{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/106/1060271.htm","path":"chr/ecf/106/1060271.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/106/1060271.htm","text":"On the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 16, \u201cHe that rejecteth you rejecteth me.\u201d\n1. What our Lord Jesus Crist at that time p. 426 spake to His disciples was put in writing, and prepared for us to hear. And so we have heard His words. For what profit would it be to us if He were seen, and were not heard? And now it is no hurt, that He is not seen, and yet is heard. He saith then, \u201cHe that despiseth you, despiseth Me.\u201d 3300 If to the Apostles only He said, \u201cHe that despiseth you, despiseth Me;\u201d do ye despise us. But if His word reach to us, and He hath called us, and set us in their place, see that ye despise not us, lest the wrong ye shall do unto us reach to Him. For if ye fear not us, fear Him who said, \u201cHe that despiseth you, despiseth Me.\u201d But why do we, who are unwilling to be despised by you, speak to you, except that we may have joy of your good conversation? Let your good works be the solace of our perils. Live well, that ye may not die ill.\n2. And in these words which I have spoken, \u201cLive well, that ye may not die ill,\u201d do not think of those who it may be have lived evilly, and have died in their beds; and the pomp of their funeral has been displayed, and they have been laid in costly coffins, in sepulchres prepared with exceeding beauty and labour; nor because each one of you perhaps is saying, \u201cI should wish so to die,\u201d do ye think that it is a vain thing I have chosen to say; when I said that I would that ye should live well, that ye may not die ill? On the other hand, the case of some one, it may be, occurs to you, who has both lived well, and according to the opinion of men has died ill; perhaps he has died from the fall of a house, has died by shipwreck, has died by wild beasts; and each carnal man is saying in his heart, \u201cWhat good is it to live well? See this man has so lived, and in this wise has he died.\u201d \u201cReturn therefore to your heart;\u201d and if ye are faithful ones, ye will find Christ there; He speaketh to you there. For I cry aloud, but He in silence giveth more instruction. I speak by the sound of words; He speaketh within by the fear of the thoughts. May He then engraft my word in your heart; for I have taken upon me to say, \u201cLive well, that ye may not die ill.\u201d See, for faith is in your hearts, and Christ dwelleth there, and it is His place to teach what I desire to give utterance to.\n3. Remember that rich and that poor man in the Gospel; \u201cthe rich man clothed in purple and fine linen,\u201d and crammed with daily feastings; and the poor man \u201clying before\u201d the rich man\u2019s gate, hungry, and looking for \u201cthe crumbs from his table, full of sores, licked\u201d by \u201cdogs.\u201d 3301 Remember, I say; and whence do ye remember, but because Christ is there in your hearts? Tell me, what have ye asked Him within, and what hath He answered. For he goes on to say, \u201cIt came to pass that that poor man died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham\u2019s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried in hell. And being in torments he lifted up his eyes, and saw Lazarus resting in Abraham\u2019s bosom. Then he cried, saying, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip his finger in water, and drop it on my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.\u201d 3302 Proud in the world, 3303 in hell a beggar! For that poor man did attain to his crumbs; but the other attained not to the drop of water. Of these two then, tell me, which died well, and which died ill? Do not ask the eyes, return to the heart. For if ye ask the eyes, they will answer you falsely. For vastly splendid, and disguised with much worldly show, are the honours which could be paid to that rich man in his death. What crowds of mourning slaves and handmaids might there be! what pompous train of dependants! what splendid funeral obsequies! what costliness of burial! I suppose he was overwhelmed with spices. What shall we say then, Brethren, that he died well, or died ill? If ye ask the eyes, he died very well; if ye enquire of your inner Master, he died most ill.\n4. If then those haughty men who keep their own goods to themselves, and bestow none of them upon the poor, die in this way; how do they die who plunder the goods of others? Therefore have I said with true reason, \u201cLive well, that ye die not ill,\u201d that ye die not as that rich man died. Nothing proves an evil death, but the time after death. On the other hand, look at that poor man; not with the eyes, for so ye will err; let faith look at him, let the heart see him. Set him before your eyes lying on the ground, \u201cfull of sores, and the dogs\u201d coming and \u201clicking his sores.\u201d Now when ye recall him before your eyes in this guise, immediately ye loathe him, ye turn your face away, and stop your nostrils: see then with the eyes of the heart. \u201cHe died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham\u2019s bosom.\u201d The rich man\u2019s family was seen bewailing him; the Angels were not seen rejoicing. What then did Abraham answer the rich man? \u201cSon, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst good things.\u201d 3304 Thou thoughtest nothing good, but what thou hadst in this life. Thou hast received them; but those days are past; and thou hast lost the whole; and thou hast remained behind to be tormented in hell.\u201d\n5. Opportune then was it, Brethren, that those words should be spoken to you. Have respect unto the poor, whether lying on the ground, or walking; have respect unto the poor, do good p. 427 works. Ye who are wont so to do, do it still and ye who are not wont to do so, do it now. Let the number of those who do good works increase; since the number of the faithful increases also. Ye do not yet see how great is the good ye do; for so the husbandman also sees not the crop when he sows, but he trusts the ground. Wherefore dost thou not trust God? Our harvest will come. Think, that we are busy in travail now, are working in travail now, but sure to receive, as it is written, \u201cThey went on and wept as they cast their seed; but they shall surely come with exultation, bringing their sheaves with them.\u201d 3305\nLuke xvi. 19, etc.\n426:3302 426:3303 426:3304 427:3305\nPs. 126.6, Sept. (cxxvi. English version).","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. VI: Sermons on Selec...","type":"page"}