Connecticut western news., 1890-08-06
DIVES AND LAZARUS.
LESSON VI, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
 NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 10.

Text of the Lesson, Luke xvi, 19-31-Com- init Verses, 25-26-Golden Text, Mark x. 24-Commentary by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
 Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per mission of H. s. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel- phial
 19. "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day" In the mar gin of the R. V. ''faring sumptuously" is translated as living in mirth and splendor." So that we have before us one who had all that heart could wish, as far this world is concerned, and hs made the most of it, and was no doubt envied and sought after by many. An invitation to his house was some thing desirable, and perhaps never refused. But in all the wealth and mirth and splendor of his home there was nothing pleasing to God.
 20, 21. s'And there was certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores" Perhaps there could not be greater contrast than the rich man in his luxury and this poor beggar in his poverty and affiiction, and no
  asked to choose for themselves the position of one or the other.
 But when we consider the whole lesson in the light of here and hereafter, we shall see that it might we'll be called 1.-The story of the two beggars.n The one was a beggar during the short time of his earthly pilgrimage, the other became beggar for all eternity.
 23. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abra- hams bosom" Those who call this para ble take it upon themselves to assume the re- sponsibility of so doing. am not willing to do so, having no authority, and prefer to ac- cept 1t as plain statement of facts by one who knew whereof He affirmed, and was capable of giving us 8 glimpse of the unseen, with which He was perfectly familiar.
 1.-The rich man also died, and was buried" His wealth could not prolong his life, nor could his many friends and admirers detain him. He, too, has gone from present things, leaving all his nirth and splendor behind him
 g. "And in hell R. V., hades) he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abra- ham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" No escort of holy angels awaited him, nor does he find himself in rest and peace, much les in nirth and splendor. Even while they are weeping over his body, and tenderly
  of Hades, or the place of departed spirits, where the lost await the resurrection of the body, the great white throne, and their ever lasting punishment in the lake Of fire Rev. H, s, Ills; ", 8. The word "hen" is found in the New Testament about twenty three times; twelve times 1t is Gehenna, or the place of everlasting burnings, and eleven times it is Hades, or the place of departed spirits between death and resurrection. The R. V. makes the distinction. This is a difR- cult lesson for those who believe that there Is no consciousness between death and resurrec- ton, for the facts as stated by the Lord Jesus completely upset such notion.
 25 ssSon, remember" Does not this seem to imply that at least part of the agony of tho lost will be the unceasing remembrance of past sins, past opportunities forever gone, past ingratftude to God which can never be remediedi Those who in this life give them selves up to pleasure. saying unto God, "De- part from US; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways" will in due time know the meaning of these words, "Woe unto you that are richI for ye have received your consola- tion" Nob xxi, IS; Luke vi, 24.
 :6 Between us and you there is great gulf fixed" Taking this verse as we find 1t, the doctrine of probation after death is swept away; for according to this there is no pass ing from the place of the lost to the place of the blest Heaven is above all fear, hell is below all hope. Jesus said to the unbeleving of His day, "Ye shall die in your sipsl whither Igo, ye cannot come" John viii, 2D. "These shan go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. XIV, 4@. The punishment is the same length as the life; for it Is precisely the same word in the Greek which is applied to each.
 27, 2S ''Send him to my fathers house, hox axye hat bo focfi ifxy unto them lest they also come into this place of torment.n Here is a lost soul anxious for the salvation of those on earth who are, like he was, indifferent to their eternal welfare. What wonder this is when saved souls on earth manifest so little anxiety for the saliva ton of others. Or is it wonder when we consider that this lost soul knew what it meant to be lost, for he was experiencing their torment; while saved ones on earth too often seem not to believe that it means any thing very bad not to be saved.
 % Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. The word of God, even the Scriptures of the Old Testament, are all sufficient to guide u: into the way of peace, for there is but one way of salvation revealed in the whole Word of God, and that Is salvation by substitute the innocent taking the place of the guilty Whether we consider the coats of skins fol Adam and Eve, or Abels sacrifice, or the ran offered in the stead of Isaac, or the constan sacrifices of Israel, all point to Him who wa led as lamb to the slaughter, on whom th Lord laid the iniquity of us all, who wa wounded for our transgressions, bruised fo our iniQuities, on whom was laid the chastise ment which purchased our peace, and witt whose stripes we are healed Qsa. lii, ID For further light salvation in the Ol' Testament see the ark of Noah, the Passove Lamb in Egypt, the cities of refuge, am such passages as Isa. i, IS; xiii, 25; Mic. vi 8; Zech. iii, etc.
 30 "And be said, Nay, father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent" So many think toda and say, How do we knowl What evidenc have wei Has any one ever come bac to tell usa All who talk thus set aside thes words of our Lord as of no value, an despise Him who came from Heaven Calvary to redeem us. The words ( Moses and the prophets are the words c the Holy Spirit of God through Moses an the prophets, yea, the words of God Hlmse m @ think they would be convinced by one froI the dead rather than by the Word of God, requires no argument to prove that all sue arc guilty of despising the Word of God;
 S1 "And he said unto him, If they hea not Moses and the prophets, neither will the be persuaded through one rose from th dead" We are apt to think that seeing
 believing, but Jesus says, Blessed are the xx, 2g. And Peter says by the Spirit, "Whol having not seen, ye love; in whom, thoug now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoit
 with joy unspeakable and full of glory" Peter i, 8. We have no proof that this ric man was a murderer or blasphemer,
 drunkard or a dishonest man; he may hay
 besn moral, upright and 3 good citizen; bl
 he evidently was an unbehever, a re5ecter
 rYI- T. {-~ eraIh k fr, h
 come e lost man.