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SERMON V.

FUTURE STATE.

LUKE xvi. 27-31.

Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

For I have five brethren: that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of

torment.

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.

INFORMATION of the greatest moment to us as probationers for eternity, is contained in the foregoing part of this parable, which assures us of an immutable and everlasting state of rewards and punishments after this life. In what has been now read, it seems to have been the design of our Saviour to

quiet our minds upon a subject, about which we naturally form many anxious inquiries. anxious inquiries. When our friends are separated from us, and removed to a distant, unknown country, with what solicitude do we wish for information concerning that country, and their situation in it. This solicitude will be greatly heightened, if we ourselves are soon to follow them into that unexplored region. In his word, it has pleased our merciful Judge to give us all the information concerning the other world which his wisdom has judged proper, and perhaps as much as we at present are capable of receiving. But still, who of us would not think it an inestimable privilege, and a great confirmation of his faith, if he might be permitted to see and converse with one of his deceased friends, and hear from him a relation of what had befallen him after death,-how he had passed through that change, and what he had seen and experienced in the world of spirits? Are we not inclined to think it a hard case, that no such intercourse is indulged, that the secrets of the grave remain enveloped in impenetrable darkness, and that all the living are kept in such profound ignorance of the destinies of those who have passed the vale of death? Undoubtedly the dialogue between Abraham and one, his lost descendants, is intended to reconcile us to this allotment of Providence, and induce us to rest satisfied with those discoveries which are contained in the Scriptures.

Among those who are destitute of all the principles of piety towards God, many retain the affections of nature towards their kindred. The adherence of these affections to the soul after its separation from the body, is supposed in the parable, and their influence prompts the request here made. Finding all application to obtain relief for himself to be vain, the rich man is here represented as expressing a a concern for his brethren, still living on earth and in possession of that wealth which was lately enjoyed by him; lest by the abuse of it, and by following his thoughtless course, they might come to the same fatal end. He therefore proposes, what we are all ready to imagine must prove an irresistible mean of conviction and reformation, the mission to them of a monitor from the dead. In the reply of Abraham, it is affirmed that all just ground or reason for such a mission, has been superseded by what God himself has told them in the writings of Moses and the Prophets. With these writings, however, the rich man himself had been always favoured, and as thev had failed of any effectual influence upon him, he supposed that they might also fail with respect to his brethren; and upon this ground repeats his request as a measure that would be more efficacious; nay, father Abraham; but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent." They cannot withstand so awful a messenger, nor disregard his warnings.. But Abraham puts an end to the discourse with this peremptory assertion, "If they hear not Moses and

the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." By putting this language in the mouth of Abraham, our Saviour gives it as his own judgment upon the case.

We are not perhaps to understand him as denying the possibility, or even the probability, that a man who has hitherto been but little influenced by the Scriptures, might be greatly affected by the apparition of one of his old acquaintance from the other world. Such an interview might give a new turn to his thoughts and reflections. His lusts and passions might at first be greatly checked by the surprise, awe, and warning of such a monitor. He might be excited to consideration, and should the influence of divine grace accompany this extraordinary event, it might prove effectual for his amendment. But the thing asserted is, that such a method as a general mean of conversion, would possess no advantage above those means already used, and that the generality of those men who persist in disregarding the warnings in Scripture, would not be reclaimed, though one should come to them from the dead.

At the express desire of his professing people, it was long since settled, that God should speak to them, not by ministers from the invisible world, nor yet by his own immediate voice from heaven. The Israelites once heard this at Sinai, but were so terrified, that they entreated to be excused from hearing it any more, and that it would please God to

communicate his will to them in a gentler way, through the mediation of men like themselves, through Moses and others whom he might commission for the purpose. From such messengers they could hear his commands with that presence of mind, which is necessary to a right perception of the things enjoined. Accordingly the whole subsequent system of divine revelation has had this mode of communication. The only qustion with us can be, whether those from whom it has been received had a divine commission. We can think of no other infallible proofs of this, but the gifts of prophecy and miracles. With such testimonials, Moses and the Prophets were abundantly furnished, and, being thus authorized, they spake and wrote. In the same manner, attended with a greater display of miracles, and of the spirit of prophecy, was the Gospel introduced by Christ and his Apostles. The canon of Scripture being thus completed, and the whole will of God committed to faithful records, and in this manner handed down from generation to generation; miracles and supernatural gifts have ceased, as being no longer necessary. For the same reason, there is no occasion for apparitions or messengers from the dead. The counsels of God, so far as it concerns us to know them, being already revealed, nothing remains for any extraordinary messenger to effect. If new doctrines different from those already received, should be taught, they are to be rejected, though the teacher should be an angel from heaven.

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