not the truth, fear severity. “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which
he possesseth.” Believe Him, He doth not deceive thee. On the other hand, thou sayest, “Yea,
‘a man’s life’ does ‘consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.’” He doth not
deceive thee; thou deceivest thyself.
5. Out of this occasion then, when that appellant was seeking his own portion, not de-
siring to plunder another’s, arose that sentence of the Lord, wherein He said not, “Beware
of covetousness;” but added, “of all covetousness.” Nor was this all: He giveth another example
of a certain rich man, “whose ground had turned out well.”3399 “There was,” He saith, “a
certain rich man, whose ground had turned3400 out well.” What is, “had turned out well”?
The ground which he possessed had brought forth a great produce. How great? So that he
could not find where to bestow it: suddenly, through his abundance he became
straitened—this old covetous man. For how many years had already passed away, and yet
those barns had been enough? So great then was the produce, that the accustomed places
were not sufficient. And the wretched man sought counsel, not as to how he should lay the
additional produce out, but how he should store it up; and in thinking he discovered an
expedient. He seemed as it were wise in his own eyes, by the discovery of this expedient.
Knowingly did he think of it, wisely hit upon it. What was this he wisely hit upon? “I will
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destroy,” he says, “my” old “barns, and will build new ones greater, and will fill them; and
I will say to my soul.” What wilt thou say to thy soul? “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up
for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.”3401 This did the wise discoverer of
this expedient say to his soul.
6. “And God,” who doth not disdain to speak even with fools, “said unto him.”3402 Some
of you may peradventure say, And how did God speak with a fool? O, my Brethren, with
how many fools does He speak here, when the Gospel is read! When it is read, are not they
who hear and do not, fools? What then did the Lord say? For he, I repeat, thought himself
wise by the discovery of his expedient. “Thou fool,” He saith; “Thou fool,” who seemest wise
unto thyself; “Thou fool,” who hast said to thy soul, “Thou hast much goods laid up for
many years: to-day is thy soul required of thee!” Thy soul to which thou hast said, “Thou
hast much goods,” to-day is “required,” and hath no good at all. Let it then despise these
goods, and be herself good, that when she is “required,” she may depart in assured hope.
For what is more perverse3403 than a man3404 who wishes to have “much goods,” and does
3399 Luke xii. 16.
3400 Successerat.
3401 Luke xii. 18, 19.
3402 Luke xii. 20.
3403 Iniquius.
3404 Vid. Serm. xxii. (lxxii. Ben.) 4 (iii.); xxxii. (lxxxii. Ben.) 14 (xi.); xxxv. (lxxxv. Ben).
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On the words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 15, ‘And he said unto them, take heed,…