One Is Drawn In Pomp To Hell, While The Other Swims In tears To Heaven!

The rich man and Lazarus

(Thomas Sherman, "Divine Breathings!")

"There was a rich man who was dressed
in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury
every day. At his gate was laid a beggar 
named Lazarus, covered with sores and
longing to eat what fell from the rich man's
table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

The time came when the beggar died and
the angels carried him to Abraham's side.
The rich man also died and was buried.

In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked
up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus
by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, 
have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip 
the tip of his finger in water and cool my 
tongue, because I am in agony in this fire!'

But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that 
in your lifetime you received your good 
things, while Lazarus received bad things, 
but now he is comforted here--
and you are in agony!'"Luke 16:19-25

The wicked have their Heaven here--
and their Hell hereafter.  But the righteous 
have their Hell here--
and their Heaven hereafter.

Dives had his good things in this life--
and Lazarus his evil things.
Now Lazarus is comforted--
and Dives is tormented!

I will not, therefore, envy the prosperity 
of the wicked, nor be cast down at
the afflictions of the righteous;

seeing the one is drawn in pomp to Hell--
while the other swims in tears to Heaven!

  
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GraceGems has published the Puritan Matthew Meade's helpful article, 
"The Power of Grace in Weaning the Heart from the World".