Of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Commentary on Luke · Chapter:verse 16.27-28
Ver. 27.28.
Then hee ſayde, I pray thee, &c.
Here wee hauehave a further proceeding made in this Parable, and vnderunder the perſon of a rich man in hell, by the figure Proſopopoea. And in this the Rich man is brought in againe, making another requeſt, which is alſo denyed. From which ſuppoſed requeſt the Papiſts would gather, that the bleſſed Saints in heauen hauehave care of their friends on earth; that is, in ſpeciall and carnall manner of thoſe friends whom they knew familiarly, and loued dearely in the world. But they gather that which the Text neuer ſcattered; and it would bee remembred, that theſe words are the words of a Parable, and not of a thing done; the drift whereof is (as may appeare by the anſwer made, or ſuppoſed to bee made) plainely to proue, that they who in this life refuſe to giuegive credite to the Scriptures and word of God, may hope in vaine to bee called by men from the dead. I will not deny but Chriſtian charity abides in the Saints in glory, not by ſpeciall remembrance of one more then of another; for, ſuch charitie in them extendeth it ſelfe indifferently and generally to all here, liuing, or yet vnborne, whom they louelove as themſelues; yet it is ill proued from the example of a damned ſpirit in hell: for what charity, where is nothing but all helliſh hate and bitterneſſe? And to ſay that the godly in peace, ſhould be troubled particularly, or in ſpeciall manner about their friends affayres below; what were it, but much to derogate from their true reſt in the place where they hauehave fulneſſe of ioy and pleaſures for euer? Pſal. 16.11.
And now where requeſt is made by a ſpirit damned in hell, that Lazarus who was dead, might bee ſent to the brethren of his fathers houſe to teach them:
Wee learne that the doctrine of teaching men,Doct. by men from the dead, is a doctrine from hell. Eſay calles it a going, or doctrine of going from the liuing to the dead, Eſa. 8.19. and Abazia is ſayd to hauehave departed from God for his health, when he ſent to the god of Ekron, or in that Idoll, to the Deuill for it, 2. King. 1.3.16. The like of Saul, who alſo was taught from hell, as Abazia was, 1. Sam. 28.8. Therfore God by Moſes calles it a turning after thoſe that worke with ſpirites, that is, with D…uils; or a whoring after them, Leuit. 20.6: for how can it bee a doctrine from any place, but hell, that teacheth men thus?
The reaſons. Firſt, the Text is plaine for it: for this was the requeſt of one damned in hel. Secondly, ſuch doctrine is not from Heauen; and that which came from Heauen ſpeaketh otherwaies, and contrarily, Verſe 29.31. Now that which is not from heauen, or according to heauenly truth, is from hell: for there is no third way, Math. 21.25. Thirdly alſo, ſuch doctrine is a meane, by wandring from God, to make men to beleeue lyes, 2. Theſſ. 2.11.12: and is there any thing in this kind of teaching, but what is helliſh and diueliſh?
Here we may ſee what to iudge of thoſe who forſake the word which is written, Vſe. for dead mens newes: it is ſure they are followers of helliſh doctrines; for ſuch doctrines are the teachings of Sathan: the Doctor, a perſon damned in hell: the chaire contrary to Him, who ſitteth in his chaire in Heauen. And what is in all this, but what is helliſh, and from Sathan in all points? and whoſe followers are they, and of what, that follow thus? Are they not Sathans followers? and followers of Sathans lyes againſt the word of God?
So much for the Rich mans ſecond requeſt. Abrahams ſecond ſuppoſed replie followeth.