Sighs from Hell, Commentary · Verse 21
Verse 21.
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans Table: the Dogs came also, and licked his Sores.
BY these words our Lord Jesus doth shew us the frame of a Christians heart, and also the heart and carriage of worldly men towards the Saints of the Lord: The Christians heart is held forth by this, that any thing will content him while he is on this side glory. And he desired to be fed with the Crumbs, the Dogs meat, any thing. I say, a Christian will be content with any thing, if he have but to keep Life and Soul together, (as we use to say.) He is content, he is satisfied, he hath learned, if he hath learned to be a Christian, to be content with any thing, as Paul saith, I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. He learns in all conditions to study to love God, to walk with God, to give up himself to God; and if the Crumbs that fall from a Rich-man's Table will but satisfie Nature, and give him bodily strength, that thereby he may be the more able to walk in the way of God; he is contented. And he desired to be fed with the Crumbs that fell from the rich man's Table. But mark, he had them not, you do not find that he had so much as a Crumb or a Scrap allowed unto him. No, then the Dogs will be beguil'd, that must be preserved for the Dogs. From whence observe, that the ungodly World do love their Dogs better then the Children of God. You will say that's strange. It is so indeed, yet it is true, as will be clearly manifested; as for instance. How many pounds do some men spend in a year on their Dogs, when, in the mean while, the poor Saints of God may starve for hunger. They will build Houses for their Dogs, when the Saints must be glad to wander, and lodge in Dens, and Caves of the Earth, Heb. 11. 38. And if they be in any of their houses for the hire thereof, they will warn them out, or eject them, or pull down the house over their heads, rather then not rid themselves of such Tenants. Again, some men cannot go half a mile from home, but they must have Dogs at their heels; but they can very willingly go half a score miles, without the society of a Christian. Nay, if when they are busie with their Dogs, they should chance to meet a Christian, they would willingly shift him if they could. They will go on the other s…e of the hedge or the way, rather than they will have any society with him; and if at any time a Child of GOD should come into an house where there are but two or three ungodly Wretches, they do commonly wish either themselves, or the Saint, out of doors; and why so? Because they cannot down with the society of a Christian: Though if there come in at the same time a Dog, or a drunken swearing Wretch, which is worse than a Dog, they will make him welcome, he shall sit down with them, and partake of their dainties. And now tell me, you that love your sins and your pleasures; had you not rather keep company with a Drunkard, a Swearer, a Strumpet, a Thief; nay, a Dog, than with an honest-hearted Christian? If you say, No: What means your sowr carriage to the People of God? Why do you look on them, as if you would eat them up? Yet at the very same time, if you can but meet your Dog, or a drunken Companion, you can fawn upon them, take acquaintance with them, to the Tavern or Ale-house with them, if it be two or three times in a Week: But if the Saints of God meet together, pray together, and labour to edifie one another, you will stay till Dooms-Day, before you will look into the house where they are. Ah Friends, when all comes to all, you will be found to love Drunkards, Strumpets, Dogs, any thing; nay, to serve the Devil, rather than to have loving and friendly society with the Saints of God.
Moreover, The Dogs came and licked his Sores.] Here again you may see, not onelyonly the afflicted state of the Saints of God in this World, but also, that even Dogs themselves, according to their kind, are more favourable to the Saints, than the sinful World; though the ungodly will have no mercy on the Saints, yet it is ordered so that these Creatures, Dogs, Lions, &c. will. Though the rich man would not entertain him into his house, yet his Dogs will come, and do him the best good they can, even to lick his running Sores. It was thus with Daniel, when the World was mad against him, and would have him thrown to the Lions to be devoured, the Lions shut their mouths at him, (or rather the Lord did shut them up) so that there was not that hurt befel to him, as was desired by the Adversaries, Dan. 6. And this I am persuaded of, that would the Creatures do as some men would have them, the Saints of God should not walk so quietly up and down the streets, and other places, as they do. And as I said before, so I say again, I am persuaded, that at the Day of Judgment many mens Conditions and Carriages will be so laid open, that it will evidently appear, they have been very merciless, and mad against the Children of God; insomuch, that when the Providence of God did fall out so, …s to cross their expectations, they have been very much offended thereat, as is very evidently seen in them who set themselves to study, Psal. 31, 13. how to bring the Saints into bondage, and to thrust them into Corners, as in these late Years. And because God hath in his goodness ordered Things otherwise, they have gnashed their Teeth thereat. Hence then let the Saints learn, not to commit themselves to their Enemies, beware of men, Matth. 10. 17. They are very merciless men, and will not so much favour you, (if they can help it) as you may suppose they may. Nay, unless the over-ruling Hand of God, in goodness, do order Things contrary to their natural inclination, they will not favour you so much as a Dog.