There is no efficacy in the tongues of dogs to lick away sin. By Charles Spurgeon.

Luke chapter 16, verses 19 through 21. There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

There is a groundless notion abroad that those who suffer in this world will certainly have it made up to them in the world to come. I have heard the parable of the rich man and Lazarus quoted, as though it taught that those who are poor in this life will be rich in heaven hereafter.

There is not a shadow of reason for any such belief. There is no efficacy in the tongues of dogs to lick away sin. Neither can a hungry belly atone for a guilty soul. Many a man has begged for crumbs on earth, and afterwards has craved in vain for a drop of water in hell.

You may go through much tribulation to hell, as well as to heaven, A man may have two hells, the hell which he brings upon himself in this life by his extravagances, his wickedness, and his lusts, and the hell that shall be his punishment forever in the world to come.

Believe me, many a ragged, loathsome beggar has been damned. He was as poor as Lazarus, but had not the grace of Lazarus, and therefore no angels carried him to Abraham's bosom.

You must take care not to suck poisonous error out of the flowers of truth.