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in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham replied, They have Moses and the prophets. Nay, father Abraham, supplicated the condemned sinner, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And Abraham said, that if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

What is the meaning of Moses and the prophets, Mamma?

The Bible, my love, and belief. Unless a man has the Spirit, he cannot believe, nay, though one rose from the dead; and the way to obtain the Spirit is taught in the Scripture, which is the law of Moses and the prophets. But, besides this proof that the poor man is not inferior in the sight of God, our beloved Lord evidenced another awful respon

sibility of the rich, who did not share their wealth with the poor and needy. It is where the Lord describes the judgment day." When the Son of 7 man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him; when he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be ga thered all nations; when he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; when he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

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Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minis ter to thee? The Lord will then answer them,saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment ; but the righteous into life eternal.”

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So you observe, my dear child, how awful it is to neglect the poor, on the part of all those who have the means of supplying their wants. This heavy responsibility upon them makes the station of the poor often enviable, as they have not those tempt ations to lavish expenditure, covetousness, or pride, as the rich have. Our Lord detailed another beau tiful instance of the temptation of wealth, and how it keeps men from coming to God. As Christ was proceeding with his disciples, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou

me good? there is none good but one, that is God But Jesus was good, Mamma ?

Of course, my love, because he was God; but you observed, he addressed him Master, not Lord, which induced Jesus thus to admonish him. Thou knowest the commandments, continued the Lord: do not commit adultery, do not rob, do not steal, do not bear false witness; defraud not, honour thy father and thy mother. To which he answered, “ Master, all this have I observed from my youth." Then Je sus, beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

So you perceive, my child, here was the rich man put to the test: when he was called upon to dispense God's bounty, he refused: yet this uncharitable man, instead of keeping God's commandments, had broken them by this very sin of covetousness and pride of heart. Our gracious Lord, therefore, obs served to his disciples on this man's conduct : "How hardly shall they who have riches enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man te enter into the kingdom of God."

Are rich men then, Mamma, to give all their wealth to the poor?

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They are, my love, to give a certain proportion. Our Lord mentions an instance of a rich man keep-› ing his commandments. "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho; and behold, there was- að man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among> the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus, who he was; and he could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and” said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down, for to-day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man? that is a sinner. And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house."

So you observe, my child, the only true riches is to be charitable, and minister to the poor, that they: may be made comfortable and happy. Yet our Lord

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