The Newtown bee., 1905-12-08

anguish"
These two men in the parable exem-
plify the results of living this life, to
show how we stand related here to the
hereafter. Is life worth living? That
depends upon how we live. The rich
man had his good things here, in this
made in the latest style. He could
have his choice no doubt, and crafty
his taste, and get all the satisfaction
there can be in such things. Why
not? He was rich, and could pay the
bills, and why not have what he want
ed? Whose business was it save his
own? The "purple and fine linen"
we're worn by the royal families and
the High Priests. And everything
about his house, we may be sure, was
in keeping with the quality and cut
of his raiment.
He ''fared sumptuously every day"
He could have the best in the market;
and he did. And without doubt he
had company all the time; and made
merry with his friends. He would
like to be amused, and commanded the
services of the most popular entertain
fellow, and was always enjoying him
self. All these good things centered
in him. The pleasures of life came his
way, and he was bound to have good
time. And why should he trouble
himself about others?
This is about what is said, or implied
concerning this rich man. He made
his life to consist in these things, for
his own sake. He really cared for
nothing else. At least these things
we're first in his heart and mind. He
was selfish, worldly, and Indifferent to
the welfare of others. He was not con-
cerned about the happiness of those
around MIN. The implication is that
he did not take the trouble to see that
a poor, suffering fellow-man, who was
laid at his gate, was fed with the
crumbs from his luxurious table,
that he was bad man. But he was
not a good man. lie was not kind,
thoughtful and generous toward the
poor. He was without God in the
world. He had no faith; and ven
ture that he did not believe in any
hereafter; and his motto, probably
was: "Let us eat and drink for to.
morrow we die"
There are many like him; and they
are popular, influential and even prom
inent in the social world. But the
question of all questions is, how does
such a selfish, worldly, unspiritual
character stand, as related to the here
after? What will such get out Of this
present life that they can take with
them, that will give them the satisfac'
tion, and the comfort they will crave,
and need, in the spiritual world?
Lazarus, on the other hand, was
poor, miserable, helpless, and depend
ent. There was everything in his Sit
uatiOn to dread-but, as his very name
suggests, he had faith in God. He had
no hope in this life, perhaps, but the
hope OF the hereafter was the secret
wealth Of his suffering, Inundated soul.
And no man is ever so poor that he
cannot claim his eternal inheritance
as Child of the infinite Father.
They both died. according to the
common lot: the rich man was buried
with all the pOmp and parade that
money could commands: the other had
but pauper funeral, Of course. And
now, what is the state of life in which
place of departed spirits? The rich
in Hades; and the beggar of the world,
is rich in Paradise. The one who laid
up all his treasures on earth had moth
ing in heaven; the man who had
nothing on earth had treasures laid up
in the Kingdom above. The rich
mans heart was where his treasure
was. Paradise was nothing to him.
He cared for none of these things. He
did not even believe there we're any
unseen spiritual treasures to be soug BIT.
Now he is poor indeed for he has
thrown away the opportunities Of this
life, and has nothing!
1t is not riches, nor poverty that
most concerns US, when we consider
the questions of eternal life; but rath-
er, what use have we made of this life
on the earth? What have we been
doing here? Above all, what have we
become in ourselves, through all the
varied experiences of this world of op-
portunity and trial? 1t was not be-
cause the rich man had been rich that
he found himself in anguish of soul in
the great hereafter Of death. 1t was
because he had no faith, hope and love;
and no fruit of the Spirit unto life
everlasting. 1t was not what he had
done so much, perhaps, as what he had
not done. 1t was not because Lazarus
had been poor, miserable and neglected
on earth that he was carried away by
the angels into place Of joy, peace
and satisfactiOn; but because be had
lived by faith in God, and hoped for
the things that are unseen and eternal.