The Ghospel upon Thursday in the 2 weeke of Lent.19There was a certaine riche man, and he was clothed with purple and silke: and he fared every day magnifically. 20And there was a certaine begger called Lazarus, that lay at his gate, ful of sores: 21desiring to be filled of the crummes, that fel from the rich mans table, * and no man did give him.* but the dogges also came, and licked his sores. 22And it came to passe that the begger died, and was caried ″ of the Angels into ″ Abrahams bosome. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in Hel. 23And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham a farre off, [1] and Lazarus in his bosome; 24and he crying said, Father Abraham, have mercie on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger into water for to coole my tongue, because I am tormented in this flame. 25And Abraham said to him, Sonne, remember that thou didst receive [2] good things in thy life time, and Lazarus likewise evil; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside al these things, between us and you there is fixed ″ a great cc χαδμα
a horrible distance. chaos: that they which wil passe from hence to you, may not, neither goe from thence hither. 27And he said, Then, father, I beseeche thee that thou wouldest send him unto my fathers house, for I have five brethren, 28for to testifie unto them, ″ lest they also come into this place of torments. 29And Abraham said to him, [3] They have Moyses and the Prophets; let them heare them. 30But he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man shal goe from the dead to them, they wil doe penance. 31And he said to him, If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets, neither if one shal rise againe from the dead, wil they beleeve.✠
ANNOTATIONS.
Chap. XVI.
Good workes.2. The lord praised.) This mans deceiving his maister is not praised, nor we warranted by his fact to gaine unjustly for to have wherewith to give almes: but his prudence, in that he provided so substantially for him selfe whilest his maisters goods were in his handes, is commended, not for a vertue, but for a worldly pollicie: and proposed as an example of the careful provision that rich men (who are Gods stewards in earth) should make for their soules, against they be put out of their bailiship and be called to account, which is the day of their death: and for a condemnation of faithful mens folly and negligence, that being assured they shal out of their offices, and well knowing they might gaine salvation by their money, have so litle regard thereof.
Almes meritorious.9. They may receive.) A great comfort to al great almes-men, and a wonderful force and vertue in almes, which beside the merit of the worke of mercie, which Tob. 12, 9.
Mt. 25.(as in other places of Scripture is said) purgeth sinne and gaineth Heaven, pocureth also not onely the prayers of their beadsmen in earth, but their patronage in Heaven also. The Saints doe pray for us.Whereby also the prayers of Saints for the living, and namely for them to whom they were beholding in their life, are proved. Yea and that they be in such favour with God, that they may and doe receive their freinds which were once their benefactours, into their mansions in Heaven, no lesse then the farmers whom the il steward pleasured, might receive their freind into their earthly houses. Which also insinuateth to us, that almes bestowed specially upon holy men, who by their merites and prayers are great in Gods grace, may much more helpe us then our charitable deedes done upon vulgar men in necessitie, though that be of exceeding great merite also. See al this in these Doctours
- ↑ Lazarus in Abrahams bosome, and rest, but both in hel, and not in the Kingdom of Heaven before Christ. Hiero. ep. 3. Epithoph, Nepot.
- ↑ To be in continual pleasures, ease, wealth, peace, and prosperity in this world, is perilous, and a signe of paines in the next. S.Heiro.
- ↑ Abraham had knowledge of things in earth which were not in his time; as that they had Moyses and the Prophets bookes which he never saw. August. de cura pro mor. c. 14.
