The following VERSES were fent from a Relation of the Authors, which he defired might be inferted in this Volume of his WORKS. In obitum Viri admodum Reverendi CLEMENTIS ELLISII. (Chrifti, Nos Confanguineos, conjuntos fanguine Nec varii Cafus, nec Mors divellere poffit. O Amor! ardentem rapias ad Sidera Mentem, Inferat ifta fuos Animis Cæleftibus Ignes. E. E. THE THE PARABLE OF THE Rich MAN and the Beggar. St. LUKE XVI. xix, &c. 19. There was a certain rich Man which was clothed in Purple and fine Linnen, and fared Sumptuously every Day. 20. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, which was laid at bis Gate, full of Sores: 21. And defiring to be fed with the Crumbs which fell from the rich Man's Table: Moreover, the Dogs came and licked his Sores. 22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bofom: The rich Man alfo died, and was buried. 23. And in Hell he lift up bis Eyes, being in Torments, and feeth Abraham afar off, and Laza. rus in his Bofom. 24. And B 24. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and fend Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his Finger in Water, and cool my. Tongue; for I am tormented in this Flame. 25. But Abraham Said, Son, remember that thou in thy Life-time received thy good Things, and likewife Lazarus evil Things: But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26. And befides all this, between us and you there is a great Gulf fixed: So that they which would pass from hence to you, cannot; neither can they pafs to us that would come from thence 27. Then be faid, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldst fend him to my Father's House. 28. For I have five Brethren, that he may teftifie unto them, left they also come into this place of torment. 29. Abraham faith unto him, they have Mofes and the Prophets, let them bear them. 30. And he said, nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31. And he faid unto him, If they hear not Mofes and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, though one rose from the dead. T HE Things which our Bleed Savicur teacheth us in this Parable, (for that it is a Parable, I think any one that deliberately reads it will foon be fatisfied) are Matters of fo great Weight, and fo altogether neceflary for all Men to know; that whofoever doth not competently Underftand, ftedfaftly Believe, and frequently with much Serioufnefs confider them; whatfoever he may find to comfort and pleafe himfelf himself withal at prefent, will in the end find himself a very unhappy Man. To convince us of this, no more can be needful, but to have them plainly laid open before our Eyes, that we may fee them. They are fuch as thefe, i. We Men are something more than Bodies, we have Souls in thefe Bodies of ours; or rather, we are at prefent imbodied Souls, or Souls dwelling and acting in Bodies. 2. Our Souls are not fo infeparably united to our Bodies, but that they can be parted from them, and may fubfift and live in that State of Separation, or when they are departed gut of their Bo 3. dies Our Souls departing out of our Bodies at Death, do neither Die, nor Sleep, or continue infenfible of their State and Condition, till the Resurrection of. their Bodies; but Live, and are Jenfible. 4. Our Souls immediately after their departing out of our Bodies, are either in a very comfortable, or in a very miferable Condition, 5. The State of Souls departed out of our Bodies, is thus far unchangeable; that they which are once Miferable, can never be Happy; and they that are once in any measure Happy, can never be Miferable. 6. The time of this prefent Life on Earth, is no more but a time of Probation, and the only time of our Preparation, for a better and eternal Life in another World. 7. The Rule and Law whereby we are to govern our felves in this Life, and to prepare our felves for a better Life after Death, is the Doctrine which God hath already taught us by Men, whom he bath fent unto us to that end. B ż 8. Good |