Seem. LXXIII. Rich Man, andLazarus. 541 I will conclude with that excellent Counfel of the Son ofSyrach, Eccl. 4. My Son defraud not the Poor, and make not the needy Eye to wait long; make not a hungry Soulforrowful, neither provoke a Man in his diJlrefs, add not moretrouble to a Heart that is vexed, defer not togive to him that is in need. Rejell not thefup- plication of the aflitled, nor turn away thyface from a poor Man;. turn not away thy Eyefrom the needy, andgive him none occajon to curie thee. For ifhe curfe thee in the biternefs ofhis Soul, his Prayer 'hall be heard of him that made him. Letit not grieve thee to bow down thine Ear to the poor, and give him a friendly anfwer with meeknefs. Be as a father to the fatherlefs, and infleadof a husbandto their mother ; fo ¡halt thou be as the Son ofthe moll high and he 'hall love thee more than thy Mother Both. SERMON LXXIII. The Se= The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. soul on on this rose. LUKE XVI. 19, 26s There was a certain Rich Man, which was cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen, and fared fumptuoufly every day : And there was a certain Beggar, named Lazarus, which was laidat his Gate full ofSores. IProceed to our Second Obfervation, that a Man may be poor and miferable in this World , and yet dear to God. This beggar Lazarus, tho' he was fo much flighted, and defpifed in his life-time by this great Rich Man, yet it appeared when he came to die, that he was not neglected by God, for be gave his Angels charge concerning him, to convey him to Happinefs ; v. 22.. The Beggar died, andwas carried into Abraham's bofam. But thisTruth is not only reprefented to us in a Parable, but exemplified in the Life of our bleffed Saviour. Never was any Man fo dear to God as he was, for he was his only begotten Son, his beloved Son, in whom he was well 'leafed : And yet how poorand mean was his Condition in this World ! Infomuchthatthe yews were offended at him, and could not own one that appeared in fo much Meannefs, for the true Meffias. He was born ofmean Parents, and perfecuted as foon as he was born ; he was deftitute of worldly Accommondations; The Poxeshad holes, and the Birds of the Air had nejls; but the Sox ofMan hadnot where to lay his head. He was defpifed and rejetledofMen, a Man ofSorrows,and acquainted with Grief. God couldhave fent his Son into the World with Majeflyand great Glory; and have made all the Kings of the Earth to have bowed before him, and paid Homage to him : but the Wifdom of God chofe rather that he fhould ap- pear in a poor and humble, in a fuffering and of ui ed, Condition, to confound the Pride of the World, who meafure the Love of God by thefe outward things and think that God hates all thofe whom he permits tobe of tided. Now it was not poffible to give a greater and clearer Demonftratión of this Truth, that Goodnefs and Suffering may meet together in the fame Perfón, than in the Son of God, who didno Sin, neither was Guile found in his mouth; yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife him, and to put him to Grief Afiliecions in this world are fo far from beinga fignof God's Hatted, that they are anArgument of hisLove and Care ; whom the Lord loveth he chajlneth, and fcou:geth every Son whom he receiveth. Thofe he defigns for great things here- after, he trains up by great Hardships in this world, and by many Tribulations prepares
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