A journal of meditations for every day in the year gathered out of divers authors / written first in Latine by N.B. ; and newly translated into English by E.M. in ... 1669.

Of the Rich Glutton, and of Lazarus.* 1.1 Part 2.

COnsider 1. There was a certain Beggar, called Lazarus: Christ vouchsafed to call the Beg∣gar by his Name, and make him known to Posteri∣ty, but not the rich man;* 1.2 for (as S. Gregory saith) Our Lord acknowledgeth and approveth the humble, but the proud he knoweth not; that you may learn to esteem Virtue, more then worldly riches, and splen∣dour: The memory of the Just (saith the wise man)* 1.3

is with praises, and the name of the Impious shall rot.

Consider 2. This Saints Patience, whereby he arrived to such a degree of Sanctity. He was 1. Full of sores, patiently enduring the pain proceeding from them. 2. Extreme poor, desiring to be filled of the crums that fell from the rich mans table. 3. Con∣temned by all, And no man did give him. 4. So mi∣serable, that he was fain to permit the dogs to lick his Sores; and perhaps, by reason of his weakness, he was not able to keep them off: Who is there now a-days that would prefer such an one before a rich man? and yet this did Christ our Lord.

* 1.4Consider 3. The happy death of Lazarus, who was immediately carried of the Angels into Abrahams Bosom. Thus, short are the tribulations of the Just, but their glory is everlasting: What joys, riches, and honours, did sores, poverty, and contempt, bring to this Beggar? O let my Soul die the death of the Just, and my last ends be made like to them. Ponder how unequal were the lots of the rich man, and of holy Lazarus, after their death; much more, certainly, then they were in their life time: He was happy for a moment, but everlastingly mi∣serable; this miserable indeed for a while, but af∣terwards most happy, for all Eternity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 16.20 &c.
• * 1.2

  Greg. Hom 40.
• * 1.3

  Prov. 10.7
• * 1.4

  Num. 23.10.