Another passage to which we refer, to show that death is the boundary line of repentance, is the case of the rich man and Lazarus, Luke xvi. 19, 31. This rich man died, “and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.” Here we find a man in torments after death. Lazarus has also died, and been carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom. Dives, once the _rich man_, but now a beggar, looks up and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and cries to him, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” Now, the question of repentance, or obtaining relief from punishment after death, is fairly before us. In a case stated by our Lord himself, an application is made for the mitigation of torment after death. But what is the response of Abraham, who speaks in the place of the Almighty, here? It is, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” Here are two men after death, one _comforted_ and the other _tormented_. Can any change be made in their condition? Let us hear Abraham. He then proceeds: “Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they who would pass from hence to you can not; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.” This is an end of all change of condition. In that world there is no turning to God nor falling from grace. The rich man, then despairing of any mitigation of his torments, or change of his condition, makes one more appeal to Abraham. “I pray thee, therefore,” said he, “that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Having fallen into torments, on account of his unbelief, and having five brethren also unbelievers, he desired testimony presented to them from the dead, lest they also come to this place of torment. But Abraham answers, “They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” The rich man persists: “If one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” This is the only New Testament account of a request for a departed spirit to be sent to our world to lead sinners to repentance; but this request, coming from one already in the torments of a wicked man after death, was refused in the following words: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.” This shows that God will allow no means employed to save sinners save only those of his own appointment, and writes the seal of condemnation upon all visitations of the spirits of dead people to save sinners.