Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 76
Now to the outward things that serue for the good, helpe, and comfort of the body of another or others.
Quest. VVhat are the outward things that serue for the good, helpe, and comfort of the body of another or others?
Answ. They are also either in speech or in action: in word, or in act and deed.
Quest. VVhat are the outward things in speech or in word, that serue for the good, helpe and comfort of the body of another or others?
Tit. 2.3. 1 Pet. 3.16.Answ. Such words and speeches vttered and spoken, as do expresse meeknesse, gentlenesse, kindnesse and louelove to those to whom they are vttered and spoken.
Quest. What are the words and speeches wherein men are to expresse meeknesse, gentlenesse, kindnesse and louelove to those to whom they are vttered and spoken.
Answ. They are of three sorts especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; Their salutations: when men meet with others, they are to salute them, being their equalls or inferiours by their names or surnames:Ioh. 1.38. Ioh. 20.16. Iudg. 6.12. Ruth. 2.4. Luk. 1 28. Luk. 10.5. Iohn. 20.19. and to salute their Superiours by names of Honour or Office, giuing them such Titles of reuerence as belong to them, wishing them good health, prosperitie, or good successe, and the like, as occasion is offered.
Obiection. 1 2 Kings 4.29. If thou meete any salute him not; and so Christ bad his disciples Salute no man by the way: Luke 10.4. Therefore it may seeme vnlawfull to salute others when we meete with them.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the intent of those places is not to forbid men to salute others, but that Gehazi and the Disciples should onelyonly for that time omit the practice of the duties of common courtesie, so farre as they might hinder or delay the performance of waightier matters.
Obiection. 2 Ioh. Epist. 2. vers. 10. If there come any vntounto you, and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to house, neither bid him God speed: therefore it seemes not lawfull to salute others.
Quest. How is this to bee answered?
Answ. Thus; the meaning of that place is not to forbid common courtesie of man to man, but acquaintance and familiarity with Heretikes, especially such acquaintance and familiaritie as may seeme to giuegive allowance and approbation to their wicked courses, as appeares Romanes 16.17.
Quest. What is the second sort of words and speeches wherin men are to expresse meeknes, gentlenes, kindnes, and louelove to those to whom they are vttered and spoken?
Answ. This; their answeres:Iudg. 8.2.3. 1 Sam 25.10.11.12.13. Pro. 15.1. 2 King. 18.36. 1 Sam. 1.15. men are to giuegive to others soft answeres, such as may neither kindle nor increase anger in them; and when they are rayled on, they are not to rayle againe; and when they are hardly spoken of, they are either to bee silent, or onelyonly to make a iust and manifest defence of their owne innocency. Dan. 6.21.22. Joh. 8.48.49. 1 Pet. 3.9.
Quest. What is the third sort of words and speeches wherein men are to expresse meeknes, gentlenes, kindnes, and louelove to those to whom they are vttered or spoken?
Ans. This; their admonitions & iust reproofs: when men do admonish or iustly reproue their brethren for their faults committed of ignorance,Gen. 13.8. Galat. 6.1. or of frailtie.
Quest. What are the outward things in act or deed that serue for the good, helpe, and comfort of the body of another or others?
Answ. They are either in countenance and in some gesture and carriage of the body, or they bee other acts and deeds.
Quest. What are the outward things in countenance, and in some gesture and cariage of the body that serue for the good, helpe, and comfort of another or others?
Gen. 31.2.5. Gen. 33.10. 1 Sam. 25.17 Prou. 16.15. Gen. 23.7.12Answ. All such lookes, and all such gestures of the body as doe expresse meeknesse, gentlenesse, kindnesse and louelove to another or others, without dissimulation, as looking on an other with an amiable and cheerfull countenance, shewing a mans selfe affable, easie to be spoken to, and to admit talke or conference with others, as occasion is offered, or to heare another or others, either in complaint or suite; bending and bowing of the body in an humble and courteous manner.
Quest. VVhat are the other outward acts and deedes that serue for the good, helpe, and comfort of the bodie of another or others?
Answ. They are of two sorts.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Gen. 14.18. 2 Sam. 10.28 31. 1 King. 10.10.13. Ier. 40.5. Acts 20.38Ans. Such acts and deeds done as doe expresse kindnesse and louelove to those to whom they are done, and are for the continuance of the health, welfare, comfort, and good estate of the body of another or others; as bestowing of gifts, benefits, and good turnes on others, sending of gifts and presents to them, accompanying them in their iourneyes, and the like.
Quest. VVhat is the second sort of outward acts and deeds, that serue for the good helpe and comfort of the body of another or others?
Answ. Such acts and deeds done as doe expresse kindnesse,Iob 31.16.17.18.19.20.21. Prou. 21.13. Prou. 31.20. and louelove, and tender affection to those to whom they are done, and are for the relieuing of another or others being in any knowne want and distresse of body. Men are as they are able, and as they hauehave power and meanes,Isai. 58.7. Math. 25.35.36.41.43. to reach out their helping hands for the reliefe of such as ought to be relieued, being any way distressed in their bodies, and known to them, either by sight or by hearing to stand in need of reliefe, in respect of their bodies.
Quest. How far are men bound according to their abilitie and meanes to reach out their helping hands for the reliefe of such as ought to bee relieued, b…ing any way distressed in their bodies, and knowne to them by sight or by hearing, to stand in need of reliefe in respect of their bodies?
Answ. Sometimes to the entertainment of them to bed or board, or both,Iob. 31.32. Iudg. 19.20.21. Rom. 12.13. Heb. 13.2. 1 Pet. 4.9. especially they being strangers and harbourlesse, and for the Lords cause, and for a good conscience persecuted.
Obiection This dutie of entertain…g of strangers and harbourlesse, was peculiar to the prim…ue Church, when Christians were banished and thrust out … house and home, and wandered vp and downe in the time of the tenne bloody persecutions, and therefore not now to be practised.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; In those times there was greater need of the practice of this dutie, then now in the setled state of the Church, but yet it reacheth to all times, and that appears by the sentence that Christ shall giuegive on the Sheepe and Goats, Ma…h. 25. it is sayd, verse 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, &c. As Gods prouidence shall offer strangers to vsus harbourlesse and persecuted: so wee are to giuegive them entertainement according to our abilitie.
Quest. To whom are men chiefly bound according to their abilitie and meanes to reach out their h…lping hands for their reliefe, being any way distressed in their bodies, and knowne to them to stand in need of reliefe, in respect of their bodies?
Answ. To such as they are bound to by some neere and speciall bond of place, calling, or condition,Iob 19.13. to 22. Leuit. 25.35. Rom. 12.13. Galat. 6.10. or of nature or grace, as to Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Children, Master, Seruant, or to the Saints and children of God.
Quest. What if a man be… able to releeue but one being in want, and distresse of body, and his owne father or mother and his owne childe are at the same time in like want and distresse of body, and knowne to him so to bee: which of them is he then to releeue?
Mat. 15.4.5.6. Mar. 7.10.11.12.Answ. Rather his father or his mother then his childe, because hee owes more debt and dutie to his parents, from whom hee had his substance and being, then to his children, who hauehave their substance and being from him: therefore Christ preferres the releeuing of parents before Free-will offerings.
Quest. VVhat if a man, bee able to releeue but one being in want and distresse of body; and his owne father or mother being not religious, and another that is not of his kindred being religious and fearing God, are at the same time in like want and distresse of body, and knowne to them so to be: which of them is he then to relieue?
Answ. Rather his father or mother then the other partie, because hee is thereunto bound, both by the bond of Nature in speciall manner, and also by religion, and by the commandement of God.
Obiection. 1 Math. 12.49, 50. Christ esteemes his Disciples, and doth esteeme those that doth the will of God his Father, and so are religious and truely feare God, as his brethren, and as his mother, and so are we to esteeme of them: therefore we are to releeue such as are religious, though not of our kindred, rather then our father or mother that are not religious, being at the same time in like want and distresse of body, and knowne to vsus so to be.
Quest. How is this to bee answered?
Answ. Thus; wee are indeed to esteeme such as are religious, being not of our kindred, as deare to vsus as our parents, as they stand in relation onelyonly to vsus; but when they come in comparison with our parents, and they and our parents though not religious, are set before vsus at the same time in like want and distresse of body, wee are not then to releeue them, and to neglect our parents: for so doing wee sinne not onelyonly against Religion, but against the Law of nature also.
Quest. What if a man bee able to releeue but one in want and distresse of body; and a stranger or an enemy is in extre…me want and distresse of body; and like to perish, and a friend or a kinsman is in great want and distresse, but not in such extremitie, and the want and distresse of both is knowne to him: which of them is he then to releeue?
Answ. Rather the stranger or his enemy,Mat. 5.44. Luk. 6.35. Rom. 12.20. then his friend or kinsman: for the state and condition of men or women in want and distresse of body is principally to be respected, without any difference of persons.
Quest. Is the body of another onelyonly to be respected while it is aliue, and is nothing to be done vntounto it when it is dead?
Answ. Yes, there is a dutie belongs to the dead body of another.
Qu. What is the dutie that belongs to the dead body of another?
Answ. The buriall of it in such honest and seemely manner,Gen. 23.19. Gen. 25.9 Gen. 50.13. Iere. 22.19. as is agreeable to the nature and credit as well of those which remaine aliue, as of the partie deceased, with moderate mourning. Mat. 24.60. Acts 8.2. 1 Thes. 4.13.