Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verse 32
Verſe 32. The Stranger did not lodge in the ſtreet: but I opened my doors to the Traveller.
The tenth Vertue, whereof Job makes profeſſion, is, Hoſpitality. In thoſe Times and Countries they had (as yet in ſome Countries there they have) but few publick Innes, wherein Strangers and Travellers might be lodged and accommodated; So that Travellers behoved to carry their proviſion with them, and were neceſſitated to lye without, unleſs ſome Hoſpital perſons did invite and receive them into their houſes, as we may read in ſeveral paſſages of Scripture-hiſtory, and, among others, Judg. 19.15. — 21. Now Job was a very charitable man to ſuch, ſo that he did not let ſtrangers lodge without in the open ſtreets; yea, he opened his doors to the Travellers, or, toward the way, where Travellers uſed to paſs by; that is, he not only ſecluded them not who came and ſought lodging, but he kept open houſe and open doors for all that pleaſed to come in, and waited, or cauſed ſome wait, at his doors that looked toward the way, to invite Travellers to come in, as was the practice of Abraham, Gen. 18.1, 2. and of Lot, Gen. 19.1, 2.
Doct. 1. Among other exerciſes of the Sons of men, this is one, That they are put to travel and wander through the World, either to avoid perſecution and other hazards, or, upon their lawful affairs; whereby they come to be ſtrangers, and to want theſe accommodations which they had at home; For, here there were Strangers and Travellers, who were objects of his Hoſpitality, otherwiſe they were likely to lodge in the ſtreet. Theſe were of thoſe who travelled in theſe Countries about their callings; For we read not of any perſecutions which might drive men then to wander in exile; And in his dayes that humour of travelling, out of curioſity to ſee other Countries and People (whereby, oft-times, men improve their vices more than their vertues, and many going abroad full of prejudices againſt the true Religion, they return open enemies to it) was not, probably, come in faſhion. As all men are but ſtrangers and pilgrimes upon earth, even when they are at home; as godly men do well diſcern, 1 Chr. 29.15. So ſtrangers and travellers have a ſpecial opportunity to learn and improve this leſſon well.
2. It is the duty of all (particularly of the Office-bearers in the Church of God, 1 Tim. 3.2. Tit. 1.7, 8.) to be Hoſpital, and it is an evidence of piety and tenderneſs to be ſo; For, Job produceth this his practice as an evidence of his piety and honeſty. See Rom. 12.13. And albeit Job was a rich man, yet the command to be Hoſpital doth not reach ſuch only; For albeit the Hebrews were a perſecuted and ſpoyled people, Heb. 10.34. Yet this is enjoyned them, as they are able to perform it, Heb. 13.2. Where alſo a ſweet encouragement is ſubjoyned, taken from the conſideration of the noble gueſts, even Angels, whom charitable perſons have had occaſion to entertain.
3. Such as would approve themſelves to God in the matter of their Hoſpitality, and would prove their piety thereby, ought to be Hoſpital; not to their acquaintances and relations only, but eſpecially to ſtrangers: For, ſo did Job here, It was the ſtranger who lodged not in the street (or, without, and abroad, in the open air, whether it were in the ſtreet of a City, or not) and it was the Traveller, to whom he opened his doors. So much doth Gods command intimate, Heb 13.2. And by ſuch practices as this will men be judged in the laſt day; Mat. 25.34, 35, 41, 42, 43. And all thoſe will make conſcience of it who have had, and do ſincerely improve, experiences of the heart of a ſtranger themſelves, Exod. 23 9.
4. It is not ſufficient to prove mens piety, that they uſe ſome Hoſpitality, even toward ſtrangers, unleſs they do it readily, chearfully, and ſo as may witneſs no conſtraint or unwillingneſs in the matter; For, Job opened his doors to the Traveller, or, toward the way, to witneſs how willing he was to receive them, and to wait upon them, that he might invite and bring them in. As men ought to be ready to every good work, Tit. 3.1. So, in particulars in their charity, they ought to be ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate, 1 Tim. 6.18. And they ought to uſe Hospitality without grudging, 1 Pet. 4.9.