And as we shall see Lazarus set
in wealth somewhat under the rich Abraham, so shall we see another
rich man lie full low beneath Lazarus, crying and calling out of
his fiery couch that Lazarus might, with a drop of water falling
from his finger's end, a little cool and refresh the tip of his
burning tongue. Consider well now what Abraham answered to the rich
wretch: "Son, remember that thou hast in thy life received wealth,
and Lazarus likewise pain, but now receiveth he comfort, and thou
sorrow, pain, and torment." Christ described his wealth and his
prosperity: gay and soft apparel with royal delicate fare,
continually day by day. "He did fare royally every day," saith our
Saviour; his wealth was continual, lo, no time of tribulation
between. And Abraham telleth him the same tale, that he had taken
his wealth in this world, and Lazarus likewise his pain, and that
they had now changed each to the clean contrary--poor Lazarus from
tribulation into wealth, and the rich man from his continual
prosperity into perpetual pain. Here was laid expressly to Lazarus
no very great virtue by name, nor to this rich glutton no great
heinous crime but the taking of his continual ease and pleasure,
without any tribulation or grief, of which grew sloth and
negligence to think upon the poor man's pain.
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