The good Samaritan; or an exposition on that parable Luke X. ver. XXX----XXXVIII. A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell amongst theeves, &c. By Nehemiah Rogers, preacher of the gospel.

And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side] [Text.]

We have seene these Passengers described by their Pro∣fession, now see their Disposition. 1. Generally notified, in that they passed by on the other side. And 2. More par∣ticularly aggrivated, in that seeing him in the way, yet they passed by, &c.

They saw him then, and this was an aggrivation of their fault, in that they turned their faces from him whom they saw in misery.

[Doct.] It is a fault (which many are guilty of) to turne away the face from the afflicted in the day of their distresse, Obad. 1.5 Amos 6.6, 8. Isa. 53.3, Pro. 21.13.

• 1. It is a breach of Gods Commandement, 1 Thes. 5.14. [Reason] Comfort the feeble minded, support the weake, &c.
• 2. It is most unnaturall, as the Apostle sheweth, 1 Cor. 12 and argueth want of Gods blessed Spirit.
• 3. It shewes there is no feare of the Almighty in us, Iob 6.14.

[Vse 1] Such deserve Reproofe: First, such as will not step a∣side to visit those who are afflicted, but turne away their eyes and faces from them (as from an object that may not be endured to be looked on) out of a desperate resolution to doe nothing for them, fearing least their conscious eyes shou'd check their churlish hearts, for their barba∣rous inhumanity: Such would do well to remember what is said, Pro. 21.13.

These come short of the Charity of this Priest and Levite, yea these men fall below the very Beasts (as Sheepe and Swine) they will come and look upon the wounds and distresses of their fellowes, while these doe

what they may to put away the cries and groanes of those that be miserable.

A second sort are such as looke on and see, yet are no∣thing mooved nor affected with the distresses of their Bre∣thren, Ester 3.15. They with Haman are in jollity, whilst Shushan is in Perplexity: So Amos 6.6. These sort of peo∣ple jumpe with this Priest and Levit in their Charity and no whit exceed.

A third sort to be reproved are they, who adde affliction to affliction; it is wicked, miserum relinquere, but worse it is, miserum facere. If these Passengers be taxed for not hel∣ping this robbed Travellor, what thinke you shall their punishment be that spoyled him? What do you other who charge the afflicted of Hypocrisie, and by your insolencies and other cruelties make more bitter their afflictions, gi∣ving them Gall for meat, and vineger to quench their thirst? Let such consider what is spoken, Ps. 69.24, 26, 27. & Psal. 109.16. It is dangerous to make their backs blew which are already black with smiting. This for Reproofe. Be we next perswaded.

[Vse 2] Not to turne the eye away from any, when by Gods Providence we are called to be eye-witnesses of their Calamities: Saint Austin seeing a poore miserable man tooke occasion thereby to admonish himselfe and his Company, Aut sumus, aut fuimus, vel possumus esse quod hic est.

St. Iames 1.27. makes it a badge of that Religion which is undefiled, to visit the Fatherlesse and Widdow: It would wonderfully affect the heart (as hereafter we shall see) and stirre up compassion in us; in which respect the Wiseman saith, It is better to go to the house of mourning then to the hous of feasting, Eccle. 7.2 And Pilate to move com∣passion presented Christ unto the Jewes scourged, saying, Ecce homo, behold the man.

[Object.] But I cannot endure such objects, my heart faints within me to behold them?

[Resp.] Yet thou beholdest daily objects that are worse and

more loathsome in the eyes of God, and his blessed An∣gells.

2. Christ looked upon a worser object when he loo∣ked upon thee, yet he turned not away his face; why dost thou from any of his members?

3. Do what thou mayst, knowing God accepts the will for the deed, if it be sincere.

Object. But say the disease be infectious, am I bound to visit?

Resp. No, unlesse thou be strictly tied by some speciall bond: We are not to thrust our selves needlesly into any danger.

2. Yet such would be spoken unto, as Daniell was through the Den: we may visit yet keep of the infection.