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.

He tooke out two pence and gave them to the Host. [Text.]

Here you see what is left to supply this mans wants and need, and with whom he left it, with the Host. That I note from the letter of the Parable shall be this,

[Doct.] Mony at an Inn beares the mastery, that makes welcome: What Salomon saith of it in the generall, is most true in

this particular, Argontum respondet omnibus, money an∣swereth all things, Eccles. 10 19. this causeth attendance, furnisheth the Table, fils the Cup, opens Locks, com∣mands all, yea Conscience it selfe many times not excep∣ted; that in an Inne is at the beck and command of mo∣ny A point so evident that it will seeme time mispent to stand upon any long or large confirmation of it. Therfore for Use.

[Vse 1] It may be our wisdome to distinguish betwixt Ale∣hous-friendship and true friendship. There no longer pay, no longer play: Friends there, are well read in Theognes, They seeme with the tongue to flatter all, but in their deeds they love none at all, they are like Aristotles fallations and falling Starrs; * 1.1Videntur & non sunt. It is the mo∣ny they are friends unto; while that lasts they will be as thy selfe and at thy service, but if that be gone thou shalt find them faile thee, as Pompey did Cicero, to whose house Tully flying for safeguard of his life, Pompey slipt out at a backe doore and would not be seene: Three things onely continue them, Much spending, little asking, and taking nothing at all from them.

[Myst.] In the Mystery, The Ministers and Pastours of the Church are this Hoast.

[Doct.] * 1.2So they are in regard of their Authority in the Church (though not over the soules and consciences of any in the Church, yet) therin they have rule and command, as an Host hath in an Inne: In which respect they are said to be Masters of the assemblies Eccles. 12.11. Yea Princes of the Congregations, Isa. 43.28. And to have the oversight therof, 1 Pet. 52 and the Rule, Heb. 13.17.

But besides this generall take we notice of some more speciall resemblances (whence Gods Ministers may spell their duties.)

If we consider what Saint Paul writeth to Ti∣mothy and Titus concerning a Ministers qualificati∣ons we shall find them every way fitted for such a * 1.3

calling; * 1.4 Every one you know is not fit to be an Host.

First, He would be no Youth that keeps an Inne, it is requisite an Host should be staied and grave: So a Mini∣ster he may not be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and novice, * 1.5 one rew en ered (as it were) into the Schoole of Christ: In which re∣spect under the Law we find, that only such as were of t••irrty yeares of age were admitted to serve in the Taber∣nacle and Te••ple.

2. An Host would be a man of an unblameable life and conversation. So sh••uld a Minister: A S••andalous per∣son is not fit for that holy function. * 1.6 S. Paul to Titus willes he should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 inculpatus, one against whom no just exception can be taken. None of Arons sons or seed who had any blemish in them, might come neere the vaile, nor stand before the Altar, nor once presse to minister before the Lord, Lev. 21.17. the sacrifice smells of the hand that offers it.

3. An Host may not be wayward nor selfewilled, * 1.7 but of an affable, courteous and pleasing carriage: such must Gods Ministers be, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 froward, inflexible and stubborne, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 modest and gentle,* 1.8 passing by some injuries for peace sake, endeavouring to give all good content that may bee; and so far as may stand with a good conscience, 1 Cor. 9.20, 22. 1 Cor. 11.1.

4. An Host may not be a wine-bibber, or pot-companion;* 1.9 drink he may to his Guests, and with his Guests; but not quaffe, nor sit by it. So Gods Ministers may not bee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, given to wine, under which one kinde, all other kindes of that nature are forbidden. He may use that creature for his necessity; as 1 Tim. 5.23. Prov. 31.6. Yea and for delight too, Iohn. 2. but he may not sit at it till he be inflamed by it, Isa. 5.11. nor suffer his heart to be oppressed thereby, and he made heavy for holy duties, Luk. 21 34.

5. An Host may not be a fighter nor quarreller; nor may Gods Ministers. No fighter; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (saith S. Paul to Timothie) alienus a pugnis, a jurgijs. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.10 no

striker, saith the same Apostle to Titus; his duty is to heale wounds not to make them.

6. An Host would not be covetous,* 1.11 nor greedy of gaine, for then he would chop away a good conscience for mo∣ney. This vice as ill becomes a Minister, and there∣fore required (by the Apostle) as a necessary qualifica∣tion in him, that he be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 no lover of money, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nor given to filthy lucre, this ill beseemes any, much lesse a Minister. Thou ô man of God fly these things. * 1.12

7. An Host must be harborous, ready to lodge and en∣tertaine strangers. * 1.13 This in a speciall manner is required of a Minister, he must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a lover of hospitality, as hath beene a ready shewed, vers. 31.

8. An Host would be a lover of his good Guests, these should have the best respect. * 1.14 So must a Minister bee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a lover of good men, all should be respected, but such as honour and feare the Lord should be preferred by him.

9. An Host would be wise,* 1.15just, holy, temperate; And all these (which time will not suffer to speake of par∣ticularly) are required of a Minister: He must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a man of a sound mind; And 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a just and righteous person; giving every one their owne: and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a holy person: For God will bee sanctified in all that come neere him: and he must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a continent or tem∣perate person, one that must master himselfe and his ap∣petite, and not suffer any inordinate lust to beare sway in him.

10. To conclude, * 1.16 an Host must be watchfull, and give attendance. This S. Paul requires of Timothie,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, dum venio attende. And so of every other Mi∣nister who is willed to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, watching even as the Host watcheth for a guest to invite him in, and then attends on him and sees that he hath all things fitting; so Ministers for soules, Heb. 13.17.

[Vse.] Hence you may inferre the necessity of the Ministry;

Every one of us being as Travellers and strangers here on Earth and too too often benighted; the shadow of death and darknesse being stretched out upon us before we be aware.

In such a case who would not thinke it a great part of his happinesse to light upon a good Inn and Host, at whose hand hee may find good usage? So in a darke tempestuous night, when the snares of death do com∣passe us, and horrour of conscience hath seized on us, no mens feete shall be more beautifull to us then these mens, whose face in the day of prosperity we will not know.

But wee beseech you bretheren know them which labour amongst you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you:* 1.17 and see

First, That you esteeme them very highly in love for their worke and callings sake. It may be (as Plato was wont to say of his Master Socrates) they are to looke upon, like the Apothecaries gally pots, which on the outside have Apes, and Owles, and Satyres on them but I must tell you, within they have pretious drugs for diseased persons, which every one will covet in time of need.

2. As they welcome you, so take you heed of grieving them, Heb. 13.17. For that will be unprofitable for you; little care hath the Host to visit such a guest; rather glad when the house is well rid of him and the cost cleared.

3. Reward them; The Host is well payed by an honest Guest for all his paines; and charges are honest••y defrayed, and the Host thanked for his good entertainement at de∣parture. So in this case it should be, 1 Cor. 11.13, 14. We owe them much: how much? our goods, Gal. 6.6. our eyes, Gal. 4 15. our selves, Phile. 19. our lives, Rom. 16.4. In former ages Guests were better paymasters then now they are, they would discharge what was owing, and be bountifull to the Host and house besides

but now wee depart away out of our Inn, and leave all on the score.

4. Give good testimony of them unto others: so doth the good Guest of a good Host, Rom. 16.23. 2 Iohn. 1.2. If ever you had received any good by Gods Ministers, you would assuredly give a good testimony of them, as we read that plaine man did, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. & Acts. 22.11.

5. Enquire of them as the traveller doth of his Host,* 1.18 about the way wherin you are not well acquainted. So Ier. 6.16. Thus did the Disciples of our blessed Saviour frequently, Mark 4.10 & 7.17. & 10.10. Iohn. 9.3. So the Corinthians of S. Paul, 1 Cor. 7.1, 10, 22.

6. Forsake them not: the traveller doth still know his Host and Inn,* 1.19 and cannot easily be drawne away without speciall cause. In forsaking of thy Minister see thou beest able to approove thy heart to God upon good and sufficient warrant, there is a brand laid on such as do, 2 Tim. 1.15. & 4.10, 16.

* 1.20Come we next to consider, what was left in hand with this Host, The Text saith,

Hee tooke out two pence, and gave, &c.]

By the two pence, some understand the two Testaments: others the Word and Sacraments. But wee may safely take the meaning to be more large; and so understand thereby whatsoever gifts Christ hath furnished his Mi∣nisters withall, whether they concerne this life, or an other; So S. Austin (de Quest: Evang: lib. 2. q. 19.) seemes to me to understand the meaning. * 1.21 It is evident enough,

Christ hath betrusted his Ministers with gifts and graces, for the reliefe and comfort of distressed soules, Mat. 25.14.

These gifts are of two sorts; Spirituall and Temporall. The Spirituall are either Ouward, as the Word and Sa∣craments; these are put into their hands, Math. 28.19. Or Inward, as the graces of the spirit, such as those spoken of, Eph. 4.8, 12.

The Temporall gifts, we read of in the Law, Deut. 10.8, 9. Lev. 27.30. compared with, Numb. 18.21. And in the Gospell, 1 Cor. 9.4, 14.

[Vse 1] Such mistake then, as thinke Ministers beggarly and empty fellows. A Bishop (saith Nazianzen) is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a vaine and empty name, he is well furnished (if in travelling from Hierusalem to Iericho he hath esca∣ped the Theefe) at least it is intended he should so be. Read, Math. 13.52. There you shall find he is a Rich House-houlder, and is able 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to tumble out of his treasury, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, things new and old.

[Vse 2] Wherfore make use of us, and of those gifts wherwith we are betrusted; For we are debtors to you, (saith the Apostle, Rom. 1.14, 15.) You are apt enough to make use of our temporals, but not of our spirituals. When you come into the company of a Lawyer or Physitian, you will be inquiring for your selves, states, children, but the most use you make of some Ministers is, to bury a corps; Church (or rather chamber) your wives. Nor let any thinke to do well enough without these, God gives his gifts to us through their hands. Luk. 15.22. Iohn Bap∣tist must give water; or Christ will give no bloud. There is a necessity to wait upon them (though not Infallibilitatis yet ordinis) if you would have comfort take it from their hands by whom God sends it. * 1.22

With the two pence a charge is given.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccles. 6.
• * 1.2

  Stabularij sum illi quibus dici∣tur, Ite in orbē universum & praedicate Evā∣gelium universae creaturae, Amb in loc.
• * 1.3

  1 Tim 3 2. Tit. 1.6, & 16
• * 1.4

  1 Tim. 3.9.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est nu∣p••r plātatus & Ecles••aei situs, quates craat cate••hu••••ni.
• * 1.6

  Tit. 1.6.
• * 1.7

  Tit. 1.7
• * 1.8

  1 Tim 3.3.
• * 1.9

  1 Tim. 3.3. Tit. 1.7.
• * 1.10

  1 Tim. 3.3.
• * 1.11

  Tit. 1.7.
• * 1.12

  1 Tim. 3.2.
• * 1.13

  Tit. 1 8.
• * 1.14

  Tit. 1.8.
• * 1.15

  Tit. 1.8.
• * 1.16

  1 Tim. 4.
• * 1.17

  1 Thes. 5.1••.
• * 1.18

  Hag. 2.12. Mal. 2.7.
• * 1.19

  Deut. 12.9.
• * 1.20

  Duo denarij sunt duo Testa∣menta qua ima∣ginem in se ha∣bent aeterni Re∣gis expressam, quoniam pretio vulnera nostra curantur. Amb. in loc.
• * 1.21

  Vel duo Sacra∣menta: aut eti∣am duplicem doctrinam Le∣gis & Evan∣gelij, paeniten∣tiae & gratiae. Aret in loc.
• * 1.22

  Rom. 10.14.