THAT is, they have the writings of both―two collective and credible witnesses―deserving attention, and demanding faith.
And “at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
The reader may remember that the above words were spoken by Abraham to “Dives” (so called) in that remarkable parable of our Lord given us in Luke 16.
The rich man (for such is the meaning of “Dives”) had passed from his wealth into endless poverty, and from his unbelief into the region of stern facts and hopeless remorse.
Having learned, from the lips of Abraham, that there could be no hope for himself, but that the “fixed gulf” sealed his state in torment, he pleaded that a message from the other world might be sent to his brothers, of whom he had five, to testify to them, lest they also should come to that place of torment.
Poor man, indeed! He had, doubtless, like many another man, both rich and poor, been skeptical, during his days of life and health, of any such a place as hell, and presumed therefore, on his disbelief in it, to indulge his tastes and passions, and shut his heart to God.
Now, however, unbelief was a thing of the past, and skepticism as to “hell” had given place to the dread and eternal experience of its torment, and now prompted not, alas, by desire for the welfare of these five brothers, but by the conviction that their presence in hell would only intensify his misery, he sought that “Lazarus” should be commissioned to warn them lest they should come there too!
It is an awfully solemn thought that each additional soul in hell contributes to the agony of his fellows!
The more damned, the greater the damnation! A young man was passing a brick-kiln. As he saw the burning bricks, it seemed to him that the more bricks, the greater the heat.
He had hitherto thought that the more souls there were in hell, the smaller the punishment of each. Now he saw his mistake, and repenting of his sins, turned, through grace, to the Lord, and was saved.
Hence, reader, I beg of you not to say that, if you should be there, there will be plenty others. The more the worse!
Nay, the hell of “Dives” would have been five times hotter did these five godless brothers come there too.
Hence his selfish solicitude. What then was Abraham’s reply? Was he careless about their fate? Was he indifferent as to whether they should follow their brother into hell, or find, like Lazarus, a place in his bosom?
Can heaven be indifferent on such a matter? Nay, God is “not willing that any should perish”―He “desires that all should be saved”― He “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son”!
A greater proof of divine solicitude could not be given, but what did Abraham say? “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them”!
These were Christ’s striking words. These men were in possession of two divinely given witnesses whose words should have carried conviction both as to their guilt, their peril, and their door of escape. “Let them hear them.” Supreme importance attaches, in the mind of heaven, to the testimony of Moses and the prophets to the written word of God.
On earth, however, that same wondrous testimony is slighted and set at naught.
The most wonderful volume ever handled by man, full as it is of the very light that he needs, is coolly and deliberately set aside, as in part fabulous and self-contradictory, and at best as little above the range of other writings. What suicidal folly!
And “Dives” seemed to have known the kind of treatment that was accorded to “Moses and the prophets” by his five brethren. He was conscious that their solemn testimony was utterly disregarded. The Book was laid on the shelf, and allowed to be dust-covered.
It was ignored and its warnings were scouted.
How common is this practice! Ah! reader, pay heed to the written Word of God. It is the one voice in the wide world to which you should pay the most rapt attention. And if the learned infidels of the day pour contempt on its sacred page, remember that it is the infidel who dares to do so, and treat his infidelity as it deserves.
Should they tell you that Moses did not write the “Pentateuch,” mark that their statement is in direct conflict with that of the Son of God, who, invariably attributed these five books to the pen of Moses. Treat their criticisms with silent disregard. Satan, your enemy and theirs, is behind them, and should ever be viewed as the foe. “He is a liar, and the father of it.” And one of his cleverest lies is the denial, in some form or other, of the Word of God.
“If I speak the truth,” said our blessed Lord, “why do ye not believe me?”
How comes it that the devil should be believed sooner than the Lord? the Foe than the Friend? Yes, why? Just because the heart of man is the ready and willing material in the hand of the enemy. How ensnaring! Abraham knew the value of the writings of “Moses and the prophets,” and thus he spoke to “Dives.”
All God’s words are the expression of His solicitude for the welfare of poor fallen man. Had the mission of an angel, or ten thousand of them, answered better, that would have been adopted. But the word, in Old and New Testaments, tells, as no angelic mission could have told, how that the eternal Son became man, lived, died under judgment for our sin, rose as man, ascended to heaven, where He is the glorious Saviour bidding all welcome to Him through simple faith in His blood. What boundless solicitude!
“Nay, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent,” replied “Dives.”
Would they? How could a mere external miracle produce saving faith? The eye might be dazzled, and the mind astonished―that is all. No, the conscience must be reached, the soul convicted, and the heart won! A disinterred Lazarus could not effect that!
If they turn a deaf ear to Scripture, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
Notice, the Scripture is the great test, the crux, the battlefield! If wrong on that point, you are wrong on all. The unbelief that rejects the Scripture rejects miracles too. Such a soul is dead to God.
But has not one risen from the dead? Does not the page of the precious New Testament glow with that fact, and with the rich and everlasting fruits flowing therefrom?
Surely, surely! Oh! the glorious effects of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
See how He, in resurrection form, appeared to His disciples and chased away all their gloom and sorrow! See what solid and abiding peace took possession of their hearts! See the “great joy” that thrilled their spirits as they worshipped Him. See how He called upon them to handle Him for themselves—that it was “He Himself”; and see how He attributed all that had occurred to the “Thus it is written” of Scripture! Yes, the scriptures of Moses, the Psalms, and the prophets too! A risen Christ and a written testimony burst upon their conviction as divinely linked and bound together. If the one fails, so does the other. If one stands, so does the other. “Moses wrote of me.”
Dear reader, hearken to the Word of God. It is paramount in His estimation. To discredit what God has written is to incur His wrath. You have “Moses and the prophets” and more beside! Oh! hear their voice and live!
J. W. S.