Luke 16

In the parable of the steward we are taught that God will call us to an account for our use of every temporal enjoyment; and that, by a Christian foresight of this, we ought so to improve our uncertain riches, in acts of piety and charity, as that, when we die God and his angels may conduct us, as faithful stewards, to everlasting mansions of happiness; and the saints, whom we had relieved, may honourably welcome us thither, as an answer to their prayers for us:—and that, if we be not faithful in using the perishing enjoyments of this world, which God has merely committed to us as a trust, to be used for his glory and the good of others, we can have no proper evidence of our possessing the more excellent and substantial riches of true grace, which God gives men for their own, never to be taken from them. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Christ teaches us that, let true saints be as poor and contemned as they may in this world, they shall have an honourable entrance into, and station in, heaven with him; and that rich men, who wallow in sensual pleasures here, shall, in the other world, fall into the most aggravated miseries; and that, however damned men may wish to prevent their partners in guilt coming thither to torment them, no means of conversion but the scripture shall ever be allowed them.—Perhaps too be represented to these Pharisees, that, however much they now contemned him in his poor and debased estate, he should quickly be exalted to glory; and they who now rioted in wealth and honour, be thrust down into hell, and the generality of their nation be reduced, for many ages, to the most deplorable and unpitied wretchedness on earth, in which they should earnestly wish for the now contemned appearances of the Messiah, but they should be utterly denied them

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XVI.—Whatever things we enjoy in this world are but a trust committed to us by God to do good with. We cannot long hold them; but quickly, in an hour we think not, our reckoning for them must come. O that we may then be found faithful! It is self-contradicting and absurd to pursue earthly riches with more earnestness and industry than eternal treasures; and dangerous to neglect a single opportunity or advantage in favour of everlasting happiness. It is necessary to watch against all unfaithfulness and injustice in worldly enjoyments, which so many make instruments of unrighteousness. Lesser sins lead to greater; and pride and laziness often plunge men into the vilest dishonesty. The abuse of less important trusts provokes God to withhold what is more excellent. And, as none can serve both God and the world, it is wise to prefer God in due time. But proud covetous hypocrites, enslaved by their own lasts, hate and scoff at instruction.—What is most esteemed and desired by men is generally abominable before God. His gospel dispensation does not make void, but establish, the law. And blessed be God that both Jews and Gentiles have with earnestness crowded into the New Testament church. Happy are the poorest of its true members: their adversities will quickly issue in everlasting honour and unutterable delight. God lightly values the wealth and honour of this world, which he frequently bestows upon the vilest miscreants, 120 134* to ripen them for redoubled damnation. Awful thought! to have only uncertain and unsatisfying enjoyments, which shall quickly issue in insupportable and everlasting torments! Inexpressibly different, and irreversibly fixed, is the future state of both saints and sinners. How delightful is it for the one to review his conversion to and walking with Christ; and how dreadful for the other to remember in what an absurd manner he lost his soul for the sake of sensual or carnal trifles! And terrible companions will they make in hell, who had been partners in sin upon earth. With great diligence should we now earnestly search, believe, and practise, God’s word; for, if it be neglected, no other means of salvation will ever be afforded us