El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-14
FIRST M. e. CHURCH
ldZarouS and the Rich Man.


Rev. A. M. Lumpkin preached Sun
day morning at the First M. E. church
from the parable of Lazarus and the
rich man.
He chose "a his text, Luke 1881 III
they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded throug b
one rose from the dead" The follow
ing Is q part of the discourse.
Lazarus was typical oriental
begear. He had lain at the rich man g
gate and died. Died perhaps of ne
gied and hunger. He WAS probably
hurried away to the pc tiers field in q
lum Der wagon or an OK cart that was in
more common use in those days. There
were not very many mourners went to
the cemetery with him and those who
did probably drove in a trot both
ways. l bate to see people drive so
slow TO the cemetery and so fast on the
retbrn
Lazarus died and was carried by the
Angels into Abraham's bosom. The
rich man alec died aud we are distinct
jy to that he was buried. 1 expect
they had big funeral procession, a
fine hearse drawn by at least four
plsck horses. and followed by lots of
mourners. They took him to the syn
agogue. Probably the first time be
had been to church for six months. It
Is significant fact that most of men,
however much they may have scoffed
and disoelieved during their life time,
usually want to be buried according to
Christian principles and in Christian
cemetery. The rich man died and was
burie d and in hell he lifted up his
voice being in torment.
The first great lesson that l want to
draw from this early past of the para
BILE is, that poverty is not q barrier
against heaven nor riches guarantee
against hell. But the influence of
riches on q mau's eternal destiny has
often been exaggerated. Poverty new
er took q man to heaven yet, nor riches
to hell, except in so much as they ex-
ercised an influence over his spiritual
nature. 1t is the condition of a man
heart that determines his eternal dest-
my and this fact cannot be too often in
sisted upon. Another thought that it
might be we'll to notice here, is that al
though the rich man was in torment
he did not even express hope of ever
getting out.
40 not read in this parable or any
where else in the bible so far as that
is concerned, that there is any future
probation, that a man has any chance
after he leaves this world. His proba-
ton is all here. He has but one
hiance, one run to make: and if he
feels to get into the gate before it is
assed he has failed forever.
The most that the rich man hoped
was that An additional means be made
use of to induce his brethren to turn
unto God before they too came into the
came place of torment.
But Abraham said. They have Moses
and the prophets, let them hear them.
But the rich man said, may but If one
went unto them from the dead they
will repent" Abraham said again,
''If they hear not Moses and the pro-
phets neither will they De- persuaded
though one rose from the dead.''
The great thought of the text is that |
God Almighty, by his Divine revela- |
ton las made use of every means nee |
esssry and probably the very best
means shat Indefinite wisdom could |
devise, to induce men to forsake their !
sins and lead christian lives; and if |
they are not convinced by the power OF |
Gods word the strong probability is |
that they would not be convinced |
though one should arise from the dead. |
The plea for fuller revelation and |
stronger motives for right action |
usually comes from disbelievers. 1t is |
safe to say that not five disbe'ievers |
In Ell PasO have ever read the Bible |
through. Yea it is doubtful if ten have |
ever read 30 consecutive chapters of
God q word. What right has one to |
,lamor for fuller revelation who has
not informed himself in that already |
given.
The critics of the bible are usually |
hose who are ignorant of its contents.
We sometimes hear those who do
lot believe the bible say that they
would believe and repent if they
could but see one who came from be-
,ond the grave to bear witness to the
.ternal condition of the soul.
Who sbelieve the Bible would be the
cry first to question the truthfulness
4 one who should arise from the dead.
should one appear among US today
to bring message from
eyOnd the grave, the first thing
ecessary for him to do would be to
on vince US of his divine commission.
But what evidence could he bring?
What credentials could he bear, what
ould be do that has not already been
one to convince US of the divinity of
be scriptures?
Should he come performing miracles
e have no assurance that men would
ccept him. Moses and the prophets, s
nd lthe apostles and Jesus Christ
Il wrought miracles and men have
een Objectiug to them ever since, J
hould he come presenting q system |
morals aud sreligion with the =
ositive assurance that when applied '
ley would civilize and revolutionize (
lie world, then scriptures make the e
Ime proposition and wherever they J
ave been tried they have proven a I
access. IL
More than that we have had cases of 8
,rsons rising from the dead and yet
en- did not believe. Christ raised the s
.ughter of Jerias and the widows
N and yet we do not read that on this v
,count ne had a single convert. He U
j led I.aZa cua Alter he had haen U