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 he said, [Text.] he that shewed mercy on him; then said Iesus unto him, [Vers. 37] go and do thou likewise.]

We have here the Answer to our Saviours Demand, where,

1. The Answerer who he is [He]

2. The Answer it selfe, which is fairly and ful∣ly put in by the Lawyer, and then Ratified by the Law∣giver.

He] that Lawyer spoken of before, verse 25. who made the Question, ver. 29 [He] is the Respondent.

How contrary the Glosse of the Pharisees was to this Answer you have heard before, and may read, Mat. 5.43 yet here he is inforced though an Adversary to testifie the Truth.

Thence note,

[Doct.] The truth wants not sometimes the testimony and suffrage of an Adversarie, Exod. 8.19. Iudges 7.14. Iohn 11.49-53. & 19.22. Math. 27.54. Luk. 4.22.

This testimony doth every Hypocrite and dissembler give whilst they professe the truth, for if it be not worthy, why do they make any Profession therof? Now God is pleased to have it thus.

[Reason] First, * 1.1 That the truth may be glorified; what stronger te∣stimony than the testimony of an Adversarie? True it is, Non eget testimonio hominis, Ioh. 5.34. It self is testi∣mony enough, and therfore called the Testimonie, Isa. 8.20. It bearing witnesse to it self: It is of the Na∣ture that God himself is, whose Glory is not capable of any augmentation, nor passive of any diminution: As the Splendour of the Sunne is not inlarged by them that blesse it, nor eclipsed by them that hate it. The Sea may be multiplied, the Earth swel'd bigger, the

Heavens stretched out, Hell inlarged; but God and truth is ever the same, * 1.2 and yet in respect of us both the one and the other may be said to be magnified or dishonoured. We may make them appeare greater in us though they cannot be made greater by us: It may be made to appeare more glorious or inglorious to others, though it cannot be made either glorious or inglo∣rious in it self.

Secondly, That the godly may be more setled and con∣firmed in it: To heare a Saul preach, Balaam blesse, Caia∣phas prophesie is a notable strengthening and confirmation to our Faith, that what is delivered is of God and not of man.

Thirdly, This makes for the further confusion of wic∣ked ones, who sin against the known light and testimony of their own Consciences; had not God revealed the truth unto them their damnation would be the easier, their judg∣ment the lighter, but now that they say they see, their sin remaineth, Luk. 12.47, 48. Ioh. 9.41.

[Vse 1] Let this first informe us of the hardship, which truth un∣dergoes and suffers in this world. Without all Que∣stion she is often questioned and put to defend her selfe by witnesse of her Neighbours. Truth is fal∣len in the streets and equity cannot enter (saith the Pro∣phet, Isay. 59.14.) And the way of truth is evill spoken of (as saith S. Peter, 2 Epist. 2.••.) And the talk is, that truth is not only in a swoone, but like to die for want of Confes∣sion, because there is none to be found who will be her Confessor.

Yet not after the wont of wayward men (as sometimes spake a Reverend Prelate of ours) let us so bemoane what we want, * 1.3 as not to blesse God for what we have: The voyce of truth is heard in our land (as Salomon spake of the Turtle) and as God said of Corinth, I have much people in this Citie; So both in Citie and Country, God hath many, who are ready to beleeve truth on her bare word: But what are these flockes of kids, being com∣pared

with these mighty troopes of Aramites? Tell the Polititians of this world, Papinians truth, that is the best po••licie which ••••k•••• most for piety: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a covetous man of S. Paules truth, that the love of money is the roote of all evill. &c. Strait she must proove her honesty by witnesse. Or if the like liberty were given to those, whose hearts arise against these truths, as was by Gideon in the audience of all the people to the timerous and faint hearted, to depart, our auditories, which are now thin enough, would soone be thinner, Vel duo vel nemo. We seeme to entertaine the truth lucentem, but we hate it redarguentem (as saith S. Austin) And as the Fryer told the people, that the truth was like to holy water, which every one will call for, yet when it came to be cast on them, they would turne away their faces, so wee call to have the truth preached to us, but the truth is, it will not by many be endured.

[Vse 2] Doth not the truth want testimony sometimes from the mouth of a very adversary? why then it is a shame if the professed friends of truth should faile her: Verita∣tem Philosophia quaeris, Theologia invenit, Religio possidet (saith Miranaula) Philosophy seekes truth; Divinity hath found truth; Religion professeth truth; And yet with the Church in the Canticles, may truth complaine, I am wounded in the house of my friends. Had it beene an enemy that had thus reproached mee, then I could have borne it (saith David) So may truth say, had it beene a Hea∣then and Pagan I could better have suffered it, but it was a Professor, a Christian I suffered by, this is grie∣vous.

Quest. But who doth thus?

Resp. Those spoken of, Rom. 1.18. who imprison truth through wilfull disobedience, and hold her in injust captivity, and will not suffer the truth revealed, to have her perfect worke in them for their through sanctifi∣cation, Ioh. 17.17. Those also who walke not in it, nor worthy of it, 3 Epist. Ioh. 4. such cast aspersions on the

faire cheeke of Gods truth, and stick not to give her the lye.

But let all such as indeed love the truth, have courage for her. Let Magistrates be seene in her Livery; Moses was counselled by Iethro, to choose Viros veraces, men of truth for judicature. The Egyptian Judges had the Picture of truth alwayes in a chaine about their neckes; And Charles the great, had this written on his sword, Decem Praecep••orum custos Carolus: Charles keeper of the ten Commandements.

Let the Priests of God be cloathed with Righteousnesse and have veritatem written on their breast-plate, as Aaron had alwayes, when he gave sentence: remem∣bring that of Tertullian, nihil veritas erubescit, nisi solum∣modo abscondi.

And let all that professe the truth witnesse in her be∣halfe, both Actively and Passively; Our Lord and Master tells us, that his comming into the world was, to beare witnesse to the truth, and our beeing in the world is for the same end. God is truth; his wayes are the wayes of truth; his word is truth; his workes are truth, all truth, Blessed are they who defend his truth.

Object. But veritas odium parit; and who but children or fooles tell truth?

Resp. Veritas odium parit, sed non est odiosa. (as saith judicious M. Calvin in Gal. 4) It brings hatred, but it is not hatefull, but every way most excellent and glorious, so that in all our sufferings for it, the spirit of glory and of God rests on us, 1 Pet. 4.14.

2. Gods eyes are upon the truth, as speaketh Ieremiah, and upon them also that stand out in her defence, 2 Pet. 2.9. Ps. 37.6. Lam. 3.56, 57.

3. Though none (unlesse children and fooles) will tell the truth, yet unlesse we be such fooles and children, we may not think to enter into the kingdome of Heaven, Psal. 15.

[Vse 3] Let us in the third place, learne to receive the truth who

ever be the bringer; Doe we like the Sun ever the worse because it breakes out of a darke cloud? why should we disregard the truth, breaking forth of an enemies lips? S. Paul rejoyced herein, and would rejoyce that Christ was preached. Phil. 1.17, 18.

Doe we not often send a letter by a dirtie carrier? and some disorderly messenger brings us money which is none of his owne. Balaam may bring a blessing in his mouth though himselfe a wizard; Elijah be fed by a Raven, though an uncleane bird: Balaams Asse did speake to anothers un∣derstanding, though not to his own: Moses may have good counsell given by a Midianite: and do you not know the Apothecaries boy gathers herbes and simples for other mons diseases, not for his own?

Conclude it then to be (if not wickednesse) yet way∣wardnesse at least, in those who turne their care away from the testimony given to the truth by a wicked man. It is not so in civill things, why is it thus in spirituall? All truth is sweet (it being Gods, not ours) whereso∣ever it is found, the Kings Coine is currant, though found in a fowle clout, or impure channell: Receive the testi∣mony given to truth as S. Paul did, though comming out of a Heathens mouth, Tit. 1.13.

The Midianites dreamed a dreame which fell out true, Iudg. 7.13. But the benefit redounded neither to the dreamer, nor interpreter thereof: So one may deliver the truth and testifie the same, who yet shall never taste the sweetnesse and comfort thereof. Let us not then stumble at this, but be more confirmed that the truth delivered is Gods, not mans; And as one spake once of Atheisme, that nothing should more confirme us against it then to here an Atheists testimony; so I here of wicked men, that testifie to the truth of Christ.

[Vse 4] Lastly, take notice of Gods providence and power, who ex ore inimicorum, out of the mouth of a very ad∣versary, can fetch testimony to his truth We are not

ignorant how the wicked resist and rebell; how that they draw away their wecks from obedience, and cast away the cords of discipline from them; yet God can so over-power them, as that they shall reade their owne sentence of condemnation, and denounce their owne doome. This is that Salomon speakes of, Prov. 16.1. there are many preparations in the heart of man; Thoughts and words set in battaile aray against God and his truth, so that we may conclude with our selves, both what to speake, and how to speake; yet God over-rules: so that nothing shal be said of spoken, but what he pleaseth to permit, Numb. 22.35. Gen. 31.24. & 33.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 32.15.
• * 1.2

  2 Pet. 2 2.
• * 1.3

  D Senhouse B. of Carlile.