nged him not so sore. Then, as Lazarus' pain
was patiently borne, so was Abraham's taken not only patiently
but--which is a thing much more meritorious--of obedience
willingly. And therefore, even if Abraham had not far excelled
Lazarus in merit of reward (as he did indeed) for many other things
besides, and especially for that he was a special patriarch of the
faith, yet would he have far surpassed him even by the merit of
that tribulation well taken here for God's sake too. And so serveth
for your purpose no man less than Abraham!

But now, good cousin, let us look a little longer here upon the
rich Abraham and Lazarus the poor. And as we shall see Lazarus set
in wealth somewhat under the rich Abraham, so shall we see another
rich man lie full low beneath Lazarus, crying and calling out of
his fiery couch that Lazarus might, with a drop of water falling
from his finger's end, a little cool and refresh the tip of his
burning tongue. Consider well now what Abraham answered to the rich
wretch: "Son, remember that thou hast in thy life received wealth,
and Lazarus likewise pain, but now receiveth he comfort, and thou
sorrow, pain, and torment." Christ described his wealth and his
prosperity: gay and soft apparel with royal delicate fare,
continually day by day. "He did fare royally every day," saith our
Saviour; his wealth was continual, lo, no time of tribulation
between. And Abraham telleth him the same tale, that he had taken
his wealth in this world, and Lazarus likewise his pain, and that
they had now changed each to the clean contrary--poor Lazarus from
tribulation into wealth, and the rich man from his continual
prosperity into perpetual pain. Here was laid expressly to Lazarus
no very great virtue by name, nor to this rich glutton no great
heinous crime but the taking of his continual ease and pleasure,
without any tribulation or grief, of which grew sloth and
negligence to think upon the poor man's pain. For that ever he
himself saw Lazarus and knew that he died for hunger at his door,
that laid neither Christ nor Abraham to his charge. And therefore,
cousin, this story of which, by occasion of Abraham and Lazarus,
you put me in remembrance, well declareth what peril there is in
continual worldly wealth; and contrariwise what comfort cometh of
tribulation. And thus, as your other examples of Solomon and Job
nothing for the matter further you, so your example of rich Abraham
and poor Lazarus hath not a little hi