CHAP. XVI.
Verse 1. A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rich man which had a Steward]
MAsters had need look well 1. To the chusing of their ser∣vants. (Salomon saw Jeroboam that he was industrious, and
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MAsters had need look well 1. To the chusing of their ser∣vants. (Salomon saw Jeroboam that he was industrious, and
therefore without any respect at all to his Religion, he made him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 over all the charge of the house of Joseph; but to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 disadvantage. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. King 11. 28. with chapt. 12. 3.) 2. To the using of them: Most men make no other use of their servants then they doe of their beasts: whiles they may have their bodyes to doe their service, they care not if their soules serve the Devill. Hence they so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prove false and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 cum 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 putet, said Cato. Stewards should often ac∣count with their masters.
They that will get wisedome, must both dig and beg. Prov. 2. 3. 4.
The scope of this parable is, ut 〈◊〉〈◊〉 charitate erga pauperes compensemus, saith Beza, that we expiate, as it were our prodigality by shewing mercy to the poore Dan, 4. 27.
Gr. that Lord, viz. the* 1.1 Steward Lord, not the Lord Christ who relateth this 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if we understand it of Christ (as the Syriack here doth) yet He herein no more approveth of this Stewards false-dealing, then he doth of the Vsurers trade 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 27. or the theeves 1 Thess. 5. 2. Or the dancers Matth. 11. 17. or the Olympick games 1 Cor. 9. 24.
The worldlings wisedome serves him (as the Ostriches wings) to make him out-run others upon earth, and in earthly things; but helps him never a whit toward heaven.
A swine that wanders can make better shift to get home to the trough, then a sheepe can to the fold. We have not received the spirit of this world 1 Cor. 2. 12. we cannot shift and plot as they can: but we have received a bet∣ter thing. The fox is wise in his generation, the serpent subtile, so is the Devill too. When he was but young, he out-witted our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 parents, 2 Cor. 11. 3.
As the Angels are called Angels of* 1.2 light 2 Cor. 11. 14. Gods children are the onely earthly An∣gels, have a Goshen in their bosomes, can lay their hands on their hearts with dying Oecolampadius, and say, Hic sat lucis.
quibus officia 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3
〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 apud 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Testifie your faith by your workes that God of his free-grace may commend and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you.
The next odious name to the Devill himselfe. This Mammon of iniquity, This wages of wickednesse is not gain, but losse.
That is, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Angels, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 riches, or the poore may let you into heaven.
or, the uncertaine, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, deceitfull wealth of this world, which yet most rich men trust in, as if simply the better or safer for their abundauce. Hence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 derives Mammon from 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which signifieth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Riches are not pro∣perly ours, but Gods who hath entrusted us, and who doth usu∣ally agssine them to the wicked, those men of his hand, for their portion Psal. 17. 14. for all the heaven that they are ever to look for. Better things abide the Saints, who are here but forreiners, and must doe as they may.
Quod nec eripi nec* 1.4 * 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 potest. Aristotle relateth a law like this made by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, That he that used not another mans horse well, should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 owne.* 1.6
Gr. They blew their noses at him in scorne and derision. They fleared and jeared when they* 1.7 should have feared, and fled from the wrath to come.
A thing that I see in the night may shine, and that shining proceed from nothing but rottennesse. There may be malum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in bona 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Zeale. Two things make a good Christian, good actions and good aymes. And though a good ayme doth not make a bad acti∣on good (as in Vzzah) yet a bad ayme makes a good action bad* 1.8 (as in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whose justice was approved, but his pollicy punished.)
Not once named, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was, though never so little esteemed of men. God knew him by name as he did Moses: when the rich mans name is writ∣ten in the earth, rottes above-ground, is left for a re∣proach.* 1.9
Gr. was commonly so cloa∣thed.
It was his every-dayes weare, as the word implyeth.
Or Eleazar (as Tertullian and Prudentius call him) who having beene Abrahams faithfull servant, now resteth in his bosome.
Many poore folk have but prisoners pittances, which will neither keepe them alive, nor suffer them to dye.
When Sabinus was put to death for whifpering against Seianus, his dog lay down by his dead body, brought to his mouth the bread that was cast to him: And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sabinus was thrown into the river Tiber, the dog 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.10 after him, to keepe him up, that he might not sinke into the bottome.
A Metaphor from feasts say some: from fathers, say Others, who imbosome and hug their children when wearied with long running-about, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 met with a knock, and come crying unto them.
Thorough the ayre, the De∣vils region, doe the Angels conduct the Saints at death: who may therefore call death as Jacob did the place where he met the An∣gels,* 1.11 Mahanaim, Genes. 32. 2. For like as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉-man was let down with his bed thorough the tiling before Jesus, Luke 5. 18. so is every good soule taken up in an heavenly couch tho∣rough the roofe of his house, and carried into Christs presence by these heavenly Courtiers.
Possibly with as much noysome stench and hurry in the ayre, as at Cardinall Wolseyes buriall. A terrible ex∣ample there is in the book of Martyrs, of one Christopher 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an unmercifull Courtier, who suffering a poore Lazar to dye in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by him, did afterwards perish himselfe in a ditch.
Having punishment without pi∣ty, misery without mercy, sorrow without succour, crying with∣out compassion, mischeife without measure, torments without end, and past imagination.
In his tongue he was most tortured, quia plus lingua peccaverat, saith Cyprian. So Nestorius* 1.12 the heretick had his tongue eaten up with worms. So Thomas A∣rundell Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and Steven Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, (two notorious persecutors) dyed with their* 1.13 tongues thrust out big-swollen, and black with inflammation of
their bodyes. A spectacle worthy to be noted of all such bloudy burning persecutors.
Sonne he calls him with respect either ad procreationem carnis, aut adaetatem, saith Piscator. But as it was but cold comfort to Dives in flames, that Abraham called him sonne; so those that have no more to shrowd them∣selves under, then a generall profession, shall find that an empty title yeelds but an empty comfort at last.
Wicked men then have not only a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 title, but a right before God to earthly things. It is their portion. Psal. 17. 14. And what Ananias had was his owne Act. 5. whiles he had it. God gave Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar for his paines at Tyre. It is hard to say, they are usurpers. They shall not (saith One) be called to an account at last day for possessing what they had, but for abusing that possession. As when the King gives a Traytour his life, he gives him meat and drink that may maintaine his life. So here God deales, not as that cr uell D' 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did who starved some prisoners after he had given them quar∣ter,* 1.14 saying, Though I promised you your lives, I promised not to find you meat.
viz. by the unmove∣able* 1.15 and immutable decree of God, called mountaines of brasse* 1.16 Zech. 6. 1. from betweene which all effects and actions come forth as so many charets.
This he wisheth, not for their good, but for his owne. For he knew that if they were damned, he should be double damned, because they were brought thither partly by his lewd and loose example.
Hell is to be escaped by hea∣ring the word read and preached. Joh. 5. 25. Esay 55. 3.
As Lazarus did, and yet they listened as little to him as to Christ. Joh. 12. but sought to kill him also.
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〈◊〉〈◊〉. Adam.
〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Arist. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib.
2. cap. 23.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Naso 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
Horat.
Hos. 1. 4.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Verbum est 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Pa∣sor.
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Act. & Mon. fol. 1907.
〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 ex∣esa. Evagr. l. 1.
Acts & Mon. fol. 1622.
Grimst. Hist. of Netherl.
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