The Rich Man and Lazarus

I

A worlding spent each day
In luxury and state,
While a believer lay
A beggar at his gate.
Think not the Lord’s appointment strange,
Death made a great and lasting change.

II

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.

III

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 fill’d.

IV

“O, Abra’m, send,” he cries,
(But his request was vain,)
“The beggar from the skies
To mitigate my pain!
One drop of water I entreat,
To sooth my tongue’s tormenting heat.”

V

Let all who worldly pelf
And worldly spirits have
Observe, each for himself,
The answer Abra’m gave:
“Remember thou wast fill’d with good,
While the poor beggar pined for good.

VI

“Neglected at thy door,
With tears he begg’d 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.”

VII

Lord, make us truly wise,
To choose thy people’s lot,
And earthly joys despise,
Which soon will be forgot:
The greatest evil we can fear,
Is to possess our portion here!