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SERMON XI.

THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.

LUKE xvi. 19.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.

THE parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which has been chosen for the Gospel of this day, is so full of instruction, that I propose to make it the subject of my present discourse. But before I enter upon the examination of the parable in its several parts, I will offer one remark, which I beg you all to bear in mind.

Our Lord in this parable introduces a rich man, to point out the dangers which attend on wealth; but you must not suppose, that the instruction is confined to those who have large possessions. The

great offence of the rich man was, that he suffered himself to be so taken up with the things of this life, its pleasures and enjoyments, as to neglect the duties which God required of him. All, therefore, in whatever station they may be placed, who pay no regard to the duties of their calling, but think only of the objects immediately before them, are guilty of the same kind of offence as that for which the rich man was condemned, as you have already heard this day, to a sore punishment.

The parable then holds out a warning to all; and it is on this account that I have chosen it for our present consideration.

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tuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table."

We have here presented to view a man, who seemed to think that he was born only to "eat, drink, and be merry;" that he had merely to consider how he might

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gratify his senses by daily indulgence: he

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lived therefore the life of "a brute beast, which hath no understanding. remembered, that God was his Father, and that the things he possessed would be good to him or evil, a blessing or a curse, according to the manner in which he em ployed them, he would have considered, that his possessions were bestowed on him for the benefit of others, as well as himself, and that his Maker would not fail to enquire, what use he had made of those gifts which he had showered, down upon him with so liberal a hand. But he thought only of himself and the present moment: when therefore he was tried in the scales of God's righteous judgment, he was found wanting.

-19One instance, among many, of his unfeeling carelessness is mentioned by our Lord he suffered Lazarus them beggar, poor, and full of sores," destitute, af flicted, tormented, "to be at his gate," without giving him any relief. The very dogs, it appears, had more compassion than he, for they came and licked his sores, word pdemos of viztom bod od od Hitherto ball vseemed in favour of the

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rich man, all was against Lazarus the one had those outward enjoyments, inst which the unthinking suppose happiness to consist. Whether he was really happy, we are left, to judge for ourselves: and I feel no doubt in saying, that they who look for happiness from mere outward enjoyments, are sure of disappointment." That these, when temperately used, have their value, no one will be so weak as to deny; but that they are not sufficient toe make us happy, Solomon has long since discovered, and made known his feelings, for the benefit of all mankind. Without peace of mind there can be no true enjoy. ⠀ ́ ment; and peace of mind can belong to those only, who strive to do their duty in that state of life, unto which it has pleased God to call them. This is a truth of such * importance, that I would earnestly press it upon all, upon the young especially, whose youthful spirits hurry them away from sober reflection, and who permit them selves to believe, that a life of pleasure, as? it is called, must be a life of happiness:

Ecclesiastes.

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