Page:The New Testament of Iesvs Christ faithfvlly translated into English, ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/192

Rh There was a certaine riche man, and he was clothed with purple and silke: and he fared every day magnifically. And there was a certaine begger called Lazarus, that lay at his gate, ful of sores: desiring to be filled of the crummes, that fel from the rich mans table, * but the dogges also came, and licked his sores. And it came to passe that the begger died, and was caried ″ of the Angels into ″ Abrahams bosome. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in Hel. And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham a farre off, and Lazarus in his bosome; and he crying said, Father Abraham, have mercie on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger into water for to coole my tongue, because I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him, Sonne, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy life time, and Lazarus likewise evil; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside al these things, between us and you there is fixed ″ a great $c$ chaos: that they which wil passe from hence to you, may not, neither goe from thence hither. And he said, Then, father, I beseeche thee that thou wouldest send him unto my fathers house, for I have five brethren, for to testifie unto them, ″ lest they also come into this place of torments. And Abraham said to him, They have Moyses and the Prophets; let them heare them. But he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man shal goe from the dead to them, they wil doe penance. And he said to him, If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets, neither if one shal rise againe from the dead, wil they beleeve.✠

ANNOTATIONS. XVI.

2. The lord praised.) This mans deceiving his maister is not praised, nor we warranted by his fact to gaine unjustly for to have wherewith to give almes: but his prudence, in that he provided so substantially for him selfe whilest his maisters goods were in his handes, is commended, not for a vertue, but for a worldly pollicie: and proposed as an example of the careful provision that rich men (who are Gods stewards in earth) should make for their soules, against they be put out of their bailiship and be called to account, which is the day of their death: and for a condemnation of faithful mens folly and negligence, that being assured they shal out of their offices, and well knowing they might gaine salvation by their money, have so litle regard thereof.

9. They may receive.) A great comfort to al great almes-men, and a wonderful force and vertue in almes, which beside the merit of the worke of mercie, which (as in other places of Scripture is said) purgeth sinne and gaineth Heaven, pocureth also not onely the prayers of their beadsmen in earth, but their patronage in Heaven also. Whereby also the prayers of Saints for the living, and namely for them to whom they were beholding in their life, are proved. Yea and that they be in such favour with God, that they may and doe receive their freinds which were once their benefactours, into their mansions in Heaven, no lesse then the farmers whom the il steward pleasured, might receive their freind into their earthly houses. Which also insinuateth to us, that almes bestowed specially upon holy men, who by their merites and prayers are great in Gods grace, may much more helpe us then our charitable deedes done upon vulgar men in necessitie, though that be of exceeding great merite also. See al this in these Doctours Rh