The Reverend John Cooke, of...
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The Reverend John Cooke, of Maidenhead, England, once when traveling, found himself with a rich farmer who scoffed at the minister and the faith he represented. "I want no part of religion, or of you," said the farmer.
"Sir," replied Cooke, "I have read of one whom you greatly resemble. The farmer to whom I allude, finding his ground very productive and his barns too small, resolved on building larger barns and filling them. He said to himself, 'I have enough goods laid up for many years. Now I can take my ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself'" (Luke 12:20).
"Now, Sir," said the minister, "I think you must see yourself in this picture. Why, Sir, do you think the only wise God called him a fool?"
"I shall not say, Sir," answered the farmer.
"Well, Sir, then I shall give you my opinion. He appears a fool because: 1. he preferred his body to his soul; 2. he preferred the world to God; 3. he preferred time to eternity; 4. he lived as if he would never die, and while presuming on many years, exposed his soul to all the horrors of sudden death --without repentance, without forgiveness, without holiness, and without hope."
"Sir," replied Cooke, "I have read of one whom you greatly resemble. The farmer to whom I allude, finding his ground very productive and his barns too small, resolved on building larger barns and filling them. He said to himself, 'I have enough goods laid up for many years. Now I can take my ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself'" (Luke 12:20).
"Now, Sir," said the minister, "I think you must see yourself in this picture. Why, Sir, do you think the only wise God called him a fool?"
"I shall not say, Sir," answered the farmer.
"Well, Sir, then I shall give you my opinion. He appears a fool because: 1. he preferred his body to his soul; 2. he preferred the world to God; 3. he preferred time to eternity; 4. he lived as if he would never die, and while presuming on many years, exposed his soul to all the horrors of sudden death --without repentance, without forgiveness, without holiness, and without hope."
