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Who would not think, that the coming of one from the dead would effectually convince an unbeliever ? For what more could any one desire, than to see an old acquaintance, and hear from him a relation of what he had heard and seen after death in another world? And yet this evidence, our SAVIOUR tells us, would have no efficacy on unbelievers. He who can hold o out against the evidence God has already given, that he will one day judge the world in righteousness, would not be persuaded though one arose from the dead.”

This parable, though in itself an allegory, will help to establish our belief of many important particulars. We may learn from it, that a man may enjoy a large share of temporal blessings, without possessing the favour of God. That there is a state of retribution, where the case will be very different. That it is impossible for those who are condemned to the place prepared for the wicked, ever to go to heaven; and that there is no danger of those who have attained a state of bliss, ever to be sent from it; and that it is better to prepare for eternity, than to enjoy all the riches, honours, and plea'sures this world can afford.

Since we are furnished with the means of knowledge, we should take warning from the fate of the rich man in the parable. Those who will attend to Moses and the Prophets may be sufficiently convinced of the reality of a future state; but we have the additional testimony of CHRIST and his Apostles; and if these are not enough to establish our belief of the truth of Christianity, no evidence will convince us. Let us then be thankful for the light we have, which is amply sufficient to guide our feet into the way of peace; if we do not, at the peril of our immortal souls, wilfully ex

Bishop Sherlock's Sermons.

clude

clude it, and resolve rather to wander in the darkness of error and sin.

SECTION LXXIV.

THE PAKABLES OF THE UNJUST JUDGE, AND THE PUCLICAN AND PHARISEE.

From Luke, Chap. xvii, xviii.

AND the Apostles said unto the LORD, Increase our faith.

And the LORD said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, But thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, and it shall obey you.

But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go, and sit down to meat :

And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants : we have done that which was our duty to do.

And he spake a parable unto them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not GoD, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And

And he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not GoD, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the LORD said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not GoD avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. GOD, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

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I fast twice in the week, I give titles of all that I possess.

And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, GoD be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth him. self, shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Our LORD's discourse concerning the duty of a ser vant, was particularly addressed to his disciples, but VOL. V.

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may be applied to Christians in general; for we are all. GOD's servants, and are bound to do what we can for His honour and glory. There is a variety of work uppointed for us to do; we must therefore endeavour to discharge the duties which our heavenly Master requires of us, with diligence and integrity; yet, after all, we must acknowledge ourselves to be unprofitable servants, because no advantage can arise to GOD from what we do: he has no need of us, nor can our best services add either to his perfection or happiness; but what he requires of us is for our own benefit, and the good of our fellow-creatures.

The Parable of the unjust judge seems to have been principally designed as an encouragement to his disciples under the hardships they would meet with from the malice of their enemies; that they might pray with faith and perseverance, and not faint under their trials; but it is of general application. If a judge, who was an entire stranger to goodness, was at length overcome by importunity*, what may not be expected from a GOD who is infinite in goodness, ever bountiful to his creatures, delighting to do them good, even without their seeking or desiring it, and who is constantly able to supply all their wants? Such a Being certainly will attend to the earnest prayers of his creatures, especially of those who, by their Christian profession, are become his elect or chosen people, and will grant them such supplies as they stand in need of. But then we must remember, that men ought always to pray and not faint: The meaning of which is, that we should be always in a disposition for praying; that is, we should keep alive in our minds a firm belief of GoD and his Providence, a lively sense of our own sinfulness, and weakness, and

See an excellent Sermon on this Subject by Archbishop Sharpe.

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an humble dependence upon his goodness for the supply of our wants. It also imports, that we should, on all solemn occasions, actually address ourselves to God; seeking help from him in all difficulties; acknowledging every striking instance of his goodness; imploring his protection, his guidance, his blessing upon us, in every work of moment we go about. It also implies, that we should, at least twice in a day, either in public or private, offer up the sacrifice of prayer and praise in a solemn manner unto God, as other daily sacrifices are abolished. To pray always and not faint, imports also continuance and perseverance in prayer; not to, pray by fits and starts, and then intermit our devotions, but constantly to keep up the fervour of our minds towards GOD, whether we have a return to our prayers imme diately or not. Not that the Almighty has need of our remonstrances, or can be moved by our pleadings : but he has made it our duty, and it is inconsistent with his justice to grant mercy unless we ask for it.

Our SAVIOUR assured his disciples, that his FATHER would certainly vindicate their cause at length by the sudden destruction of their persecutors, if they continued to supplicate his aid; though he might, to exercise their patience, and give their enemies opportunity to repent, leave them exposed for a time to the malice of the Jews. The ALMIGHTY is not, like the unjust judge, backward to relieve, but constantly ready to bestów his mercies when we are properly disposed to receive them.

The expression, When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith in the earth? is by some understood to mean, that there would be none who professed the faith of CHRIST remaining in the land of Judea, when that terrible destruction he had foretold should fall upon it: others explain it as signifying, that the severity of the persecu

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