There are many rich persons,1 that think scorn to relieve the pore, of whose hard dealing we have a president in the sixteenth of Luke. The rich man in his life time would not relieve Lazarus, but despised him; yea he forgot God, and thought there was no God (but his gold) that cold in justice punish him for despising the poor. Lazarus died for want, and so did Dives for all his wealth; who soon after, (being in hell) beheld Lazarus in heaven, triumphing in Abraham's bosom, while he was tormented in hell fire. This fire burneth, scaldeth, scorcheth, and tormenteth; of which, when the rich man felt the smart, (though all too late) he sorrowed and repented, and would fain have sent word thereof unto his friends: but he could have no messenger for all his lordly livings ⟨image 4⟩nor no releasement of his torments, for all his bags of gold. Now to whom would he have sent word? Forsooth to a number of his friends, that indeed think there is no God nor devil: no heaven nor hell, nor no torments in hell fire after this life. But I would advise those of that opinion to do as Thomas Didimus did by Christs wounds, that ere he would believe, put in his hands & felt. And therefore to all such I say, as will not believe it, let them go thither and feel; then doubtless they will find it so, and say it is so. This example of Dives may admonish such hard hearted persons to be mollified with the tears of the poor: that they may, when Dives hath dined, let Lazarus have the crumbs.
There are many rich persons,1 that thinke skorne to releeue the pore, of whose hard dealing we haue a president in the sixteenth of Luke. The rich man in his life time woulde not releue Lazarus, but despised him; yea he forgot God, and thought there was no God (but his gold) that cold in iustice punishe him for despising the poore. Lazarus died for vvant, and so did Diues for all his wealth; who soone after, (being in hell) beheld Lazarus in heauen, triumphing in Abrahams bosome, while hee vvas tormented in hell fire. This fire burneth, skaldeth, skortcheth, and tormenteth; of which, when the riche man felt the smart, (though all too late) he sorrowed and repented, and would faine haue sent word thereof vnto his friends: but he could haue no messenger for al his lordly liuings ⟨image 4⟩nor no releasement of his torments, for all his bagges of golde. Nowe to whome would he haue sent worde? Forsooth to a number of his friends, that indeed think ther is no God nor deuill: no heauen nor hell, nor no torments in hel fire after this life. But I would aduise those of that opinion to doe as Thomas Didimus did by Christs wounds, that ere hee would beleeue, put in his hands & felt. And therefore to all such I say, as will not beleeue it, let them goe thither and feele; then doubtlesse they will find it so, and say it is so. This example of Diues may admonish such hard hearted persons to be mollified with the teares of the poore: that they maie, when Diues hath dined, let Lazarus haue the crums.
- 1Luke 16.
