The Rich Man And Lazarus

A Worldling spent each day

In luxury and state;

While a believer lay,

A beggar at his gate:

Think not the Lord's appointments strange,

Death made a great and lasting change.

Death brought the saint release

From want, disease, and scorn;

And to the land of peace,

His soul, by angels borne,

In Abraham's bosom safely placed,

Enjoys an everlasting feast.

The rich man also died,

And in a moment fell

From all his pomp and pride

Into the flames of hell:

The beggar's bliss from far beheld,

His soul with double anguish filled.

O Abram send, he cries,

But his request was vain

The beggar from the skies

To mitigate my pain!

One drop of water I entreat,

To soothe my tongue's tormenting heat.

Let all who worldly pelf,

And worldly spirits have,

Observe, each for himself,

The answer Abram gave:

Remember, thou wast filled with good,

While the poor beggar pined for food.

Neglected at thy door

With tears he begged his bread;

But now, he weeps no more,

His griefs and pains are fled:

His joys eternally will flow,

While thine expire in endless woe.

Lord, make us truly wise,

To choose thy peoples' lot;

And earthly joys despise,

Which soon will be forgot:

The greatest evil we can fear,

Is to possess our portion here!

Olney Hymn # 105, vol. 1.