Of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Commentary on Luke · Chapter:verse 16:21
Verſe. 21
And deſired to be fed with the crummes, &c.
A ſecond proper effect concerning Lazarus; who (greatly) pinched with the croſſe of ponertie, and hauing deadly ſores vponupon him, and a grieuous hunger, yet breakes not out by impatience, as our beggers would; but humbly craueth ſome reliefe from the very crummes of the rich mans table. He craued not any varietie for a ſicke and weake ſtomacke, nor would chuſe his almes, as ſome that come to our doores now, who hauehave more neede of the Magiſtrates diſcipline then of that they aske: but begged onelyonly ſome of the caſt bread, and (queſtionleſſe) would hauehave bin thankfull for it.
By whoſe example our poore are taught to be contented with their almes, whether of crummes, as Lazarus; or of gleaning, as Ruth. Ruth. 2.2.3.
The reaſons. Men ſhould ſubmit to that eſtate that God hath laide vponupon them; and being poore,Doctr. 1. not diſdaine to ſtoupe vnderunder the low gate of a poore life: the beſt way to make men mercifull, is to make our ſelues by humilitie, capable of their mercies.
Secondly, if ſeruants muſt be contented with their wages, (perhaps leſſe then they deſerue): much more beggers with the almes that is freely giuen.
Thirdly, the contrary were to walke ſtubbernly againſt God, and therefore to prouoke him to walke ſtubbernly againſt them. For their pouerty is his chaſtiſement: and therefore, deſpiſing what God ſhall ſend by it, they contemne the rod, and him that ſent it.
A reproofe of our vnthankfull poore, Vſe who ſcorne the almes that is not of their owne chuſing, and murmure againſt an almes of bread; where this godly poore man deſired but an almes of crummes. The poore ſhould ſpeake with prayers: Prou. 18.23, That is, ſubmiſſely, as they that intreate: but now they ſpeake as the rich; not humbly with prayer, nor dutifully with thankes, but with proud and inſolent replyings. For they anſwer rowghly, and not with a gentle tongue, when they hauehave not what they would. Theſe are not caſt downe before the Lord: for then they would in better behauiour, caſt downe themſelues before men. Nay, but ſuch ſet themſelues rather to wreſtle with God, who will therefore bring ſeuen plagues more, and ſeuen times greater vponupon them, till they be either humbled, or deſtroyed, Leuit. 26.21.24. If their pouerty cannot humble them, nor their miſery make them ſtoupe; (where yet Pharao, and Haman, and Benhadad in their afflictions became humble and ſtouped vntounto thoſe who they knew, could helpe them); the Lord hath other meanes to make them perceiue who he is, either by plagues on earth, or by that plague of plagues, their iuſt damnation in hell.
Lazarus here deſireth but to be fed with crummes, yet it doth not appeare by the text that any man gaue them to him; rather it is euident by that which followeth, that no man did. And ſo the maiſter of the houſe, being cruell to the poore; the ſeruants (for like Maiſter, like ſeruants) would giuegive him nothing.
Which teacheth,Doctr. 2. that as the Maiſter is, ſuch (commonly) are the ſeruants. If the ruler hearken to lyes, that is, admit them into his eares and receiue them into his heart, all his ſeruants will be wicked: Prou. 29.12: That is, as ready to tell them, as they to heare them. And whither ſhould filthy channells runne, but into ſinkes fit for them? When Caiaphas was againſt Chriſt, his whole houſhold, men and maides, were againſt him, Math. 26.69.71.73. Ahab, a wicked King, had as wicked Courtiers, who did ſo generally humour him in the hatred of Gods Prophets, that Eliiah thought there was neuer a true worſhipper left in Iſrael, 1. King. 19.10. If Herod be moued, all Ieruſalem is moued with him, Math. 2.3. And Ieroboam, an idolator, made all Iſrael idolators, 2. King. 3.3. So Queene Marie a Papiſt, made the land Papiſts.
The reaſons. They that ſerue, are led much by thoſe whom they ſerue; and many ſeeke the face of the ruler, Prou: 29 26. That is, as men are men, and compaſſed with fleſh, they deſire and ſtudy, in corruption, to gratifie thoſe in euill that for euill can reward them.
Secondly, inferiors are euill by nature; and being ſo by example too how can they be good?
Thirdly, if they be not inclined as their Maiſters, they cannot hope to hauehave their countenance: and the greateſt number will rather loſe Gods fauour, then theirs.
An admonition to Maiſters to be good themſelues, Vſe. 1 if they would not hauehave their people naught, like themſelues. For as the Iudge is, ſo are his officers, good or euill, Syrach. 10.2. Therefore Chriſt, when he would ſee good fruits of a familie, beginnes at the tree of them in the Maiſter, Math. 12.33. Abraham, giuen to hoſpitalitie, his wife was ſo too, and ſo was Lot, brought vp in his houſe, Gen. 18.6 7.8. & 19.2. Where the Maiſter is godly as Ioſeph, the ſeruants will be godly, as Ioſephs chiefe ſeruant, Gen. 43.23, or ſ…eme ſo: but wicked Maiſters, as Abſalom, hauehave wicked ſeruants, like thoſe of Abſalom, 2. Sam. 13.28. So where the Maiſter is a Papiſt, the ſeruants muſt be Papiſts, or fauour Papiſtrie. And where he is neuter, or luke-warme, they muſt be indifferent. As the boby bends, ſo muſt the ſhadowe: children and ſeruants in a houſe, are commonly ſhadowes to the minde of their Parents, and other ouerſeers. Theſe are the party coloured roddes they looke at, and their examples the colour they conceiue by, Gen. 30.39. Thou ſweareſt before thy little ones; and they heare thee well inough: for euen theſe little pitchers hauehave eares: and muſt not they ſweare as faſt, when thy example teacheth them? Thou doſt not reuerence Gods word, or Miniſters: and will thy ſeruants and children doe better? Thou haſt tenants, and they ſee thee no way truely to countenance good things, nor to be angry at euill: and will they hate the euill, and chuſe good: or doe not they marke what countenance thou giueſt to the Preacher, and what words againſt him? And ſo as thou pipeſt they dance. in what way thou leadeſt of zeale or coldnes in religion they follow; naturally in coldnes, hypocritically in zeale. Vſe. 2 A terrour to all Superiours in bad example. For when their inferiours doe badly, or otherwaies then they ſhould, they are the winds that moue them. Ieroboam, that made Iſrael to ſinne is Maiſter, and Prince there: and they ſhall anſwere as ſinners for themſelues: and as examples of ſinne, for others. Nor let them ſay they goe to hell for nothing, when in two regards they goe thither: one for being euill, another for making others euill. So much for the proper effects that concerne this poore man, that which (out of him) concerneth others, followeth.
Yea and the dogges came and licked his ſores.
Yet the dogges (whoſe nature is to barke at ſtrangers and not to licke their ſores, but to make them ſore ſhewed more pitty in their kind, then either this Maiſter, or his men. For theſe gaue him their tongues, they would not giuegive him their crummes: theſe ſupled his ſores, they no way ſlaked his ſore hunger. Theſe beſtowed what they had, they would beſtowe nothing. Theſe were pittifull to man; they were cruell to poore man, and inhumane to Lazarus, a godly man. Which could not but proceed from the Lord, and be his owne deede, both to teſtifie againſt, and to conuince the vnmercifull, and more then beaſtly incompaſſionatenes of ſuch cruell wretches. For here the kind nature of the dogges ſhamed the hard hearts of men: and God opened their mouthes, as he did of Baelaams aſſe, Num. 22.28.19, to reproue their m…iſter. Or, God taught theſe dogges kindnes, to teach their maiſter mercy.
And here we are taught that God,Doctr. for good purpoſe, doth oftentimes make vnreaſonable creatures his witneſſes againſt reaſonable men So fire and Lions, the fierce fire, and the hungry Lions ſhewed mercy, when the King and Princes of Babel and Perſia would ſhewe none to Daniel, and Daniels fellowes, Pan. 3.27 & 6 22. Thus alſo, when Iſrael would not know God by his Prophets, he taught them by the Oxe and Aſſe to know him, Eſay 1.3. So prouidence is taught by the Comes, Prou. 30.26: order by the Graſhopper v. 27: diligence by the Spider, v. 78: and timely repentance by the Turtle Swallow, and Crane, that know and obſerue their time, Ier. 8.7. In the booke of Micah; when Iſrael would not heare, God turnes him to the Mountains and hills, bidding them to heare, Mich. 6.1.2. And Salomon makes the Ant, the ſluggards teacher and the Ant-heape, his ſchoole to learne in, Prou. 6.6. Thus reaſonable men are ſchooled by vnreaſonable creatures.
The reaſons. By this meanes, God doth ſhewe them what they ſhould doe; and ſhame them, not hauing done as they ſhould. Now ſhame often times moues vsus, when the words of the wiſe can doe nothing with vsus.
Secondly, proud perſons muſt be humbled, before they will learne, Eſa. 66.2. But what better way to humble them, then to conuince and ſhame them by ſuch ſimple Teachers as the Oxe and Aſſe, and other, both vnreaſonable and ſenſles creatures are? For may they not then ſay; What fooles are we that muſt hauehave ſuch to teach vsus?
Thirdly, man muſt hauehave one or other to teach him knowledge, or to condemne him, if he will not learne: and God hath not left himſelfe without witneſſe, Act. 14 17. Where therefore, his Miniſters cannot teach man by his word, the other creatures by their order muſt, that there be no excuſe. And now what can he ſay, when the creatures without reaſon obſerue their makers law; and he that hath reaſon, and the teaching which they want, will not?
An admonition to reaſonable man, not to deſpiſe,Vſe. …. nor yet to neglect the ſchoolings that God giues him by his other creatures. Not to be vnmercifull, when ſome dogges hauehave bin mercifull. Alſo, when beaſts tender their owne kind, not to forſake his. And when God putteth the ſong of his praiſe into the mouth of all creatures, euen of the hilles and mountains, of the fowles of the aire, of the trees of the forreſt and of the dragons and wormes that creepe vponupon the earth, Pſal. 148, not to ſuffer his praiſe to goe out of his mouth. For ſhall i… not be ſhame and ſinne to him to be dumbe, when theſe are ſo hie, and loude? And what witneſſe can they giuegive but of his iuſt condemnation▪ if where they declare his glory he bring by his wickedneſſe, by his crueltie, by his prophane life and moſt v…ine behauiour, nothing but ſhame, …eproch, and contempt to his name? God (as was ſaid) neuer left himſelfe without witneſſe, no not in the blind world of the heathen; how much leſſe can hee want witneſſe now in the new world of grace, where the light is tenne times clearer then that of the Sunne? and where beſides the darke ſtarres of the firmament, we hauehave the cleare glorious Sun-light of the Goſpell to walke by? If then, being taught (as we are) in the common and priuate ſchoole, that is, both by creatures, and by the word, we profit not more to obedience, or a better life; not onelyonly the word (that we hauehave ſo long heard) will iudge vsus, but euen the creatures, that doe ſo well in their kind, will with open mouthes witneſſe againſt vsus. And let me tell you, that if the(b)Eſay 1.3. Oxe knowe his owner, and the Aſſe his Maiſters crib; and we that hauehave reaſon to make vsus men, and the Goſpel to make vsus Chriſtians, neither will know, nor regard to know our owners feare, or Maiſters glory; it cannot be but theſe ſimple drudges, the Oxe and Aſſe, will in their obedience, giuegive in a fearefull euidence againſt vsus, one day. Alſo, we that hauehave our beaſts obedient to vsus in the ſixe daies, and yet (as rebellious children worſe then beaſts) are diſobedient to the Lord on the ſeuenth, what can we ſay? For when we ſpake to them they heard vsus, when we whipped them they obeyed vsus, in all our buſineſſe they attended on vsus: and yet we liſten not to God calling vsus by his word; we neither profit by his chaſtiſements, nor attend on his commandements. How can we anſwer this? how can we denie ſo plaine a matter as this? And when theſe ſhall ſpeake againſt vsus with the voice of their teſtimonie, what will we alledge for our ſelues? And what will be our defence? A fearefull thing therefore, not to heare ſuch Schoole-maiſters as theſe, nor to be better by precepts of this nature, in ſuch Monitors, as theſe are.
But doth God make vnreaſonable creatures his witneſſes againſt reaſonable men? Vſe. 2 Thē though men ſhould hold their peace, the ſtones would crie, Luk. 19.40. That is, if it could be ſuppoſed that man, in bearing witneſſe, would be partiall to mankind; yet God could hauehave witneſſes, many and ſufficient againſt him, in his other creatures without number. Or if man ſhould not accuſe man, nor a mans cōſcience himſelfe; yet neither ſhould God be without witneſſe, nor man without accuſers, or (for failing) innumerable accuſers of another element and creation. O then, how carefull ſhould we be now by keeping good conſcience in all things, Hebr. 13.18, to ſtop thoſe mouthes that otherwaies we ſhalbe ſure, by walking againſt God and not in his feare, to open wi…e againſt vsus in the day of vengeance, and yeere of recompence from the Lord? Eſa. 34.8. When the Iſraelits contended with God, and murmured againſt him in the deſert, they might hauehave conſidered how he but ſpake to the Sea, and the great Sea did preſently heare him; though it were to diuide it ſelf, as it were to receiue ſome deep wound orgaſh againſt courſe, to giuegive them way. Ex. 14.21. So when they rebelled for water; they might hauehave learned obedience of the hard rocke; for when Moſes ſmote it, (d)Num. 20, 8.11.he ſhould but hauehave ſpoken to it, it was not rebellious, but preſently gaue them water in abundance. Theſe were Gods witneſſes, and ſhall be mens Iudges; becauſe by the light in them they could ſee no better to obey, hauing ſo cleare a torch of example to leade them. And ſo we if we profit not to good order by the ſeemely order of the vnreaſonable and inſenſible creatures that ſerue God in their kind; ſhall hauehave witneſſes inough againſt vsus out of that ſimple hoaſt or muſter. The winds and Sea obeyed Chriſt: for he rebuked the winds, and ſaid to the Sea, be ſtill, and preſently they obeyed: the winds ceaſed, and the Sea was calme, Mar. 4.39. Now if angry perſons heare this, to whom it is ſaid; Be angry, and ſinne not, Eph. 4.26, and yet will not be calmed by the word, putting away wrath; the winds and Sea ſhall condemne them. The beaſt that will drinke no more then it needes, may depoſe againſt thoſe that ſit at the wine and ſtrong drinke all day long: The Ant that prepareth her meate in Summer, that is, while it may be had; condemneth thoſe ſluggards and idle, deſtitute of vnderſtanding, who neither Summer nor Winter, care for any thing, Pro. 30, 25. The locuſts that goe forth by bands, that is, ſtrongly tegether, and not weakely by few in a companie, are witneſſes againſt the diuiſions of Chriſtendome, that (ſeparately) make themſelues a prey, when (iointly) they might make a beautifull army, v. 27 And the Spider that laboureth ſo buſily about her web, and takes hold of her thread with ſuch induſtry and conſtancie, is a ſhame to the ſlothfull in their vocation, who take no holde of Time for any good purpoſe vnderunder the Sun. v. 28. Loe here, who may be our teachers, or will be our accuſers, though man ſhould ſay nothing. Let vsus therefore, among ſo many witneſſes, walke circumſpectly, not as fooles but as wiſe: ſo I come to that which is common both to this rich man, and Lazarus.