame of Jesus, and what he did, he was perplexed, because it was said of some, that John was risen from the Dead, i. e. the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, Luke 9.7. This struck Terror and Confusion into him, but it wrought no amendment. The most sensible and startling Evidences of the Wrath of God, tho they might Creature some Disturbance, and hinder that quiet repose which Sinners are wont to take, when they are let alone, yet will leave them as utter Strangers as ever to the Grace of God in Truth; they who are unjust, will be unjust still, and the Dominion of Sin will continue undestroyed.
3. Those Impressions which are made, and those Effects which are produced at first by such Means, will quickly vanish and wear away. A settled lasting Change (without which there can be no Salvation) is always built upon other grounds. If Men be awaken'd a little for the present by Fears of Wrath (like Felix with a Discourse of Future Judgment) those trembling Fits go off again, as the early Dew, which is gone assoon as the Sun arises with burning Heat. Frightful surprizes are but short and transient Things, which a seared Conscience will soon Free it self from, and the next pleasing Temptations will totally abolish. The Sinners in Zion are afraid often, Isa. 33.14. And yet still want that Principle of godly Fear, which should prevent their departing from God, and promote their departing from Evil; one is the Fruit of the Everlasting Covenant, Jerem. 32.40. The other is only the Product of some occasional temporary Amazement. If a Messenger from the Dead should give Men an Alarm at his first Coming, yet when he had deliver'd his Errand, and retir'd again, they would soon forget what had most affected them; and if this Method were repeated, and the like Messengers sent one after another to the same purpose, they would grow by degrees Familiar, and at length Contemptible.
Thirdly, Wherein it appears, that the sending of one from the Dead, is Inferior to the Ministry of the Word, and not worthy to be compared with it. Consider
1. There is nothing that can be said by the most extraordinary Person whom you can suppose, deserving of any regard, unless it be according to this Word; and therefore 'tis a vain thing to seek to the Dead, when the final Reference must be to the Law and to the Testimony, Isa. 8.19, 20. All must be tryed and determin'd by this Rule, and brought to this Standard. If a glorified Saint were to come down upon Earth, and deliver any thing which is not warranted by the Scripture, we must did Defiance to him. Such a Temptation can never actually happen (because their Reverence to the Word and it's Divine Author never faileth) but the Apostle puts the Case as high, if not higher, Gal. 1.8. Tho an Angel from Heaven should preach any other Gospel to you, let him be (Anathema, or) accursed. And to add an Emphasis to it, he says it again, ver. 9. If any one, (for so it ought to be read, and not, If any Man) preach any other Gospel, &c. Of what rank or order of Creatures soever he be, if he vary from this Canon, both he and his Doctrine are to be abhorred.
2. The Ministry of the Word is the appointed Means for the Conversion of Sinners, whereas such appearances of the Dead are not. Devine Institution gives a vertue and force to things which would be worthless and invalid without it; as Clay and Spittle in the Hand of Christ was a successful Ointment to the Blind. Thus it pleases God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21. And the Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth, Rom. 1.16. It is said to be able to save our Souls, James 1.21. Because ordain'd by God to such an End, and on that score accompanied with his Blessing. All our Ministrations would be but beating the Air, if it were not so; the Weapons of our Warfare are therefore mighty, because God employs us, and is with us. Knowing the Terror of the Lord, we perswade Men; 2 Cor. 5.11. We therefore perswade those, whom a Preacher from the Dead would not perswade. The glittering Arms of a Saint in Light would do less Execution than this Consecrated Sword of the Spirit.
3. The Written Word hath an excellency in it beyond any Vision or Voice from Heaven. The Voice which the Apostles heard in the Mount where Christ was transfigur'd, is represented as less valuable than this surer Word of Prophesie, 2 Pet. 1.18, 19. It is far easier to counterfeit such things, than these lively Oracles which are given to us. There would be danger in trusting to them alone, but the Scripture is to be believ'd for its own sake, and is worthy of all Acceptation, if we consider only the Arguments which are drawn and gather'd from it self; for it plainly manifests it self to be from God by its own internal Light, and contains all that Evidence of the Truth and Authority of God, which Divine Faith is to rest upon. We are sure, that these are faithful Sayings, and that we run no hazard of being deceived by them. Visions and Voices at the best, are not of a permanent abiding Nature; they are seen or heard, and then pass away; but the Word of God endures for ever, and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preacht unto us, 1. Pet. 1. ult.
4. The Gospel, as it is the Word of Christ, is much more to be esteem'd, than what any Saint from the Dead is capable of speaking; for there is no Comparison between the Persons, Him and Lazarus, or any other Believer. The register'd Word of Salvation is that which first begun to be spoken by the Lord, and was afterwards confirmed to us by them that heard him, Heb. 2.3. We are to consider him, as the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession, the great Prophet whom God hath raised up, to whom we are to hearken in his Execution of that Office to this Day. He that once spake on Earth, does still speak from Heaven, and there is no escaping for those that turn away from him, Heb. 12.25. He came from above, and is unquestionably above all, John 3.31. There is not an Angel or Saint in Glory fit to be matcht with him. He is the Sun of Righteousness, they are but as Stars in his Hand. He is the exalted Head of the Church, they never were more than Servants to it. He is the first-born of every Creature, Col. 1.15. And therefore may justly challenge infinitely more observance and respect from us, than the best of Creatures can.
5. The personal Ministry of our Lord himself, if it were to be enjoy'd again, would be unsuccessful, where the written Word hath no Effect. If Jesus Christ were to leave his Father's Throne where he now sits, and to come down a second time upon the Earth, Men would sleight and disregard him, unless they were prevail'd upon to hearken to those that wrote of him. This is the very Reason which he gave of the Infidelity of the Jews, when he was Conversant among them, that they did not truly receive the Testimony of Moses (whom they pretended to trust in) concerning him. John 5.46, 47. Had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; but if you believe not his Writings, how shall you believe my Words? The same Reason would hold, and be of the same force, tho he were to make another Trial, by a repeated Manifestation in the Flesh, and Preaching of his own Gospel. They who believe not what is recorded in the Scripture of him, would not believe any verbal Message that should be brought by him. The Incarnate Word would certainly be despis'd by the Contemners of the Written.
Fourthly, The ƲSe.
1. Information. 1. They that have the liveliest Sense of unseen things, are not able to imprint it upon any beside themselves. If the Dead could communicate what they hnow, to the Living, yet it would not affect the one as it does the other. Destruction and Death hear of Wisdom's Fame, but yet the worth of it is hid from the Eyes of those that are alive, Job 28.21, 22. Tho the Inhabitants of the Invisible World could utter all that they see and feel, to Men that are here below, yet they could not put any light or warmth into them; Conversation with a flaming Seraphim would leave Men as dark and cold as ever. Therefore the Children of God must not think it strange, that the Children of this World will not be brought to run with them in the Way of God's Commands, except they could make others comprehend what they do. 2. Men that are in their Sins, have a great deal of stubbornness in their Tempers. As Aaron said to Moses concerning the Israelites, Exod. 32.22. Thou knowest the People, that they are set on Mischief; which was a real Truth, tho it did not excuse his Accession to their Idolatry. It is very hard to withdraw Sinners from their purpose, tho you acquaint them with the Miseries which will follow upon it; as the People refused to obey the Voice of Samuel, and cryed, Nay, but we will have a King over us, tho one would have thought, that he had said enough to beat them off from desiring such a change of Government, 1 Sam. 8.19. The Holy Ghost stiles Men in their natural State, Children of Disobedience, Eph. 2.2. Ʋnperswadable Persons, as the Word signifies, being of the same Derivation with that in the Text. 3. The Holy Scripture is without all controversie a compleat and perfect Revelation. There is nothings New to be added by any one that cometh after. The whole Councel of God is declar'd, so far as Eternal Wisdom thinks fit to discover it on this side of Heaven. God hath finished what he intended, and fill'd up the Volume of this Book, that the Man of God may be perfect by diligent Study, and Meditation in it, 2 Tim. 3.17. There are no more Inspired Authors to be lookt for; the Divine Commandment is not in Heaven, that we should say, who shall go up thither for us, and bring it to us? Deut. 30.12. Here is the Summ of all that we are to know; and they who seek any further, can expect only to lose themselves, in the finding of some false Light, designedly kindled by the Devil, and righteously permitted for their Punishment by God. 4. The Preaching of the Word is God's last Remedy; and they that are not recover'd by this, must perish without Remedy. There are no Persons in such dreadful Circumstances, as they that live under the sound of the Gospel unreclaim'd; for if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, 2 Cor. 4.3. They must be finally lost, whom this Word is not bless't to save. There is no hope of a Soul being restor'd by other Means, when its Disease prevails against this; such as can bear hewing by the Prophets, without being cut to the Heart, have Iron Sinews that will turn the Edge of all other Weapons. You may look upon them as Persons, whom no Balm in Gilead can heal, and therefore given over to Eternal Death.
2. Exhortation. 1. Beware of receiving the Word of Grace in vain. Ministers, as Workers together with God, beseech you most importunately, that you would not so receive it, 2 Cor. 6.1. All will be vain, if this be so; and therefore consider what you do, and how much depends upon it. Besist not the perswasions whereby God's Messengers are now labouring to bring you home to him; there will be none to succeed them, but Messengers of Wrath, and some of these will shortly fetch you away before his Tribunal, when you shall know to your cost, how precious rejected offers of Mercy are. 2. Do your Part in order to the continuance of the Word; which you cannot do, unless you give it due Entertainment. You help to drive it out of the Kingdom and Countrey where you are, if you do not receive it into your Hearts. Where the Gospel hath no saving Work to do, it will be sent away; as was said to Paul, Acts 22.18. Make hast, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy Testimony concerning me. Let Moses and the Prophets be such Welcome Guests to you, that (as far as in you lies) you may encourage their stay here, till Christ's second Coming. 3. Let not Custom make that less profitable to you, which ought rather to increase your Profiting. It is matter of shame to us, that the freer course the Word hath, and the longer we enjoy it, we are naturally the more negligent and careless of it. Some are willing for a Season to rejoyce in that Light, which when it hath shin'd a while, they disesteem and undervalue. The glad-tidings of Salvation would find better Reception among those that never heard them, than with such as have been hearing them may Years; as God told the Prophet, that if he had been sent to a strange People, instead of the House of Israel, they would have hearken'd to him, Ezek. 3.5, 6. 4. Remember, that both they who preach, and you who hear, must in a little Time be both joyn'd to the Congregation of the Dead; and this will more influence you, than any one's rising from the Dead can. The Prophets live not for ever, but the Breath which they spend in your Service, will be quickly stopt; the Time is hastening, when all of you among whom we go Publishing the Kingdom of God now, shall see our Faces no more, till the end of the World, Acts 20.25. We shall not declare God's loving Kindness in the Grave, nor his faithfulness in Destruction, Psalm 88.11. And it cannot be long, before you arrive there your selves; therefore it greatly behoves you to make the best use of our Labours, while you may, that after we have all quitted this Daying State, we may meet with Joy (and not with Grief) in the general Resurrection.
Thus by God's gracious Assistance, I am come to the Close of these Discourses; God and your own Hearts know, how far they have been indeed serviceable or helpful to you. Heaven and Hell have here been set before you; the Portion of the Happy Beggar, and of the Miserable Rich Man; and I do once more solemnly urge you to make your speedy Choice. If you have gotten any good by all that hath been said, it will be seen by your unfeigned Faith in Christ, and by the genuine Fruits of that Faith in an Holy Conversation; for every one that hath heard and learned of the Father (which is the only Hearing and Learning to any Purpose) cometh to Christ, and is govern'd by him, John 6.45. What therefore shall we say at last to him that sends us? What a blessed Thing would it be, if Hearers and Readers would give us Cause to say, we have perswaded and prevail'd also! If we could but carry back such a good Report concerning you, as the Words which Moses returned to the Lord, Exod. 19.8. When all the People answerod together and said, All that the Lord buth spoken, we will do! Oh that there were an Heart in us to resolve and practise accordingly! That every one might uprightly say, I am not only almost but altogether perswaded, to be in Reality, as well as in Name, a Christian, and as such, henceforth, to live and dye unto the Lord!
Amen.
THE END.