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 was lost  for  ever,  and  has  been  for  centuries  suffering  unspeakable torments.

Limbo. Lazarus joined  in  Limbo  the  just  souls  departed. In their company he  rejoiced  in  unspeakable  consolation,  and  waited  in  the sure expectation  of  eternal  happiness  in  heaven. When our  Lord  ascended into heaven,  He  took  Lazarus  with  Him  into  everlasting  glory.

Why Lazarus  was  eternally  rewarded.  When  he  was  in  this  world, he was  faithful,  pious  and  resigned. He had  for  many  years  lived  a life  of  misery,  but  he  bore  all  his  sufferings,  poverty,  contempt,  and pain with  the  utmost  patience  and  resignation  to  God’s  will,  making use of  them  to  sanctify  his  soul. He did  not  murmur  nor  complain,  but hoped in  the  Redeemer  and  the  everlasting  life  to  come,  and  united himself closely  to  God  by  a holy  love.

Hell. The  parable  gives  us  a description  of  hell. It is  a place of torment  in  which  the  soul  is  completely  buried. The torment  is caused  by  the  flames  of  a supernatural  fire,  kindled  by  the  anger  of God. There is,  therefore,  no  relief,  no  hope  for  the  lost  soul. It is separated  from  the  abode  of  the  just  by  a great  chaos;  it  can  never get to  them,  but  must  remain  for  ever  and  without  hope  in  the  torment of hell. An unbearable  thirst  was  the  principal  torment  of  the  lost glutton: his throat  and  tongue  were  burnt  up  with  it. He thought  that one little  drop  of  water,  such  as  could  hang  from  the  tip  of  a man’s finger, would  be  an  alleviation;  but  he  could  not  get  even  that. He who had  so  sinned  by  gluttony  was  now  consumed  by  an  everlasting thirst. He who  had  refused  to  Lazarus  even  the  crumbs  which  fell  from his table,  now  vainly  implored  for  one  little  drop  of  water  to  cool  his burning tongue.

Why Dives  was  eternally  punished.  We  are  not  told  that  he  committed any  sins  which  the  world  would  consider  to  be  great  ones. On the contrary,  he  was  esteemed  as  an  honourable  and  generous  man. He might  quite  truly  have  said  to  himself:  “I  have  deceived  no  man, I have never  taken  any  one’s  life,  nor  have  I sworn  falsely. I am no miser;  for  I circulate  my  money  freely,  enjoy  the  use  of  it,  and  am praised  by  all  my  friends  for  my  liberality.”  True! and yet  he  was damned! Why? Because he  was  a sensual  man,  an  epicurean,  and religion was  a matter  of  no  consideration  with  him. His only  thought was how  to  lead  a pleasant  life,  and  he  neither  troubled  himself  about the future,  nor  believed  in  a coming  Redeemer. He led  a life  without prayer, without  fear  of  hell  or  desire  for  heaven,  a life  without  grace and without  God. Could such  a life  as  this  be  rewarded  by  the  everlasting Vision  of  God? No; its  obvious  and  inevitable  sequel  could only be  found  in  hell,  or  in  eternal  separation  from  God! He lived his life  away  from  God. He sinned,  firstly,  by  unbelief. Neither he  nor his brothers  believed  much,  if  at  all,  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  or in  what  God  had  revealed  to  man  by  Moses  and  the  prophets,  namely,