532 The Parable of the Vol. I. It is a great Queftion among Interpreters, whether this Narration concerning the Rich Man and Lazarus be a Parable, or a Hiftory, or a mixture of both. That it is not a Hiflory, the refemblance between it, and others of our Saviour's Pa- rables will eafily convince anyMan that isnot contentious ; befides that, in fome ancient Copies, 'tis ufher'd in with this Preface, Andbe fpake a Parable to his Dif- ciples, A certain Rich Man, &c. But yet as fome of the Ancients have not improbably conjedur'd, it feems to be fuch a kind of Parable, as had fomething of a real Foundation ; as namely, that there was fuch a poor Man as Lazarus is here defcribed, and of that Name among the yews : For in a meet Parable 'tis altogether unufual to name Perfons, nor is this done in any ,other of our Saviour's Parables. But whether this be fo or not, is not worth the difputing, becaufe it alters not the cafe as to our Saviour's purpofe, and the Inftrudions which we may learn from it. In the handling of this Parable, I fhall explain it as I go along, and draw,two forts of Inftrudions or Obfervations fromít, The Fir/' fort of- Obfervations ]hall be from/theCircurnflances which ferve for the Decorum of the Parable : And thefe I will not warrant to be all intended by our Saviour ; but only to be true in themfelves, and ufeful, and to have a pro- bable rife from fome Circumflances of the Parable ; and therefore I.ihail fpeak but very briefly to them. The Second fort of Obfervations fhall be fuch as are grounded upon the main Scope and Intent of the Parable ; and thefe I ¡ball infift more largely upon. I begin, Firf, With thofe Obfervations and Inflrudions which I (hall gather up from the Circumflances which ferve for the Decorum of the Parable ; and I fhall take them in order as they lie in the Parable. Ver. 19. There was a certain Rioh Man, which was cloathedin purple and True lin- nen, andfaredfumptuoujly every Day. Some think that. our Saviour in this defcrip- tion reflected upon Herod, becaufe he .defcribes this Rich Man to be cloathed in 'Purple. But this Conjecture is without reafon ; for befides that, it was not our Saviour's Cuftom in his Preaching, to give fecret Girds to the Magiftrate ; 'tis certain that it was not long after our Saviour's time, that Purple was appropriated toKings. It was then, and a great while after, the wear of rich and powerful Men, and of the Favourites and great Men of the Court, who are frequently in ancient Hiftories call'd the'Purpurati, thofe that wore Purple. That which I obferve from hence, is, that the rich Man is not here cent-bred for enjoying what he had, for wearing rich Apparel, and keeping a great Table. This of it felf, if it be according to a Man's Eftate and.Quality, and without intemperance, is fo far from being a fault, that it is a commendable virtue. But here was his Fault, that he madeall to ferve his own Senfuality and Luxury, without any confideration of the Wants and Neceffities of others : Whereas one of the great Ufes of the plentiful Tables of Rich Men, is from the fuperfluity of them to feed the Poor and the Hungry. Ver. zo. And there was a certain Beggar namedLazarus, as if our Saviour had faid, for inftance, poor Lazarus whom ye all knew. And here I cannot but take notice of the Decorum which our Saviour ufes. He would not name any Rich Man, becaufe that was invidious, and apt to provoke. He endeavours to make all Men fenfible of their Duty ; but he would provoke noneof them by any pee- viíh Reflection ; for nothing is more improper than to provoke thofe whom we intend toperfwade. While a Man's Reafon is calm and undifturbed, it is capable of Truth fairly propounded ; but if we once flir-up Men's PaRions, it is like muddying of the Waters, they can difcern nothing clearly afterwards. But to proceed in the Parable. There was a certain Beggar namedLazarus, which was laid at the Rich Man's gate full of Sores, `and was defirous tobe fedwith the Crumbs which fellfrom his Table, moreover the Dogs came and licked his Sores. Here are three great Aggravations of the RichMan'sUncharitablenefs. r That
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=