Sermon 126: On Worldly Folly

1[I.] 1. But one of these fools is commonly wiser in his own eyes than seven men that can render a reason.

22. I propose, by the assistance of God, first, to open and explain these few full words, and then to apply them to your conscience. First, to open and explain them. A little before, our Lord had been giving a solemn caution to one who spoke to him about ‘dividing his inheritance’. ‘Beware of covetousness: for the life of a man’, that is, the happiness of it, ‘does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesseth.’

33. But while he was applauding his own wisdom, ‘God said unto him, Thou fool! This night shall thy soul be required of thee. And then whose shall those filings be which thou hast prepared?’

44. Let us consider his words a little more attentively. He said within himself, ‘What shall I do?’ And is not the answer ready? Do 4:134good. Do all the good thou canst. Let thy plenty supply thy neighbours’ wants,

55. How different was the purpose of this poor madman! ‘I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my goods.’

66. But let us examine a little farther the remaining part of his resolution. ‘I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thy ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’

77. It is no marvel then that God should say unto him, ‘Thou fool!’ For this terrible reason, were there no other—‘This night shall thy soul be required of thee!’

104:135II. 1. The second thing which I proposed was to apply these considerations, which, it is certain, are some of the most important that can enter into the heart of man. In one sense, indeed, they have been applied already, for what has been said has been all application. But I wish everyone who reads or hears these words directly to apply them to his own soul.

22. Does it not concern everyone that hears ‘the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully,’ to inquire, Was this ever the case with me? Have I now, or have I ever heretofore, had more worldly goods given than I wanted? And what were my thoughts upon the occasion? Did I say in my heart, What shall I do? Was I distressed by my abundance? Did I think, ‘I have much goods laid up for many years’? Many years! Alas! What is thy life, if protracted to its utmost span? Is it not a vapour that just appeareth, and vanisheth away?

See, Lord, how greatly my substance increases! Nothing less than thy almighty power can prevent my setting my heart upon it, and of being crushed lower than the grave!’

33. ‘I ask thee, O Lord, “What shall I do?”’ First of all, endeavour to be deeply sensible of thy danger, and make it matter of earnest and constant prayer that thou mayest never lose that sense of it. Pray that thou mayest always feel thyself standing on the brink of a precipice. Meantime let the language of thy heart be: ‘Having more means, I will do more good, by the grace of God, than ever I did before. All the additional goods which it hath pleased God to put into my hands I am resolved to lay out with all diligence in additional works of mercy.

44. Thou no longer talkest of thy goods or thy fruits, knowing they are not thine, but God’s. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof;

55. Is not thy life as unstable as a cloud? Fluctuating as a bubble on the water?

66. Consider again the exquisite folly of that saying, ‘Soul, thou hast much goods.’ Are then the products of the earth food for an heaven-born spirit? Is there any composition of earth and water, 04:137yea, though air and fire be added thereto, which can feed those beings of a higher order? What similitude is there between those ethereal spirits, and these base-born clods of earth? Examine the rest of this wise soliloquy, and see how it will apply to yourself. ‘Soul, take thy ease!’ O vain hope! Can ease to a spirit spring out of the ground? Suppose the soil were ever so improved, can it yield such a harvest? ‘Eat, drink, and be merry!’ What! can thy soul eat and drink? Yea,

But these do not grow on earthly ground; they are only found in the paradise of God.

77. But suppose the voice which commands life and death pronounce: ‘This night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose are all those things thou hast provided?’ Alas! They are not thine! Thou hast no longer any part or lot in any of the things that are under the sun. Thou hast then no more share in any of these things of earth than if the earth and the works of it were burnt up. Naked thou camest out of thy mother’s womb, and naked shalt thou return.

88. Observe the remark which our Lord has left us upon the whole occurrence. So is everyone who layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God! Such a fool, such an egregious madman, is beyond the power of language to express! However wise he may be in his own eyes,

He can testify, ‘All my desire is unto thee, and to the remembrance of thy name.’

99. Let everyone who readeth these words narrowly search his own heart. Where hast thou laid up thy treasure hitherto? Where art thou laying it up now? Art thou labouring to be rich toward God? Or to lay up earthly goods? Which takes up the greater part of thy thoughts? Thou that art careful for outward things, diligent in doing good, and exact in outward duties—beware of covetousness, of decent honourable love of money, and of a desire to lay up treasures on earth. Lay up treasure in heaven!