Lazarus, eternal joy with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God. In short, Lazarus was a good man, the other a great man: the one poor and temperate, the other rich and luxurious: there are too many of them alive; and it were well, if his doom might awaken them to repentance. X. Nor were the twelve apostles, the immediate messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ, other than poor men, one a fisherman, another a tent-maker; and he that was of the greatest, though perhaps not the best employment, was a custom-gatherer. (Matt. iv. 18; ix. 9; Acts, xviii. 3.) So that it is very unlikely that any of them were followers of the fashions of the world: nay, they were so far from it, that, as became the followers of Christ, (1 Cor. iv. 9-14,) they lived poor, afflicted, self-denying lives; bidding the churches to walk as they had them for examples. (Phil. iii. 1, 7; 1 Pet. ii. 21.) And to shut up this particular, they gave this pathetic account of the holy women in former times, as an example of godly temperance, (1 Pet. iii. 3, 4,) namely, that first they did expressly abstain from gold, silver, plaited hair, fine apparel, or such like; and next, that their adornment was a meek and quiet spirit, and the hidden man of the heart, which are of great price with the Lord; affirming that such as live in pleasure, are dead whilst they live: (1 Tim. v. 6; Luke, viii. 14:) for that the cares and pleasures of this life choke and destroy the seed of the kingdom, and quite hinder all progress in the hidden and divine life. Wherefore we find that the holy men and women of former times were not accustomed to these pleasures and vain recreations; but having their minds set on things above, sought another kingdom, which consists in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit: who having obtained a good report, and entered into their eternal rest; therefore their works follow, and praise them in the gates. (Rom. xiv. 17; Heb. xi. 2; iv. 9; Rev. xiv. 13.) CHAPTER XV.