The Worlds Great Sermons, Volume 1 | Page 9

Lazarus.
Outwardly, wounds; but underneath these, unspeakable wealth; a body
pining away, but a spirit noble and wakeful. We have also seen an
illustration of that remark of the apostle's--in proportion as the outward
man perishes, the inward man is renewed.
It would, indeed, be proper to address you to-day, also, on this same
parable, and to enter the lists with those heretics who censure the Old
Testament, bringing accusations against the patriarchs, and whetting
their tongues against God, the Creator of the universe. But to avoid
wearying you and reserving this controversy for another time, let us
direct the discourse to another subject; for a table with only one sort of
food produces satiety, while variety provokes the appetite. That it may
be so in regard to our preaching, let us now, after a long period, turn to
the blest Paul; for very opportunely has a passage from the apostle been
read to-day, and the things which are to be spoken concerning it are in
harmony with those that have lately been presented. Hear, then, Paul
this day proclaiming--"I would not have you to be ignorant concerning
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no
hope." The parable of Lazarus is the evangelical chord; this passage is
the apostolic note. And there is concord between them; for we have, on
that parable, said much concerning the resurrection and the future
judgment, and our discourse now recurs to that theme; so that, tho it is
on apostolic ground we are now toiling, we shall here find the same
treasure. For in treating the parable, our aim was to teach the hearers
this lesson, that they should regard all the splendors of the present life
as nothing, but should look forward in their hopes, and daily reflect on
the decisions which will be hereafter pronounced, and on that fearful

judgment, and that Judge who can not be deceived. On these things
Paul has counseled us to-day in the passages which have been read to
us. Attend, however, to his own words--"I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him."--I Thess. iv., 13, 14.
We ought here, at the outset, to inquire why, when he is speaking
concerning Christ, he employs the word death; but when he is speaking
of our decease he calls it sleep, and not death. For he did not say,
Concerning them that are dead: but what did he say? "Concerning them
that are asleep." And again--"Even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with Him." He did not say, Them that have died. Still
again--"We who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
not prevent them that sleep." Here, too, he did not say--Them that are
dead; but a third time, bringing the subject to their remembrance, for
the third time called death a sleep. Concerning Christ, however, he did
not speak thus; but how? "For if we believe that Jesus died." He did not
say, Jesus slept, but He died. Why now did he use the term death in
reference to Christ, but in reference to us the term sleep? For it was not
casually, or negligently, that he employed this expression, but he had a
wise and great purpose in so doing. In speaking of Christ, he said death,
so as to confirm the fact that Christ had actually suffered death; in
speaking of us, he said sleep, in order to impart consolation. For where
resurrection had already taken place, he mentions death with plainness;
but where the resurrection is still a matter of hope, he says sleep,
consoling us by this very expression, and cherishing our valuable hopes.
For he who is only asleep will surely awake; and death is no more than
a long sleep.
Say not a dead man hears not, nor speaks, nor sees, nor is conscious. It
is just so with a sleeping person. If I may speak somewhat
paradoxically, even the soul of a sleeping person is in some sort asleep;
but not so the soul of a dead man; that is awake.
But, you say, a dead man experiences corruption, and becomes dust and
ashes. And what then, beloved hearers? For this very reason we ought
to rejoice. For when a man is about to rebuild an old and tottering
house, he first sends out its occupants, then tears it down, and rebuilds

anew a more splendid one. This occasions no grief to the occupants, but
rather joy; for they do not think of the demolition which they