Serro. LXXII. Rich Man, and Lazarus. 531 V. That here was an Objeél prefented it felf to him. idly. Such an Objet as would move any one's Pity, á Man reduc'd to extream Mifery and Neceffity. idly. A little Relief would have contented him. rfí. Here was an Obje& prefented it felf to him, Lazarus laid at âRich Man's Gate ; fo that as often as he went out of his own Houfe and came in, he could not but take noticeof him. Good Men that are charitably difpofed, will enquire out Objeéts for their Charity, and not always flay 'till-they thrufl themfelvea upon them : But he is a very bad Man, who, when an Objea of great Pity and Charity is prefented, is fo far from relenting towards him, that he flops his Ear to his Cry, and turns away his Face from him. He is ah uncharitable Man, who being Rich, and hearing of the Miferies of ethers, does not take them intoCon- fideration : But what we fee with our Eyes is much more apt to affed us SO that this was an Argument of a very cruel difpofition in the Rich Man, that ha- ving fo many Occatigps of feeingLazarus, he fhould never be moved to com- miferate him. idly, Here was fuch anObjeét prefented to him, as would move any onesPity; ä Man reduced to extream Mifery and Neceflity. Here was no common Obje b of Charity, a Man, not only in extream want, but in great Pain and Anguiíh; and fo helplefs, that he was unable to keep off the Dogs from being troublefomé to him. And yet this did not move him. idly, A very little Relief would have contented this Poor Man, and have been a great Kindnefs to him .; that which the Rich Man might have fpared without the leafi Prejudice to himfelf. He would have been glad to have been fed with the crumbs which fell from the Rich Man's Table ; and yet the Parable intimates that the Rich Man was fo hard-hearted, as not to afford him thefe. Ver. za. And it came to pafs that the Beggar died, andwas carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bofom. Here was a great and fudden Change ! He, who when he was alive 'was neglected by Men, and cohtumeliotifly expofed likea dead Cereals to the Dogs, when he dies is attended on by the Angels, and by them fafely con- veyed into a fiate of unfpeakable Happinefs. He who lay at the Rich Man's Gate, and could findno carat-ice there, is admitted into Heaven: the Be àr died, andwas carried into Abraham's Bofom. 'Tis very obfervable, that our Saviour in this Parable reprefents Men as pafiing immediately out of this Life into a ftate ofHappinefs or Torment.' And as iii no other place of Sdripture,fo neither in this, where it had been fo proper, does our Saviour give the leaft Intimation of the ftate of Purgatory, which the Church of Rome hath devifed, and makes fo much Profit and Advantage of ; which becaufe it is fo vifible and apparent, we they without Uncharitablenefsfuppofe tö be the reafon why they keep fuch a flir about it. ' And was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bofom. It was an ancient Tradi- tion among the Yews, that the Angels did attend. good Men at their Death, and carry their Souls into Paradife, which is here call'd Abraham's Bofom. And thin was a proper place for Lazarus, who had beennegleéted by the Rich Man ; to be convey'd intoAbraham's Bofom, who was öf a quite contrary temper, and loved to entertain and relieve Strangers. And Páradife is fitly' call'd Abraham's Bofom, becáufe the pews had fo great á Veneration for Abraham, and that defervedly for his eminent Faith and Obédi- ence, that they gavehim the firft place among the bleflêd. Hence is the Expreffion,. Matth. 8. r r. of fitting down with Abraham, and Ifaac, anil Jacob in the Kingdoin áif God. Now this Expreflion of being in Abraham's Bofom, is an Allufion to the Cu- Rom of Feafts among the Yews, where the moft efleemed and beloved Gueft fat next him that was chief at the Feaft, and leaned on his Bofom. Hence St. 'obi is call'd the Difciple whom Jefus loved, becaufe whet/ he fat at Meat, he leaned on his Bofom. john t j. i3. Hence likewife is the Expreffion Of our Saviour's being in the Bofom of his Father, to figmfie his dearnefs to him, , ohn t. i8. 'kó Man bath Peen God at any time; the òrily begotten Son ii'hich á3 in the *o ogs o the Father, he hath declaredhim; f Î Ipt
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