The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-16
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited b, the Rev. T. J. Hough.

Edlted Dl the ft|. L. - no''SA'
:...,n,>i> .; 4 sermon 4 'li:..r,''l Ivy Rev
, i. !, Tough, in this city->'hjrct
/ Lazarus and the Rich Man.
"Tl.rrr was rir|, man. which wa,
! clothed in purple and fine linen, and far
tA Sunlptuou>ly every day; and thrr" was
"A certain hryyar named Lazarus. whici
was laid at his gate. full Of sores, and de.
firing to hr fed with the crumbs which
fell from the rich man : table: Moreover
the dors came and licked his sores. and
it came to pass that the l'%ga! died, and
was carried into AbraEam'> bosom. The
rich man also died. and was hnrlrd: a"d
in Hell he lifted up his eyes. being in
torment. and Srrth Abraham atar of a1I,l
Lazarus in his bp>nh He cried mercy
ON me. and said Father Abraham. have
mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that He
may dip the t ip Of his fingers IN water,
and cool my tongue: for am t"rmrntrtl
in this flame. But Abraham said, SON re-
mrinI!rr. that thou in thy life time re-
ceivr>t thy good things and likewise Laz-
arllS evil things but now he isc"mt"rtrd
and thou art tormrutti." Luke IL, 10 t"
2J
Our text introduces IT'S into one of the
finest palaces Of ancient architecture, ev-
cry room glittrys with eXtravayant fnrni-
ture silver threaded carpets, deep cusl'-
iOned sofas, mirrors large and ornament
ed, beautiful promcnades, gardens filled
With flowers of rarcSt mlOrS and beauty;
you say what a lovely place, | wish was
so situated, l wond say "Soul take thine
ease, eat drink and be mcrry'
Our text says she was clothed in pur
pie and linen every day. look at him :;
what Il fine specimen Of humanity, what
symmctrry of form, what rich costume,
dressed in royal purple and snow white
linen, we take his photograph in our
minds eye, and step aside to compare
notes, we agree how accurate are the
pictures "a certain rich man clothed in
purple and fine linen"
We learn that he ''fared sumptuously
every day" The song rattles and we
are invited INTO the spacious dining hall,
what IL grand display, silver, and china,
and glassware glitter under the flashing
chandeliers, the servants pile the viands
on our plates. Here are tender morse!s Of
fatted calf, choicest birds, fish, and beau
tifnl boqnets reared up on the centre Of
the table. Champagne corks dancing
against the ceiling as fresh bottles are
opened, and silver cups filled to brim's
edge-a lordly style of living this; we
say, truly this ''certain rich man fares
sumptuously every day."
Our ears are pierced with a distressing
noise at the rich mans gate, some one has
laid beggar there by the name of Laza-
rus, he in rags and tatters, and covered
with sores, he cannot expect to live long,
his request is moderate "desiriug to be
fed with the crumbs which fall from the
rich mans table"
In this destitute situation without
money, friends or relations, the dogs came
along and applied their healing tongues
to his sores-yes there are many dogs
kinder than their masters, | had rather
90 to them for aid and sympathy than to
their owners. The poor man could not
longer withstand hunger and cold, and
welcomes death with a smile and thank
as he was so poor suppose the town Of
ficers buried him in paupers grave
But really it was not Lazarus that was
buried but rather his tattered garments
and loathsome sores, for the angels have
been lowering around, and the moment
the breath left the body, "He was car
ried by the angels to Abrahams bosom"
aod has now been one of the millionaires
ir Heaven for eighteen hundred years.
But few visitors at the rich mans pal
ace was noticed, but finally one comes
along without hail. watchword cr key,
no one sees him but this certain rich man.
though he never saw him before he knows
him, tho visitor is Death, the rich man
falls on his gilded sofa, feet and hands
grow cold, pulse lowers, breath shorter,
lungs cease, heart still, life is gone, Dead
He was an unfaithful and Improbable
stewar |: he was a barren fig tree and was
cut down.
The news Of his death was heralded
everywhere, the funeral hour is annQun-
ced and the highways are thronged with
wealth and splendor following tho nod.
ding plnmes to the cemetery. Yes, rich
men always have large funerals-a large
white marble column is erected over his
grave to mark his last resting place, let
me write his epitaph thereon, here it is,
"a certain rich man which was clothed in
purple and fine linen, and Jared sumptu-
ous1y every day." this is enough, this is
all we learn of him on earth.
But really it was not the rich man that
was buried, but only his purple and lin
en-, and sparkling jowelry, for our text
says 'in He'll he lifted up his eyes, being
in torrents, and Abraham afar off and
Lazarus in his BOSOM" Thus may we
bury the body but we can neither kill
nor bury the soul.
Now observe the difference between
our two characters, while on earth Laza-
rms was the poor afflicted beggar, desi.
ring to be fed with crumbs which fell