Stanza 1
A Worldling spent each day
In luxury and state;
While a believer lay,
A beggar at his gate:
Think not the LORD'S appointments strange,
Death made a great and lasting change.
Stanza 2
Death brought the saint release
From want, disease, and scorn;
And to the land of peace,
His soul, by angels borne,
In Abraham's bosom safely placed,
Enjoys an everlasting feast.
Stanza 3
The rich man also died,
And in a moment fell
From all his pomp and pride
Into the flames of hell:
The beggar's bliss from far beheld,
His soul with double anguish filled.
Stanza 4
"O Abram send, he cries,
(But his request was vain)
The beggar from the skies
To mitigate my pain!
One drop of water I entreat,
To soothe my tongue's tormenting heat."
Stanza 5
Let all who worldly pelf,
And worldly spirits have,
Observe, each for himself,
The answer Abram gave:
"Remember, thou wast filled with good,
While the poor beggar pined for food.
Stanza 6
Neglected at thy door
With tears he begged his bread;
But now, he weeps no more,
His griefs and pains are fled:
His joys eternally will flow,
While thine expire in endless woe."
Stanza 7
LORD, make us truly wise,
To choose thy peoples' lot;
And earthly joys despise,
Which soon will be forgot:
The greatest evil we can fear,
Is to possess our portion here!