The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-03-22
to wean one Of eanh, and make him look
away TO better things.

rich lnnn was one who used his riches to
crafty his own passions and desires; one
who ignored Christ and his gospel in the
life he lived here on earth. This is too
generally true Of the rich in this world.
In the parable nothing is snid against, or
about, tho rich man only that h
ions rich. Now what is true Of rich nen
generally is meant to bc true Of tho ono in
the text. Generally they are penurious-
this is proverbially true. Besides, this char
acteristic Is implied in the very though, Of
riches for 1t generally requires great econ
omy to lecome rich. To this there are
exceptions. hut generally It Is true. Beg.
gars and seekers after benevolcnce gcner.
ally go to the smaller houses and poorer
class, because they have learned by exPe.
rience that the rich who generally live IN
the larger houses, too frequently, if not
genernlly, turn cold shoulder, go to speak,
to all beggas and solicitors. They are the
class who live more to and for themselves; (;
for having earned their money, they feel it's
their own, and they spend II for themselves,
80 as to derive the largest, as they think,
benef, to themselves. Hence they are
selfish. Their aim and purpose in life Is
to earn their own money and then to spend
II MS will crafty their own wishes and tastes
Now here Is where consists the evil Of the
rich mans course. lle counts his money
his own, whether honestly gotten or not;
and this Is his mistake, and II Is n mistake
of whicl, Il 70 hard TO convince him-in-
deed he does not wish 10 he convinced.
"Others," says he, "co,lnt their money
their own, and why should not u" And
10 lie lives selfish life; lives for hiIn'elf
alone. Every deed dono has self In Wow.
lie may not think about Il alwnys, but that
Is the deep current Of his mind and heart,
tho true and philosophical reason for his
whole course in life. Indeed SO long as he
remains an impenitent person, 1t cannot
possibly he otherwise whatever he might
wish. The only door to any other course
of action is the door Of the cross. Let
him give however much he will, hc must
give with that motive and feeling, no his
general wish what It mny. Let self be
de,hroncd and Jehovah made king in his
heart. and another will be the master for
him to serve, and then instead Of self the
purpose will be the glory Of God In all
things where there is any purpose or
thought about Il.
Now, it was the Savior's intention, doubt.
less, to represent in the rich man of tho
parable tina, general class Of parsons who
live for this world, leaving out Christ and
tho future, In their reckonings and calc,lla.
tons. And because they thus live, they
have moro Of this worlds goods to spend
on and for themselves. Tie worlds poor
are not their poor or their concern. Char.
ity or aims with them means that which
will pay back with interest; and as for re.
ligion, why, have just % much OF il NJ will
pay, in like manner, and no more. This is
the rich man Of tho parable; he has all
that heart can wish or the world al.
ford. In him, are included, also, all Of those
who resemble him IN character, all who
have the same purpose In life. however
much or little their desires may be gratifed;
whut they do possess goes for the grnti-
fication Of self. II matters not, 80 far as
character here, or condition hereafter, are
concerned, whether the sums acquired and
spent IN self. qualification bo equal or un.
equal. small or great. You, my hcarcr,
are included IN this class, though you mny
have acquired hut liule Of the world, II
,ha, little has been spent for self.grati6ca.
ton, |. e., leaving Christ and the glory Of
God out of tho calculation. Had you uc.
quired moro, with the saInc heart, Il would
have been spent In the saine manner, and
with the same result. Therefore we see
how il is that many poor man Is includ.
ed in tho class represented by this rich man
inasmuch as the purpose Of lfe 10 the san'c
viii, both. Character Is not changed by
the additions Of dollars be they few or
many. They who live for self in this
world have a like reward hereafter, for
whilst their outward conditions may be
dissimilar in this world, they may have the
same purpose in henri. Hence The charac-
tiers here arc the saine; and consequently
the results must he the same hereafter.
This whole class forget that their riches arc
Gods gia aHo makeih poor, and he max
eth rich.r In his word he counsels us 10
aBeware les, wc forget the Lord our Cod"
and say IN our hearts, @ny power and the
might OF my hands hath gotten mo this
wealth - whereas II 10 God swbo
givetl, thee power to get wealth. and
hence the wealth is not our owp 10 use rs
we may choose, unless We choose 20 use h
in Gods service. We AFRO 10 remember
that the poor Of this world nrc Gods poor
and We are TO spend Of our substance a.
shall l'est subscrve the good Of man % .
whole and the glory Of God. To Gail Of
this is to live the life Of sinner, rs repre-
sentcd IN the parable, living for ones own
self-nlways having in view ones own
comfort, when any ,lought Is taken about
any given act. lTheaim Is to liveou earth and
derive ilie most comfort tho earth will yisl,l;
and when death comes l'e @Suied" That n
Be buried with all the honor money win pro.
euro moarncr. ifnot otherw 20 abundant
sro to be hired; and then follows tho deco.
ration Of the tomb-,his Is all-,hen h
man dead And that Is tho aim and end
Of those represented BY the rich man OF