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.

Answering said. [Text]

An answer is made either to the necessity of the matter, or to the desire of the hearer.

As it is made to the former; so Christ is said sometimes to answer when no question went before, so Mat. 11.25. thus it is an Hebraisme.

Usually it is a reply to some question before propounded, And so here: You read before there was a question made by a certaine Lawyer; proud, though learned: Learned he shewed himselfe to be in forbearing all circumlocutions; and in abridging the ten Commandements into two (ta∣king the first, out of Deut. 6. and the second out of Lev. 6.) whereby it appeares he was well read in Moses law. Proud

he was, in that he went about to justifie himselfe, ver. 29. He hearing himselfe praised for his wisdome was ambitious al∣so of the praise of Righteousnesse; for which end he pro∣pounds this case to Christ, Who is my Neighbour? thinking no Samaritane was to be taken for a Neighbour, but the Iew alone, whom he durst boldly say he loved as himselfe. Our Saviour upon this occasion answers as followeth. Ob∣serve we hence.

[Doct.] Christ hath an answer ready to our demands. If we make the Question, he will find an Answer. Mat. 11.4, 25. and 12.38, 39, 48. and 13.11, 27. Mark. 10.3, 5, 20, 24. Ioh. 3.3, 5, 10. Amongst many other proofes that one Mat. 22.46. would not be forgotten. He was so ready and prompt a re∣spondent, as that his adversaries durst ask him no more Que∣stions.

[Reason] First, he must make good his name. Isa. 9 6. Councellour, and being our Councellour he will answer our Quae∣res.

Secondly, he is Full; sometimes counsell must demur; Christ needs not, he can soone tell us what is good in Law.

Thirdly, he hath promised that if we seek we shall find, Mat. 7.8. And therfore,

[Vse] In all our doubts have we recourse to him, he will be as plentifull in Resolution, as flesh and blood can be in Questi∣oning.

Obje. But Christ is in Heaven▪

Resp. Yet his answer is neare thee. Rom. 10.8. even in his Word, and in thy Heart.

Sometimes in his Word God answers us, as he did of old by Ʋrim and by Thummim; guiding his Ministers tongue for that very purpose. Mich. 2.7.

And as we have his answer from his Word, so not seldom from his Spirit, especially in Prayer. Isay. 30.19. Ier. 33.3. So that an answer may be had if sincerely sought.

Obje. But some have sought, and yet have not bin

answered; So Saul who asked counsell of God, and yet in depth of sorrow complained, Deus recessit a me, &c. The Lord hath forsaken me, and answereth me no more, nei∣ther by Prophets nor by dreames.* 1.1 And Mich. 3.7. Nulla exau∣ditio Dei▪ There is no answer from the Lord?

Resp. Saul sought to serve his owne turne against the Philistines, and not to please the Lord; neither God nor his Glory were regarded: By such indeed God will not be inquired of, Eze. 20.3, 31. or if he be, he will not answer them; or if he do, it shall be in wrath and not in mercy, Eze. 14.4, 7.

Quest. What then must be done if we would be an∣swered?

Resp. Be ye such as answer Gods demands. Zac. 7.17. see that answer of a good conscience be made by you spo∣ken of. 1 Pet. 3.21.

Secondly, take heed ye bring not Idols in your hearts: let there not be any beloved sin lodged or harboured with∣in; for then the Lord will not answer you; or if he do, e∣ven according to the multitude of your Idols will he an∣swer you, Eze. 14.3. You see it true in Balams case Numb. 22.

Thirdly, see that you bring with you an humble spirit, willing to deny your selfe, and receive what answer soever God shall please to give; to enquire of God, and yet to follow your owne counsell is a sinne of a provoking nature. Ier. 6.16. and 23.35, 36. thus do and doubt not of an answer.

[Vse 2] Againe, it may satisfie the great disputer of the world, 1 Cor. 1.20. who turneth all his Religion in∣to unprofitable Ʋtrums. God hath an answer for these, as well as other. To be short, there are foure principall Questions, which shall not goe unresol∣ved.

The first is, An sit Deus? this the Atheist makes, but God will give him to understand, there is a God. The second is, Quid sit Deus? this the Pa∣pist

shall be resolved of, and made to know that stocks and stones are no gods.* 1.2 The third is, Quotuplex Deus? this shall be fully resolved against desperat and presumptu∣ous sinners, the presumer shall feele that God is just as well as mercifull, and the desperat behold that God is mercifull as well as just.* 1.3 The fourth is, Propter quid Homo? All wicked ones shall find that God made man for his own Glory, and the wicked for the day of Judge∣ment.

[Vse 3] And it may further serve to teach us, after Christs ex∣ample, and the Apostles precept, To be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh;* 1.4 be they Be∣lievers, or Ʋnbelievers. True it is there is more than ordinary skill required to answer well: Persons, Time, Place, Occasions must be observed. One kind of answer suits not with every sort of men: After one manner we answer Great-men; after an other manner Learned-men; after an other Ordinary men; after an other way the Captious, &c. But yet this skill we must endeavour to attain unto, Colos. 4.6. God is he that can ina∣ble us, Pro. 16.1. And hath Promised to inable us, Math. 10.19. Seek we to him (as Habbakuk 2.1.) bringing with us in our Prayers, Faith in Gods Promises, as did David, Psalm. 119.41, 42. So shall we not need to feare to give an answer before Kings or Princes being called therunto.

Obj. But we read Mat. 27.12, 13, 14. Nihil respondit, Christ answered nothing to the accusations of the Priests and Elders, nor to the demand of Pilate, Iohn 19.9.

Resp. Christ was at no time without an answer, when God might have glory by it, as appeares, Math. 26.63. But at this time he forbore, for divers reasons. 1. To fullfill Prophesies, as that, Esay. 53.7. 2. To shew his readinesse, and willingnesse to suffer death for us. 3. To leave us an example of Humility and Patience, in case of slander, 4. For that at this time an answer

needed not, Pilate was uncapable of the doctrine of the Trinity: Nor was it a time now, to reveale his Deity. The rest were unreasonable and malicious. who though they knew him to be innocent, yet would they accuse him, and (by his words) seeke to insnare him: In the like case it is lawfull (nay behoovefull) we should be silent:* 1.5 Intelligens illo tempore silebit (saith the Prophet) quum tempus mali erit: That time is an evill time and en∣joynes silence.

A second thing to be observed is,

[Doct.] God turnes the sinnes of men to the advantage of his Church.

It was a captious question which the Lawyer made and that occasioned this Parable. Thus Davids fall occasioned the penning of many a sweet Psalme, which els we might have bin without. So the running away of Onesimus from his Master, the writing of that Epistle to Phile∣mon.

[Vse] Which (in a word) should teach us to admire the wis∣dome and power of the Lord, who causeth Light to arise out of Darkenesse, and bringeth hony unto us out of a dead carkase. St. Austin said of Adams fall, it was Foelix culpa (in regard of the happy consequences therof to the Elect) so we may say (in the same re∣spect) of many of the sins and fals of others, we had ne∣ver injoyed so many sweet instructions, and consolations, but for their fowle offences.

Lastly in that our Saviour thus answers this captious ca∣veller by a Parable, we may conclude.

[Doct.] It is a good way by Parables. to answer the proud and cap∣tious.

Christ could simply and directly have answered his que∣stion, but this way he rather chuseth,* 1.6 the better to convince and silence him. Wherfore, as our Saviour saith in an other case, He that can receive it, let him receive it. And so much briefly for the Introduction. Come we now to the Narration.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Sam. 18.15.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 58.11. Jer. 2.11. — 5 7. Exo. 34.7.
• * 1.3

  Pro: 16.4.
• * 1.4

  1 Pet: 3.15.
• * 1.5

  Amos 5.13.
• * 1.6

  Cal: in Loc.