442 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XII.
The ground of a certainrich man brought forth
plentifully:
17. And he thoughtwithinhimself,saying,What
shallI do,becauseI have no room where to bestow
my fruits?
18. And he said,ThiswillI do : I willpulldown
my barns,and buildgreater; and therewillI bestow
allmy fruitsand my goods.
19. And I willsay to my soul,Soul,thou hast
much goodslaidup formany years; take thineease,
cat,drink,and be merry.
20. But God saidunto him,Thou fool,thisnight
thysoul shallbe requiredof thee: thenwhose shall
thosethingsbe,which thou hastprovided?
21. So is he thatlayethup treasurefor himself,
and isnot richtowardGod.
THEOPHYL. Havingsaidthatthelifeofman isnotextended
by abundanceofwealth,He addsa parabletoinducebeliefin
this,asitfollows,And He spakea parableuntothem,saying,
Thegroundofa certainrichman broughtforthplentifully.
BASIL.Not indeedabouttoreapany goodfrom hisplenty
m Hom. offruits,butthatthe mercy ofGod mightthe more appear,
whichextendsitsgoodnesseven to the bad; sendingdown
His rainupon thejustand the unjust.But what are the
thingswherewiththisman repayshisBenefactor? He re
membered not his fellow-creatures,nor deemed that he
ought to giveof hissuperfluitiesto the needy. His barns
indeedburstingfrom the abundanceof hisstores,yetwas
his greedy mind by no means satisfied.He was unwill
ingtoputup with hisoldonesbecauseof hiscovetousness,
and notableto undertakenew onesbecauseofthenumber,
forhiscounselswereimperfect,and hiscarebarren. Hence
itfollows,And he thought.His complaintislikethatofthe
poor. Does not the man oppressedwith want say,What
shallI do,whence can I get food,whence clothing? Such
thingsalsotherichman utters.For hismind isdistressed
on accountofhisfruitspouringoutfrom hisstorehouse,lest