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 on the morrow. [Text.]

* 1.1 (To handle the words as they lye in order.) The time when he departed is here expressed: It was no long stay he made in this same Inn: So soone as conveniently he might, he departed thence. From the History first ob∣serve,

Victualing houses are not for residence of Travellers; guests are to make no longer stay at such houses than urgent occasion requires (with the spies) in the morning they must be gone at furthest, Iosh. 2

[Doct.] Such then as sit from morning to night, from day to day, yea from weeks end to weeks end, tipling and gaming, turne the lawfull use of Ins into abuse:

[Vse.] To prevent which officers should make conscience of their duties, and see

that such disorders be reformed, we having the edge of the sword of Justice backt by laws and wholsome sta∣tutes; So the poore that are, would be better provided for in most Parishes, and the increase of poore much abated, if the penalties imposed, on such disordered persons, by the Statute, were duely required and in∣flicted.

[Myst.] Mystically, the departure of this Samaritane from the Inn teacheth us,

[Doct.] That this world was no place for Christs aboade, longer then while he had finished his worke. So soone as his busi∣nesse was over, * 1.2 he departed hence on the morrow (as it were) and tarried not, Ioh. 13.33. & 14.3.4. & 16 7, 8. Luk. 24.5, 6. Act. 1.9, 10.

[Reason] For, 1. His Kingdome was not of this world, as he himselfe avoucheth.

2. He had businesse else where, Ioh. 16.7. It was expe∣dient that he left the Church on Earth (in regard of car∣nall presence) and that for us, not for himselfe, first to open Heaven for us, Heb. 10.19. Ioh. 14.2. & 10.20. Ezek. 44.1. Ephes. 2.6. Next to se••d the Holy Ghost unto us, Iohn 16.7. Had he not left the Earth, the Holy Ghost in such a measure had not bin sent nor given, Iohn 7.30.

Lastly, That he might lead captivity captive, Ephes. 4.8. and so make a perfect triumph over those spirits whom he had conquered on the crosse, Col. 2.

[Vse.] The doctrine of the bodily presence of Christ in the Sa∣crament, taught and maintained by Papists, cannot stand with this now delivered; what businesse hath he now upon the Earth?

Object. But Mat. 28. ult. I am with you to the end of the world?

Resp. True, Spiritually, by the assistance of his Spirit: What is this concerning his corporall presence, which is in the Heavens, and there must be contained till his comming unto Judgement.

[Vse 2] Next conclude we hence, if it were no place for him who is our Head, then it cannot be any place of conti∣nuance for us who are his members: We, so soone as we have finished our course, must depart hence too. It shall be our wisdome then so to thinke, and accordingly prepare. Say not with Peter, It is good for us to be here, let us build here our Tabernacles; But say and judge with Paul, If wee heere had onely our hope, wee were of all men most miserable.

[Vse 3] And while we are here let our hearts be in Hea∣ven, our affections, longings, conversation, as we are willed, Colos. 3.1. Like a wheele (saith Hilary) which though it continually roule upon the Earth, yet it hath its greatest part from of the Earth. You see in nature every member will have recourse to the head, because that gives life and motion to the rest of the body: So seeing Christ our Head hath left this world, and is now in Heaven sitting at the right hand of God his Father, let us desire to be with him: And when we see death comming towards us by the harbingers that go before (as aches, pains, sicknesses, gray-haires) let our spirit revive within us, as old Father Iacobs did, when he saw the Chariots and Horses that his son Ioseph sent for him to come into Aegypt.

[Vse 4] Lastly, If we would find Christ indeed, seek him not in this world nor in the things of this world, in so doing we seek the living amongst the dead, Surrexit non est hic, He is risen, he is not here.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prima dies suit dies passionis, altera resurre∣ctionis. Quis est ille al∣ter dies nisi for te ille dominicae r••surrectionis, de quo d••ctum est, hic est dies quem secit Dominus Ambr. in loc.
• * 1.2

  Christ made no longer stay up∣on earth, then needs must.