Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 70
Hitherto of the things of practice that hurt or hinder the life of the body of man. Now to the things of omission.
Quest. What are the things of omission, that hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. Two things especially; the one inward in the heart, the other outward.
Quest. What is the thing of omission inward in the heart, that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Answ. This; want of pitie & feeling compassion towards such as are in any knowne misery and distresse of body,Rom. 1.30. Rom. 12.15. Colos. 3.12. Heb. 13.3. 1 Ioh. 3.17. and are to be pitied: when men omit or refuse to pitie such as are in knowne misery and distresse of body, and like to perish, being such as are to be pitied, and do harden their hearts, and shut vp their compassion from them.
Quest. How doe men shew themselues most wanting in pitie towards such as are in any known misery and distresse of body, and are to bee pityed?
Answ. Thus; when they insult ouer them,Psal. 69.26. and make themselues merry with their misery,ob. 19.21.22. ob. 25.9.10.11 and so adde to their distresse and misery.
Quest. Are not all that are in knowne misery and distresse of body to be pitied?
Answ. All that are in knowne misery and distresse, are to be pitied,1 Sam. 15.9. 1 King. 20.34.41. compared as they are men or women of the same nature with vsus; yet such as are in deserued misery, and hauehave brought misery vponupon themselues, and as malefactors suffer iust punishment for their euill deeds, are not in that respect to bee pitied: that is foolish pitie.
Quest. What is the thing of omission outward, that doth hurt or hinder the life of the body of man?
Pro. 21.13. Isai. 58.7. Iob. 31.16.17.18.19.20.21.Answ. This; the omitting of the workes of mercy, that ought to be performed to such as are in any knowne distresse of body; when men being able, and hauing power & meanes, doe omit or refuse to yeeld helpe to them whom they ought to helpe being any way distressed in body, and knowne to them either by sight or by hearing, to stand in need of their helpe, in respect of the body: that is a thing of omission outward.
Quest. How doe men omit the workes of mercy, that ought to be performed to such as are in any distresse of body, and knowne to them to stand in need of helpe, in respect of the body?
Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Luke. 16.21. Mat. 25.41.42.43. Luke. 10.20.31.32. Iam. 2.15.16.Answ. This; when they doe not that good to their distressed bodies that they ought, according to their need, and according to their owne abilitie. Luke 16. The rich man was cast into hell, not for hurting the poore man, but not for relieuing him, verse 21.
Quest. What is the second way by which men omit the workes of mercy that ought to be performed to such as are in any distresse of body, knowne to them to stand in need of helpe in respect of the bodie?
Answ. This; when they doe not turne away that euill, and that hurt from their bodies, that they ought, being able to turne it away, either by their speech, or by their hands and power, or any other way; as when men speake not for such as are vniustly molested and condemned,Sam. 20.34. &c. to 43. 1 King. 18.4. Pro. 24.11.12 it may bee to die, especially being Magistrates, and able to deliuer them by speaking for them: or when men seeing others ready to perish, it may bee to destroy themselues, to cut their owne throats, or the like, doe not rescue and deliuer them from danger, being able to doe it.
Quest. When is either the want of pity towards such as are in knowne distresse of body, and are to be pitied or the omitting of the workes of mercy that ought to bee performed to such as are in any knowne distresse of body most vile and odious?
Answ. When men either want pitie,1 Sam. 30.11.12.13. Iob. 19. to 22, Rom. 12.20. Gal. 6.10. or being able to yeeld helpe, doe omit the works of mercy to such as they are bound to, by some neere and especiall bond of place, calling, or condition, or of nature or grace; as to father, mother, husband, wife, master, seruant, and such like; or to the Saints and children of God, being to be pitied, and to be helped in regard of their knowne distresse of body. 1 Sam. 30.11, 12, 13. Thus deale masters that starue their seruants, Iob 19.13, 14, 15. &c. to 22. Rom. 12.20. If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if hee thirst, giuegive him drinke: much more to those that we are bound to by some neere and speciall bond.
Hitherto of hurting of the life of the body of man.