The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-25
RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
NO AMOUNT or MERCT CAN DO
away UITH RIGHT.
The international sunday-schooI Lesson
for To- Morrow rs Explained by
Rev. Edward l.. Pell.

April 26-The Rich Man and LAZARUS
Luke XVI. 1881.
In tho parable Of the Prodigal Son Jesus
opens the door 10 our Fathers heart
and gives Us Il glimpse OF His unspeak-
able love. In the parable of the Rich
Man and Lazarus lie carries US around
TO another point of view, and we get
glimpse OF the divine justice. The latter
parable is needed TO balance the former.
God is love, but He is also just and men
must not presume upon His compassion.
lie is merclul. but no amount OF mercy
can do away with right.
There was a certain rich man who
dressed habftually In the costliest purple
SILK and the sOftest and most dazzling
Egyptian linen, and dined daily on the
best the market afforded. Ills name is
not given; apparently Tor the reason
that il did not stand for anything. The
mere fact that he had money did not
make his name worth preserving. And
there was a certain beggar named Laza-
rus Ohis name is given because It stood
for sOmething-his character, which was
all he had): and he was clothed, not
with me linen but with rcpulsiye sores;
and Jared not sumptuously every day
but when he could and as best he could
on the scraps which were thrown out
into the street from the rich mans ia
bic. And while the rich man attracted
friends about him who fawned upon him
ana kissed bis hands. the poor beggar
attracted only the filthy town dogs who
came ana took advantage Of his helpless
ness 10 lex his soros The rich man had
everything that appetite could wish for;
the poor man cravc1 the crumbs which
ne could see falling from the rich mans
table.
This is one side OF the picture. Now,
turn II around. on the other side the
rich man was dining at his own table and
the poor man was down in the street with
the dogs. Now, the poor man is dining
as the honOred guest at the great FEAST
of heaven. lying ln Abrahams bosom.
We have slsen the other side of the pic
ture. seeing is believing. who can believe
the reverse side which Jesus here pro sents
by lifting the ven which hides the ne
beyond tho grave Who can think or
being - vile a. Lazarus lying In Abra-
hams bosom? Who walks through an
almsnoUse and expects TO meet any OF
IA inmates in heaven? VINO eAfepts 10
RIM across In the other world the poor
yvretches ne has run over IN thls! la%a-
rus die.I and was carried by anse's To
Abrabam.- bosom-to the Jewish mind the
very summit OF felicity.
lie was saved not because ne was poor
nor because he begged, nor because ne
,,,s neglected. nor because ho was re-
rnls,ve out because he had that within
MIN which was not touched 10y poverty
~, bodily disease or the inhumanity or
men. The story teaches US that We can
not fudge by appearances. that good
man NAV be poor. that good man may
suner. that q good man may under pecu-
mar circumstances be 4 bcggar. We put
too much meaning In Dayids assertion
mat ne never saw tho seed OF the right
eous begging bread.
And the rich man died and was buried.
was buried. How hollow that SOUNDS.
IL is not said that Lazarus was burie-s-
such men when they died were often
carried ont OF town and thrown I'm a
arch. but the rich man had his great
burial Ne can see the long procession.
tho profos sional mOurners, the glory ana
pomp OF this world. the soundinS prasS
and tinkling cymbals the vanity OF Nai44-
ties. And the stone Is rolled 10 the grave
and the mourning ones return IN haste
10 divide what Is LETT between mem,
And in the place OF departed spirits ne
urtea nm his eyes being In torment. lie
ne lost-rct because he vas rich. Tor
nj ewes rested upon one in heaven who
was lie richest patriarch OF his age.
re was lost, because-why did not JESUS
rive the reason? Why should He give the
reason when there Is but one reason
FOR all host souls alike
And Vet though he was losh and know
g ,bon,.h he had offended Almighty God
ana knew II. and though he Was IN
signt az Paradise and could then som
munlcate with IL. not word suggestive
of sorrow escaped his lips, not prayer
for forgiveness. not an expression Of re-