The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-03-22
TEyr-LUKE, 10, ls-N.

TEXr-LUKE, loi p-H.
In the parable before Us, we have very
many things revealed respecting the future
world which It Is most important and de.
sirable for us oil to know. And since the
narrative Is a parable, It Is designed and
adapted to teach general principles by ex.
amples purposely chosen and hence fitted
to illustrate the doctrines taught. And now
since what our Savior teaches us Is per-
Iec,ly reliable. we may safely sit u, his feet
and learn. For who could know, if he
could not, and who would not deceive, if
he would? Therefore. if We arc to en-.
quirc Of any one we may most safely en-.
quirs Of him, what are the doctrines and
principles iuught us in the parable. These
we can best learn by attending to the mar.
rativc ITSELF
Fist, we have two persons chosen TO
represent two distinct classes Of men, that so
what Is said Of each person may also I've
tru,hidIly said Of the classes they represent.
Let US remember that by pambles, general
truths and principles urc taught. Not That
what Is said Of these two classes Is strictly
applicable to tpery individual embraced In
these classes for there arc modifying cn'ls-
cs which may and often do affect the indi.
viduai which do not affect the whole class;
we must therefore study and apply It gen.
erally, and not universally. The two indi-
vidluls named in tho parable, and which
represent the two classes, In one or the
other Of which, all persons in every chris.
tian community may he included. and ,o
which properly belong, arc "the rich man"
and ",he poor mani" and what is said Of
these individuals personally may be said
respectively Of all the persons represented
by them. Now the prominent features Of
the parable are these First, the difference
in their characters and conditions in tho
present life; secondly, tho difference in
their characters and conditions In the world
to come thirdly, the doctrines incidentally
taught us in the dialogue which Is repre-.
sen,cd as occurring between "the rich
man" and Abraham in the other worll.
wish you all to bear in mind that what
is here represented In the form Of para.
BILE Is as true in principle US though It had
actually transpired with our own friends,
and they had been permitted to return to
us, and were inspired to tell us the real
facts in the case.
First, "There was a certain rich man,
which was clothed in purple and fine linen
and Jared sumptuously every day." This
| is Just what most men desire and strive for,
jus, wha, you and lwouid prefer do
not deny or disguise it Nor Is there any.
thing necessarily wrong about tasty ndorn.
ment or comfortable living; tho wrong
consists in something else; not in the tidy
apparel or wholesome diet. All that is
hero said might be perfectly lawful und
proper and may bc sought for by the chris
,iun. Other things being equal, It wers ns
well, yea better, to seek for comfortable
things in this world, whilst also preparing
for the world to come. But this is not all
that wns said Of tho rich man. There fol-
lows, "And there was cenain beggnr li.e.,
person 80 poor and helpless as to he obi.
gcd to beg) named Lazarus, which was
laid at his (the rich man's) gate, full ofsorcs,
and desiring .to be fed with the crumbs
which fell from the rich mans table +; more.
over the dogs cainc and licked his SORES"
This is the other person, whose condition
| is as Gar Us Rpssible from the rich mans,
and Just that which mono Of us desire and
against which We should strive daily. This
is all that is said Of the characters and con.
di,ions Of these two persons, rs to their
prcscut state. The rest must he implied
or inferred from their characters and con.
d,ions hercafler. We could not necessa
rily inter their true and real characters from
their outward circumstances aud surround
inss, for those outward conditions might be
consistent with either Of the two kinds OF
characters. A man may bc good chris.
,ian man, and yet have much possessions
of this world, and excellent tasto,-bcnce
1.-Two somewhat after tho example given us in
the parable. Doubtless there have been
many such instances; and, 30 there may be
instances Of wicked persons brought, to a
state Of bcggarly poverty because Of their
wictedness. Doubtless many instances Of
this kind also exist. But while these things
arc 30, tho general tendency Is not that way,
although il would sccm rs though that were
tho teaching Of tho scriptures generally.
For the Bible everywhere encourages IN.
dustry and industry leads to prosperity I;
whilst Il everywhere condemns idlcncss'
and wicksdness whose tendency ia TO pow
ery and although these arc most maniicsi
truths, there aro other Influences which
como In to mould and modify the char.
acter, namely: Riches tend to harden
tho hoart against tho duties Of a christian
life; whereas, tho tendency Of poverty 10
to wean one Of tho worle and lead him to
hook elsewhere foe his comfort. These arc
the two great modifying influences which
como in to do much towards coun,s1cdng
tho apparently legitimate influence and
tendencies Of prosperity and advcrsi,y.
Hence, prosperity, whkh woahl seem to
elevate and purify tho character, generally
woriu the Other way whils poverty and
sdvcrsi,y which woah seem To degenerate
and dishearten, oilen, if not generally, tend