Luke 16:29-31

DISCOURSE: 1550
THE HOPELESS STATE OF THOSE WHO DISREGARD THE SCRIPTURES

Luke 16:29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets: let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

IT is painful to reflect how men follow the footsteps of their forefathers, without ever seriously inquiring whither they tend. If we examine the records of those who have gone before us, we find that, for the most part, they lived to themselves, rather than unto God. “This their way was their folly; yet their posterity approve their saying [Note: Psalms 49:11; Psalms 49:13.],” and, like their predecessors, rush forward thoughtlessly to their own destruction. A very striking illustration of this is given us by one who was himself a spectator of the fact which he records [Note: Baxter.]. A flock of sheep, whilst going over a bridge, were frightened; and one of them jumped over the side of the bridge: the rest, imagining that he who led the way was safe and happy, followed in succession; and were all carried down a rapid river, and involved in one common, but unsuspected, ruin. Thus the different generations of men pass away; and each surviving race, concluding of course that those who went before are happy, follow the same fatal track, till it is too late to remedy their error.

The passage before us will illustrate this. It is part of a parable, wherein our Lord represents a rich man as living in luxurious indolence, till he is surprised by death, and made to feel the wrath of an avenging God. He had left his riches among five surviving brethren, who were all walking in his delusive steps, without ever once considering in what they would issue. The Rich Man, unable to prevail for even a drop of water to cool his tongue, requests, that if Lazarus may not be sent to him to mitigate his torment, he may be sent to his brethren to warn them of the danger in which they were, and to guard them against a continuance in their fatal security. But neither could this be granted: Abraham tells him, that they bad the Scriptures in their hands; and that, if they would not attend to them, any message from the dead would be of no avail.

From this solemn declaration we shall take occasion to shew,

I. The use and office of the Holy Scriptures—

This is plainly intimated in our text. The Rich Man had solicited that Lazarus might be sent to warn his brethren, lest they also should come into that place of torment. The reply was, that they had the Scriptures, and should attend to them: whence it appears that,
The use of the Scriptures is to guide men to heaven—
[They are intended to shew us the way thither, and to guard us against every erroneous path — — — This they do with the utmost plainness and fidelity; insomuch that, if studied with diligence and prayer, they will assuredly “make us wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.” — — — There certainly are passages in them difficult to be understood: but the great and essential truths are stated in so clear a manner, that he who runs may read them. Who that searches the Scriptures can doubt the issue of a carnal and worldly life? “To be carnally-minded is death.” Or who can doubt the acceptance of a sinner that humbles himself before God, and flees to Christ for refuge? Will it be found that any one was ever cast out, who came unto God through Christ? In a word, there is no instruction wanted, which is not contained in the sacred volume, and conveyed too in the most edifying manner. Its warnings are most solemn, its invitations most earnest, its expostulations most affectionate, its promises most enlarged — — — If only we pay attention to them, we shall infallibly “be kept from the paths of the destroyer [Note: Psalms 17:4.],” and have “our feet guided into the way of peace.”]

For this end they are fully sufficient—
[Nothing is wanting in them, God himself being witness — — — The Old Testament writers and the New, alike declare the sufficiency of Scripture for every end that can be desired [Note: Psalms 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16.] — — — It is “the rod of God’s strength, whereby he effects his work upon the souls of men, quickening the dead [Note: Psalms 119:93.James 1:18.], sanctifying the unclean [Note: John 15:3.Ephesians 5:26.], comforting the afflicted [Note: Psalms 107:20.], and saving the lost [Note: James 1:21.] — — — And all that is wanting to render the word effectual, is to get it applied to our hearts by the Spirit of God [Note: 1 Thessalonians 1:5.]: when so applied, it becomes “the power of God to the salvation of our souls [Note: Romans 1:16.].”]

It must be remembered, however, that whilst the Scriptures are so powerful to save those who use them aright, they declare most unequivocally,

II.

The hopeless state of those who disregard them—

The Rich Man imagined, that, if some new method were used for the conversion of his brethren, it would be successful; but Abraham informed him, that, where the Scriptures were ineffectual, not even a messenger from the dead would be of any avail;

1. To convince the unbelieving—

[Though a messenger from the dead might be instrumental to awaken the attention of a person to the Scriptures, he could not convince him of any one truth contained in them. For what could he say that is not contained in the Scriptures? He could only affirm, that the truth of what they declared was now ascertained and felt by him, and placed beyond the reach of doubt. But this has been already declared by all the inspired writers, who in successive ages sealed the truth with their blood. Besides, the Scriptures corroborate their testimony by a thousand other proofs, which a person coining from the dead could not supply: and consequently, he who rejects the weightier evidence, would not be likely to be convinced by that which would he comparatively light. But the experiment has been made. Lazarus was raised from the dead: but many who saw him after his restoration to life, so far from being convinced by the miracle, sought to put him to death, lest a conviction should be wrought by it in the minds of others. Moreover, when our Lord rose from the dead, the soldiers, who guarded his tomb, went and announced it to the Jewish rulers: but they, instead of being suitably impressed by it, and acknowledging the truth of Christ’s Messiahship, instantly fabricated a falsehood, and bribed the soldiers to attest it; and the soldiers actually accepted the bribe, and attested the falsehood, and joined in denying the truth of Christ’s resurrection, even within an hour after they themselves had beheld it: so little power has any sight, however terrific or unquestionable, to convince a mind that is biassed by prejudice, and blinded by the devil.]

2. To convert the impenitent—

[The sight of a person clothed with the splendour of heaven or the terrors of hell, would surprise and alarm; but it would never convert a soul. The same lusts that counteract the influence of the written word, would soon efface the impressions which any such spectacle might produce. The love of sin would still remain as strong as ever; and a desire to defer to a more convenient season that work, to which men are so radically averse. The effect of such a sight might be strong at the time; but it would gradually wear away; and probably ere long become a subject of derision. We know how frequently such declensions are found after a person has been alarmed by some awful providence or some awakening discourse: we know also how the Israelites “forgat the Lord at the Red Sea, even at the Red Sea:” and we are well assured, that they who can withstand the voice of God in his word, would equally withstand the voice of a fellow-creature, whether he should come down from heaven, or ascend from hell. Even if heaven and hell were opened to their view, the impression would be only transient; for, to convert a soul, is the work of God [Note: Ephesians 2:10.]; and his power only can effect it [Note: 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 5:4.]

We may learn from hence,
1.

In what an awful condition are the impenitent hearers of the Gospel!

[Many hear the Gospel, and approve it, who yet are never truly converted by it, never stirred up to flee from the wrath to come, never quickened to lay hold on eternal life: religion never becomes the one business of their lives: they never engage in it as the voluptuary in his pleasures, or as the worldling in his pursuits: they may go on in a round of observances; but they want the life and power of godliness; their religion is destitute of zest, and earnestness, and uniformity — — — Now these persons withstand the most powerful engine which God himself employs for the conversion of the world. If they had never heard the sound of the Gospel, there might be hope that they would submit to it as soon as it should reach their ears: but they have heard it, and continue to resist its power, or to yield to it only a feigned and limited obedience. Let such persons consider the warning given them by St. James: for, whilst they are “hearers only, and not doers, of the law, they fearfully deceive their own souls: it is the doer of it only, that shall be blessed in his deeds [Note: James 1:22.].” — — — Let us then examine what effects the Gospel produces upon us; let us see what conformity there is in our spirit and conduct to the examples of Christ and his Apostles: it is not by a mere outward morality that we must judge of ourselves, but by the spirituality of our minds, and the heaven-liness of our lives. It is to this, that “Moses, and the Prophets” invite us; and, if we “hear them” not to this end, we hear them altogether in vain.]

2. How inexcusable are they who will not hear the Gospel!

[Various are the grounds on which men slight the everlasting Gospel: some think it too early in life to pay any attention to it; others are too busy; others take up a prejudice against it; others are deterred by the fear of man. But what would they say to us, who are now fixed in their eternal state, if they were permitted to come and declare their minds? Would the blest inhabitant of heaven tell us, that his reward is too small a compensation for his labour, and that he regrets having paid so much attention to the concerns of his soul? Or would the wretched companion of devils and damned spirits represent his sufferings as unworthy to be regarded, and tell us that we need give ourselves no trouble to escape them? No: whether it should be the Rich Man from hell, or Lazarus from heaven, that should come to us, his testimony would be, “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding.” Beware therefore, brethren, lest you suffer any thing to divert your attention from the Gospel of Christ. Be thankful that it is not yet too late for you to lift up your voice in prayer to God. Read the Scriptures, with prayer for the teachings of God’s Spirit, and improve every opportunity of hearing them explained to you in public: they are given you as “a light shining in a dark place;” and it becomes you to “take heed to them” without delay [Note: 2 Peter 1:19.]. With our Lord, therefore, I say, “Search the Scriptures;” or, in the words of our text, “You have Moses and the Prophets, hear them.”]

3. What cause of thankfulness have they who have heard it with effect!

[This is a mercy to you from God, the richest mercy that God himself could bestow. It is God alone can “give us an understanding, that we may know him that is true:” and if he had not opened your understandings, you would still have been as blind as ever. Know then to whom you are indebted: and let it be the labour of your lives to express a just sense of the obligations conferred upon you. But how shall you do this to the best purpose? I answer, Look around you, and see how many there are regardless of the Scriptures, and of the state to which they are hastening. Unhappy creatures! they have many friends or relatives that would gladly come from heaven or from hell to warn them: but no such intercourse can be allowed. They have the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament; and if they disregard these, no other means of salvation will be afforded them. But it is not prohibited to living saints to warn them: you may have access to them as often as you please, and even a more favourable access, than a disembodied spirit could have. To you they may listen without any terror or dismay. Improve then the opportunity that is afforded you. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” It is not for yourselves only that God has given you light, it is for others also; that you may put it on a candlestick, and give light to all around you. You have some brethren or friends; go to them as an angel of light: and may God succeed your endeavours, to the salvation of many souls!]

END OF VOL. XII.