A Worldling spent each day <br />In luxury and state; <br />While a believer lay, <br />A beggar at his gate: <br />Think not the Lord's appointments strange, <br />Death made a great and lasting change. <br /> <br />Death brought the saint release <br />From want, disease, and scorn; <br />And to the land of peace, <br />His soul, by angels borne, <br />In Abraham's bosom safely placed, <br />Enjoys an everlasting feast. <br /> <br />The rich man also died, <br />And in a moment fell <br />From all his pomp and pride <br />Into the flames of hell: <br />The beggar's bliss from far beheld, <br />His soul with double anguish filled. <br /> <br />O Abram send, he cries, <br />But his request was vain <br />The beggar from the skies <br />To mitigate my pain! <br />One drop of water I entreat, <br />To soothe my tongue's tormenting heat. <br /> <br />Let all who worldly pelf, <br />And worldly spirits have, <br />Observe, each for himself, <br />The answer Abram gave: <br />Remember, thou wast filled with good, <br />While the poor beggar pined for food. <br /> <br />Neglected at thy door <br />With tears he begged his bread; <br />But now, he weeps no more, <br />His griefs and pains are fled: <br />His joys eternally will flow, <br />While thine expire in endless woe. <br /> <br />Lord, make us truly wise, <br />To choose thy peoples' lot; <br />And earthly joys despise, <br />Which soon will be forgot: <br />The greatest evil we can fear, <br />Is to possess our portion here!<br /><br />John Newton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-rich-man-and-lazarus-2/
