Word for that wee doe Before that Sunne riseth stirre not out nor be you seene upon the way after the setting of it Gods word must be the light unto our feet and a lanthorne unto our pathes Like the Cloud that went before Israell so must it be to us all our actions are to be ordered and directed by it The arrow you know is put into the nick by the hand and so sent to the marke Gods Word is that hand that must set us about our workes So wee walking according unto rule Peace will bee upon us Gal. 6. Lastly he that is to travell in such a way as is full of danger will carry his Purse or Treasure close and hide it in some secret place about him It is not wisdome to be boasting of our Treasure as Hezekiah did this is but to lay a bait for a villaine as he did for gold thirstie Babell It is enough in your journey to make shew of a little not all There is Provision for the way the full sacks of Corne need not be opened Gen. 42 25. You shall heare some young women boast much of their conception Isay 39. when in the end it prooves but a tympany to their shame Better if with old Elizabeth they would hide themselves five monthes Luk. 1 24. and be sure they have indeed conceived before they be seen abroad So in things spirituall These are the Directions I commend to you to observe when your occasions require your travell towards Iericho least you become a prey to those who lye like Arabians in the way to spoyle you It is not running to Mountaines nor to Caces flying from all society and company as some have done that will helpe us For the world is every where and theives are every where in the world Poverty is a theife to steale away wealth Sicknesse is a theife to steale away health Death is a thiefe to steale away life The World it selfe is a theife to steale away the Word But thanke we God for that which so overcomes us as that it overcomes the love of the World in us Our Faith Theeves Text Doct. First you see here in Scripture language that A Theefe is a Theefe It give names sutable to Natures it calls not blacke white nor white blacke light darknesse nor darkenesse light Isa 5.20 Vse 1 Such then as cast a varnish upon sin and sinners calling proud ones neat and handsome Drunkards Goodfellows c. have not learnt of Scripture to speake rightly who in these daies dares call a spade a spade Yet you see Scripture dares and doth Vse 2 And for thee who by fraudulent and deceitfull dealing gettest what is another manâ— though man dare not name thee yet know as sometimes Luther told one that perswaded him to recant God hath named thee and branded thee for a Theife Doct. Theives There is then you see a combination amongst them there are many of them not one alone Pro. 1.10 11 hand joynes in hand and heart in heart Pro. 11.21 Reason They are of a like affection and disposition Now it is smne saith Salomon that makes fooles to agree Pro. 14 9. Vse Shall not we then bind our hearts together in the Communion of Saints Surely all our united forces will be little enough to make head against the league of cruell ones It was a good speech of Iudah unto Simeon his brother Come up with me unto my lot that we may fight against the Canaanites Iud. 1.3 and I will also goe up with thee into thy lot So Simeon went up Thus should good Christians joyne hands and hearts and purses against the common adversary But alas For our divisions which cause great thoughts of heart whilst Drunkards hang upon a string Swearers shake hands Theives are sworne brethren we that professe better things shrinke one from another which is our sin and shame Theeves you may easily collect then hence Doct. That Theeves were abroad many a day agone as well as now Iudg. 18.17 24. Iob. 1. Ier. 3.2 Hab. 1.6 Mat. 27.38 and that Theeves are yet abroad needs no proofe I might send you to High-wayes Faires Markets Shops c. If you doubt hereof For further confirmation forget not the precept Exo. 20 15. which being morall shewes that as there hath bin so still there will be use thereof Vse 1 It should admonish us not to judge too hardly of our lawes as if they were Dracoes exceeding Moses Iudicialls in punishing Theft with Death Exod. 22.1 In former times there was required but restitution foure for one or five for one at most Vse 2 But that judiciall Law did belong to the regiment of the Jewes and bindeth not the Magistrate now For crescentibus delictis exasperantur poenae whence it was that even amongst the Jewes in after times the Judge awarded restitution in a greater proportion than foure fold Pro. 6.30 Lyra. Now under the Gospell theft is a greater sin than under the Law like Runnet the older it is the stronger it is and the necessity of so sharpe a remedy is greater amongst us generally than it was amongst them So that a Theefe at Gallowes looking through a halter is none of the worst sights in a Countrey But who are these Theives or what did they See in the Text They strippe the poore traveller of his rayment they sorâ—ly wound him and leave him halfe dead First we may inferre Doct. Who spoyle others of their goods and take what they have no right unto are Theeves Exod. 20.15 Prov. 12.27 and 21.6 7. Mich. 2.2 Luk. 3.14 Ephes 4.28 So is Theft defined to be the unlawfull usurpation of another mans goods against his will and therfore unlawfull because the owner was unwilling And it is committed either in Ablato or in Deposito If another take from mee what belongeth to me this is Theft whither it be done without my knowledge by fraud and close cousenage or with my privity but against my consent as by violence and oppression Or with any consent in part as in the exaction of covenanted interest from distressed debters If another with-held from me what is committed to his trust for my use and benefit this is no better Exod. 22.12 Levit. 6.2 Vse Let us beware of all unjust practises if we would not be counted Theeves 1 Thes 4.6 There are Nimrods mighty hunters of the Earth who when they oppresse have their helpe at the gate in the place of Judicature and dare stare the Law in the face who come like Elies sons with their flesh-hooke in their hands and say 1 Sam. 2. give it me if thou wilt not I will have it The Theefe steales saith Salomon to satisfie his hunger Pro. 6.30 but these can plead in themselves no necessity for they are great men Isay 1.23 Hos 4.18 nor is there any superfluity in those they rob for they rob the poore Believe it all Theives are not High-way-Cutters there are more Theeves than
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 Ea quae didicisti ita doce ut cùm dicas novè non dicas nova Vincent Lyrin advers haeres LONDON Printed for Geo Sanbridge at the Bible on Ludgate-Hill MDCLVIII TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL ROBERT AYLET Dr. OF THE CIVIL LAWS COMMISSARY TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND REVEREND FATHER IN GOD WILLIAM LORD BISHOP OF LONDON AND ONE OF THE MASTERS IN ORDINARY OF HIS MAJESTIES HIGH COURT IN CHANCERIE A bountifull Favourer and fast friend to the CLERGIE N. R. WITH HVMBLE APPRECATION OF ALL TRUE HAPPInesse presenteth this ensuing Exposition in thankfull acknowledgement of his many Favours and as a testimony of his ready observance in whatsoever is commanded within the Power and Profession of him his obliged Servant The Text. LVK. 10 30-38 VERSE 30. And Jesus answering said A certaine man went downe from Hierusalem to Jericho and fell among theeves which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed leaving him halfe dead VERSE 31. And by chance there came downe a certaine Priest that way and when he saw him he passed by on the other side VERSE 32. And likewise a Levite when he was at the place came and looked on him and passed by on the other side VERSE 33. But a certaine Samaritane as he journied came where he was and when he saw him he had compassion on him VERSE 34. And went to him and bound up his wounds powring in Oyle and Wine and set him on his own beast and brought him to an Inne and took care of him VERSE 35. And on the morrow when he departed he tooke out two pence and gave them to the Host and said unto him Take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come againe I will repay thee VERSE 36. Which now of these three thinkest thou was Neighbour unto him that fell among the theeves VERSE 37. And hee said Hee that shewed mercy on him Then said Iesus unto him Goe and do thou likewise A TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL OBSERVATIONS PROSECVTED IN THIS Ensuing Exposition of the PARABLE of The good SAMARITANE VERSE XXX 1 PARABLES have God for their Author as well as other Scripture Doctrine 8 2 Teaching by word of mouth is the most effectuall kind of teaching 9 3 Christ hath an answer ready to our demands 10 4 God turnes mans sinne to his Churches advantage 13 5 It is a good way to answer the proud and captious by Parables 13 6 Scripture sets downe things necessary 14 7 Adam and his posterity is the wounded man 15 8 Hierusalem a type of Heaven 18 9 Iericho a figure of this world 20 10 In our travells we are liable to many perills 21 11 The way from Hierusalem to Iericho is full of dangers 22 12 A Thiefe is a Thiefe in the language of Scripture 27 13 There is a combination amongst Theeves 27 14 Theeves have beene long abroad 28 15 Who so spoyles another of his goods is a Thiefe 29 16 The things of this world are transitory 31 17 Vnrighteous persons are also cruell and bloody 33 18 Divels are the grand Theeves 34 19 Their number are many 38 20 Sinne is a fall 39 21 By falling into the hands of Sathan we were spoiled 39 22 Gods Image was a garment wherewith man was cloathed 40 23 Through mans fall he lost his rayment 41 24 Every naturall man is a wounded man 42 25 Whom Sathan wounds he leaves wounded 43 26 Man by his fall is not wholy dead but wounded 44 VERSE 31. 1 There are chances that fall out 48 2 The Priest and Levits way is the same with other mens Doctrine 51 3 The event is not like to all in the same way 51 4 Spirituall persons especially should be pittifull 53 5 Where we expect most we often find least 58 6 To turne away the face from the afflicted is a fault 60 7 Occasions are to be avoided if wee would have dangers prevented 62 8 Hypocrites more regard ceremonies then substance 64 VERSE 32. 1 In evill practises some of note will follow 65 Doctrine 2 Inferiours follow the example of Superiours 66 3 Evill doers are very like in their manners 68 4 By the Law man became not wounded 69 5 There is no salvation to be had by the Law 70 6 Sinne is seene and discovered by it 71 7 The discovery of sinne is rather an accident then the proper work of the Law 73 8 The whole Mosaicall Law hath a passe 73 VERSE 33. 1 The most are unmercifull Doctrine 78 2 By base meanes God beates downe mans pride 82 3 From the hands of wicked and men superstitious may better dealing be sometimes found then from the hands of forward professors 82 4 In workes of mercy the necessity of the person is especially to be respected 86 5 Christ is the good Samaritane by whom alone wee have Salvation 94 6 God serves himselfe and providence by us then especially when we are in our callings 99 7 Opportunity offered of doing good is to be apprehended 100 8 Christ descended from heaven to us in the flesh and for our good 102 9 The eye affects the heart 106 10 We should be tenderly affected towards the afflicted 110 11 Works of mercy flow from the inward affection and compassion of the heart 112 12 Christ took on him as our Nature so our passions and affections 114 13 He was full of compassion whilst he was on Earth 117 14 Christs love and compassion was the mooving cause of our Salvation 118 VERSE 34. 1 A compassionate heart will not be idle Doct. 119 2 It will carry us to them who cannot come to us 123 3 Christ came as a Visitour not to see the world but to save it 124 4 There is a necessary and good use of physick and surgery 127 5 Christ is the soules physitian 129 6 With wine and oyle our spirituall cure is wrought 133 7 God hath given us the creatures both for necessity and delight 139 8 Our Brethrens necessity is to be prefer'd to our Utility 140 9 Ins are of good use 144 10 Whom Christ means to save he brings into the Church 148 11 Care must be had of what we undertake 151 12 The poore and impotent ought carefully to be attended by such as have undertaken the charge 152 13 Christ was full of care for our soules welfare 154 VERSE 35. 1 Victualing houses are not for residence Doct. 159 2 The world was no place for Christs aboad longer than whilst he had finished his work 160 3 Mony at an Inn beares mastery and makes welcome 161 4 Ministers are the Churches Hosts 162 5 The gifts God hath be trusted his Ministers withall are for the comfort and reliefe of distressed soules 166 6 Who so receives wages must discharge the work 167 7 Good Hosts
incidisset saith St. Aug. and travell to the World-ward See Iob. 18.8 1 Tim. 6.10 In this way it was that Esau Achan Gehezi Ahab Ananias and Saphira Demas with many other have bin spoyled Some bound hand and foot so as that they could do nothing Some gagged so that they could neither cry nor call Thousands mortally Wounded so as that never after they could bee recovered Vse Which should teach us all to be very wary how we go this way Read 1 Ioh 2.15 A necessary exhortation for us to whom it is as naturall to love the world as for smoake to ascend and hence it is that God doth so often admonish us to take good heed when we walk that way lâ—st we be ensnared Deut. 7.25 Should a Sayler see a Ship before him cast away upon some Rock he would steere his course with the greater care How many have we known whose love hath bin cool'd Zeale quenched c. through the love of this world How many young servants have prooved through the pursuit of this irreligious Masters Young Saints in shew but Divells in truth In their former time they have like Thamar King Davids Daughter bin apparrelled in Virgins roabes 2 Sam. 13.18 A garment of divers colours such as Kings daughters use to weare But in after time their garments have bin torne Charity rent Faith broake Patience tatterd so that as Absolon spake to her his Sister ver 20. Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee we may say to these hath not the World bin with you c. Alas for us who follow after this world and feare not when as indeed it is but as the wood and desert and the pleasures therof the bushes wherin the theise and spoyler lyes lurking to make us a prey Quest Must we have no doings with the world then May it not be used at all nor followed Resp Surely then we must get out of the world as the Apostle speaketh Why hath God placed us here but to be imployed in it Our callings necessarily require that we sometimes take a journy towards Iericho as to the Market-Towne where and whence it is that provision for our bodies must be made But notwithstanding we must travell as he doth who is to passe some dangerous road having a great charge about him First have our eye in every corner or crosse-way He who travels a dangerous road is very circumspect and wisely suspitious of every one he meets withall So should we in following the world still looking upon these things as snares and nets laid to entrap us So speaketh St. Ambrose There is a snare in gold Birdlime in silver entangling neâ—s and grins in lands and Lordships yea this lower Hemispheare or visible part of the world as saith an other is but the Divels Chesboard wherin hardly can our soules moove either backward or forward but he sets out one creature or another to attach us nor have we any other meanes to avoid his subtilty and snare then by looking up unto the hills from whence commeth our helpe Psal 121.1 as 2 King 6.15 The Bird when she is affraid mounteth up to Heaven and so escapes the net thus should we doe For in vaine is the net spread for all that have wings Prov. 1.17 They have power to escape by flight Thus David Psal 25.15 Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord for hee shall plucke my feet out of the net Learne a new way to escape taking The snare you know is laid on Earth and the wisest course would be as a man would thinke to have the eye thereabout where we suspect the snare is But saith David I will looke up while we looke up the feet are gathered up the better A wise mans eyes saith Salomon are in his head but a fooles eyes are in every corner of the world Let us be as that wise man and have our eyes in Christ our Head and not as the Foole but with the Sayler who though he be upon the Sea yet lookes more to the Heavens then to the Sea So do we Secondly he that travels in a dangerous way is carefull to provide himselfe of weapons for feare of Robbers a good Staffe or a good Sword or both So here in this our travell Faith may not be wanting David said of Goliahs sword none like to that so say we of this it is a weapon offensive by it we overcome the world 1 Iohn 5.4 and Divell 1 Pet. 5.9 Iames 4.1 It is as a Pistoll against a Theife if our enemies see us furnished with that they will not hastily venter on us It is also Defensive in which respect it is compared to a Target or Shield 1 Thes 5.8 Ephes 6.16 It defends us from the fiery darts of the evill one It is a good Staffe likewise to rest upon With it in his hand St. Peter could walke upon the Sea we stand and are stablished by it as speaketh the Apostle to the Colossians Therfore if we be wise provide we our selves of such weapons 2 Cor. 10.4 Thirdly he that is to travell in such a way will be inquiring after good Company For Vae soli Woe to him that is alons Eccles 4 9.10 good society takes away all tediousnesse from a journy Get we into the company of the Saints delight we in them that excell in vertue Ps 16.9 they will helpe thee and assist thee by their Prayers and examples Their strength shall be imployed for thy good and thou better inabled to walk Heaven-ward Two are better than one yet better one then a bad companion Fourthly he that travels some dangerous way will not be running into every by-lane they will keep the beaten road the Kings High way is held to be the safest way So we while we keepe our selves within the compasse of our calling Generall or Particular have promise of Protection Psal 91.11 Otherwise we are as a Bird that wanderech from her nest Prov. 27.8 While it sits brooding of her eggs God took order that none should hurt it but being off if any kil'd it it was no offence So is it with us Balaam shall meet an Angell with a naked Sword when he wanders out of his path Numb 22. the Prophet with a Lyon 1 King 13. Shimeâ— shall loose his life when he passeth the bounds that are set him by the King If the Deere leape over the pale and will be stragling into the fields not keeping within the compasse of the Parke every dog shall set upon it to hunt it in again So the world Divell Conscience All shall be let loose against us and a thousand inconveniences shall befall us to make our paths uncomfortable to drive us to Repentance and bring us back again As God therfore hath distributed to every man 1 Cor. 7.17 as the Lord hath called every one so let him walke Fifthly he that walketh in a perillous way will travell betweene Sunne and Sunne Thus should wee have the light of the
get credit by their Garments So doe you by it Pagans over guilded their blockes and stocks that they might be worshipped and many garnish their bodies for the same end But all such proud dresses are like Democritus his brazen shield set up against the Sun onely to dazle the eyes of the beholder in the meane time no care is taken for the obtaining of this Roabe so many dresses som have for the head so many suits for the back but not one grace for the heart how miserable is the condition of such As for those who have this garment on their soules let them honour it as the Philosopher did his borrowed courtly roabes which in the presence of the Emperour on a solemne day he often kissed telling them who asked him the reason Honoro honorantem I honour that which honoured mee Nam quod virtus non potuit vestitus obtinuit my vertuâ— could not procure me admittance into the Princeragged and beggarly of our selves to be let into the glorious Court of Heaven but being cloathed with this garment we shall be let in with ease But we come to the next point viz. Doct. Through mans fall hee lost his raiment The Image of God consisting of Righteousnesse and true holinesse he was stripped of Eccles 7.29 Rom. 3.23 24. Quest Is all gone then is there no ragge remaining on his backe Resp Not so much as will hide his nakednesse or keepe off weather Something remaines and is escaped like that one servant of Iob to bring the newes of his fall A dead child hath some little resemblance of the living Father such is that left in us Vse 1 Take we notice hence of our naturall misery For first being without this garment wee are naked as Israel is said to be Exod. 32.25 Not as Paul speakes of himselfe 2 Cor. 11.27 Corporally but spiritually Deut. 28.21 22 lying open to all GODS plagues Corporall Spirituall Eternall Secondly we are deformed and most uncomely See Ezek. 16.6 Revel 3.17 our deformity is not from without but from within especially that which comes from thence defiles a man You reade what a disgrace Hanun put upon Davids servants 2 Sam. 10.4 shaving of one halfe of their beards and cutting off their garments in the middle even to their buttocks A farre greater shame hath Satan put upon us O that it might worke on us as it did on them and that we would use this world as they did the boarders of that Iericho stay here but for necessity till our beards be growne and we have againe recovered our former honour Quest But is this all Resp If no more yet as Ester said unto the King concerning Haman the enemy cannot countervaile our dammage Ester 7.4 But this is not all for the Text shewes the Evill of sense was added to the Evill of losse He was sorely wounded So then Doct. Every naturall man is a wounded man Cast your eye upon what part you please you can see nothing but wounds and bruises Isay 1.5 6. His minde that is blinde Ier. 10.14 51.17 Ephes 5.8 Vaine Pro. 14.12 Ephes 4.17 1 Cor. 1.21 Foolish Tit. 3.3 Esay 29 13. Iob 11.12 His Will rebellious and averse Revel 8.7 7.14 6 19. Mat. 23.37 Ier. 18.12 44.16 17. His Memory marvellous weake and feeble Luke 24.6 7 8. Heb. 13.2 2 Pet. 3.5 His Conscience that is benummed Ephes 4.19 Heb. 9.14 Gen. 10 15. Turmoiled Iohn 8.9 1 Iohn 3.20 Acts 2.37 24.26 Impure Tit. 1.15 Heb. 10.22 Superstitious and erronious Marke 10.19.20 Luke 18.12 Mat. 15.2 3. Iohn 16.2 His Affections are unruly and disordered they stand quite crosse and contrary unto God Gal. 15.24 Rom. 10.2 1 King 22.8 21.4 Iames 4.12 His outward members are all instruments of sin Rom. 6.13 19. 3.13 Psal 52.4 2 Pet. 2.24 Totum est pro vulnere corpus Lucan In Noahs flood no part of the earth was uncovered so here no part nor power of soule nor body is unwounded Gen. 6.5 And as wounds send forth nothing but filth and corruption so man by nature the filth and foame of uncleanenesse Vse 1 We may well admire and bewaile the security of such as can sit downe and rest contented with so wretched a condition did we heare tell of one halfe wounded but in halfe so many parts as we are we could not but pitie him we would seek out to helpe him what lay in us Woe is mee saith Saint Austin wretch that I am so often wounded for that thou art the Salve and I am yet without thee woe is mee wretch so often dead for that thou art the life and I am without thee c. But a deceived heart hath beguiled us the corruption of our wounds breaks forth in divers places Mat. 15 19. Atheisme in one Adultery in an other c. yet who laies this to heart nay who boasts not before God and man of his owne soundesse Vse 2 Secondly if every naturall man be a wounded man then do but conceive what an Hospitall this world is wherein we live All of us are wounded and diseased the sent and savour that proceeds from our corrupted soares is most loathsome This might imbitter the love of this world unto us Vse 3 Seeke we out for helpe Ob. But every wound is mortall Resp True and yet not past Christs cure Quest What must be done Resp As the Israelites being stung with fiery Serpents looked up unto the brazen Serpent and were healed so should we Iohn 3.14 Come to Christ discover thy wounds be willing to make them naked cry out with David My wounds stinke and are corrupt And feare not but in due time thou shalt have health and helpe And departed Text. Doct. Satan having wounded and spoiled man so leaves him hee departs from him and lets him lie that is our Observation Vse 1 Expect we therefore no better dealing at his hands As he deales by witches so by every other sinner when he hath brought them to the gallowes then he runs away laughing at the sport God indeed casteth downe but withall hee raiseth up Hos 6.1 The divell hee casteth downe and leaves us in the sudds Mat. 27.4 Vse 2 Beware we of such dealing you that have drawne others into evill courses seeke to bring them out againe by true repentance otherwise as the divell doth so do you herein you are too like him But how leave they him The Text shewes halfe dead Rhem. in loc The Papists hence inferre Free-will and heavenly life left in man since his fall whereby he hath ability to dispose himselfe towards his owne conversion We may grant them thus much Doct. Man is not by his fall so wounded as that he is wholy dead there is still some portion of life remaining in him since his fall What it is and wherein it consists is now to be considered First consider man Philosophically in genere Entis in regard of his naturall abilities and endowments as
coller but see he makes conscience of this duty Especially those who are rich and have ability and outward sufficiency enough Remembring what S. Iames tels us Iam. 1. ult This is pure Religion and undefiled because true Religion is ever accompanied with true mercy Question But of what are we to give and how much Resp Saint Chrysostome saith that whatsoever is above our necessary maintenance is not ours Chryshom 34. adpop. Antioch but the poores and to retaine this from them cryeth into the Eares of the Lord for vengeance as doth the wages of the labourer deteined Now that may be accompted needfull or necessary 1. Which Nature requireth as meat drink cloathing without which the body cannot but pine away and perish Lam. 4.45 2. Which our Estate wherin God hath set us requires As Bookes for Schollers Instruments and Tooles for Artificers And so for publike persons and men of great place and birth such sufficiency as is meet and fit for the maintenance of the same For what is Superfluous for a private Person may yet be but necessary for a publike 1 Tim. 3 2 4.16 3. Which the Charge committed to us requires and that for present Provision 1 Tim. 5.8 As also for future 2 Cor. Deus nusquaâ—â— su am vn prefigit unusqu sque est siâ—â— propriae beneficentiae arbiter 12.14 Certain it is that Scripture hath not determined the quantity or measure of what we give but left that to the discretion of the prudent Christian to order 2 Cor. 8.7 8. 9.7 only in the generall it is required that we must give largely and liberally respect alwaies being had to our owne estates and abilities and the necessity of our Brother Keeping as we are counselled our own wells full that our selves and ours may drinke letting the over plus or wast as it were to run abroad in the Streets Prov. 5.16 Act. 11.29 Notwithstanding in cases of urgent necessity and great extremity we are to straine our selves above our Abilities of this we have an example in the Primitive Church Act. 2.45 4.34.35 Thus much in Generall Now to the Particulars And went to him Text. Observe here Doct. A Compassionate heart will carry us to them who are disabled from comming unto us and yet want our helpe See Matthew 25.36 43. Iames 1.27 2 Tim. 1.17 Vse 1 In this particular of visiting the sicke and such as are in misery let our compassion be manifested as well as in any other particular whatsoever it being a Christian duty and one of the chief points our blessed Saviour will examine us about at the last day Mat. 25. You know the Scholler that must passe under a strict examination before he take his degree in Schooles Amb. or otherwise will study well the Question in which he is to be examined and tried Our Saviour hath before hand told us what it is that we are to be examined about at the Judgement day It is our wisdome to be aboundant therin that we may yeeld a comfortable answer therunto As this concerns all so some in speciall Over-seers of the poore whose duty it is to go from house to house from family to family and take speciall notice of the earnings and expences of the poore and needy Aâ—d to encourage both them and others to this duty It may not be forgot that First we shall hereby the better know whom to relieve and how to proportion out our Charity according to the kind of want and necessity of the poore What the Queene of Sheba spake of Salomons wisdome It was a true word which I heard of thy sayings and of thy wisdome in my owne land 1 King 10.6 7 howbeit I beleeeved not this report till I came and saw it with mine eyes but loe the one halfe was not told me for thou hast more wisdome and prosperity then I have heard by report c. So shall we be forced to say of the condition of mâ—ny poore and needy we heare much yet the tenth part of their poverty and misery is not known except we go and see it Secondly much good we shal do unto our selves hereby we should not be so often visited nor have so many at our doors if we visited oftner Yea we should learn Temperance and Sobriety and just occasion would hereby be administred unto us of thankfulnes seeing God hath dealt so bountifully with us above many of our Brethren Lastly it would not be forgotten how in visiting the poore we visit Christ himselfe in them who hath done the like for us that were in a far baser and meaner estate as the next point shews In the Mystery is set forth unto us Christs further love in that he came not only where we were Myst Expos but Doct. He came unto us as a visitour not to see the world but 〈◊〉 save the world Ezek. 16.6 7. Luk. 1.68 78. More particularly you know a visitour comes before he be sent for freely of his own accord and mind Thus did our Saviour we sought not after him before we sought him he was found True it is now and then we might heare some holy man or other cry Make haste O Lord and let thy tender mercy prevent us Ps 12.1.84.9 Gen. 49.18 for we are in misery and brought very low Helpe us O God of our Salvation for the glory of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sins for the names sake Psal 79.8 9. O that thou wouldest bow the Heavens and come down Isa 64.1 But these very groanes and cries came from his Spirit of our selves none could ask nor seek for help 2. A Visitour comes with some reliefe and comfort to the disâ—ressed he will speak comfort and do something that may added unto it Thus did Christ how lovingly and gently did he speak unto us easing the anguish and sorrow of our languishing and distressed spirits Math. 11.29 5.2 9.2 22. Marke 6.50 Iohn 16.33 Nor was he wanting in praying for us Luke 22.32 Heb. 5.7 Like a good Visitour his hand seconded his tongue He felt the pulse and touched the soare taking poore infants in his armes Putting his hands upon them and blessing them Mark 10.4 he laid a plaister to the eyes of the blind Ioh. 9.6 touched the stammering tongue and put his finger in the deafe mans eare Mark 7.33 All of us might truly say My wounds stinke and are corrupt Ps 30.5 yet that hindred not Yea like a gratious Visitor he comes with his salves and oyles to heale our wounds who were at point of death and in no one point of a gratious visitor was hee wanting as wee shall after see Vse Should not this then put us on as to break forth into the acknowledgment of his mercy so by way of thankfulnesse to visit those who are in distresse and misery How can we say the love of Christ dwelleth in us when this duty is neglected To urge then what was before exhorted