The Disabled Debtor Discharged, Title page – Summary
THE Diſabled Debtor Diſcharged: OR, Mary Magdalen Pardoned.
Set forth in an EXPOSITION ON THAT PARABLE
Luke 7.40.—51. There was a certain Creditor, which had two Debtors, &c.
By Nehemiah Rogers, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Inter Curas maximà cura eſt refroenare curioſos, Aug. Ep. 56.
LONDON: Printed for Geo. Saubridge, at the Bible on Ludgate-Hill, MDCLVIII.
TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND TRVLY RELIGIOVS GENTLE-WOMAN Mrs. Jane Done, eldeſt daughter of that worthy KNIGHT (and of bleſſed memory) S. Iohn Done, late of Vtkington in Cheſhiere deceaſed.
Worthy Gentlewoman,
THe labours of many of GODS faithfull ſervants (in all ages) have been commended to the Church of God through the gratious hands of women. S. Hierom writes to many, as to Salvina, to Faria, to Celantia, Marcellina, Aſella; moſt of his workes hee dedicates to Euſtochia a noble and honourable Virgin. Which practiſe of his (in preferring that Sex) was objected againſt by ſome (as appeares in one of his Epiſtles) but by him defended,Epiſt. 140. and very juſtly: For however the honour of that Sexe was much blemiſhed through Tranſgreſſion, yet (with Mary) may the virtuous ſay, He that is mighty hath magnified us; not onelyonly in vouchſafing that a woman ſhould be his mother, when no mortall man was his Father (as Hugo ſpeaketh) but likewiſe in endowing them with may excellent Gifts and Graces of his Spirit,Exod. 15.20 & 38.8. Judg. 4.4. 2 Kings 22.14. 2 Sam. 14.4. & 20.14. as Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Zeale, Boldneſſe, Humility, Patience, Charity, Judg. 13.9, 22, 23. 2 Kings 4.8, 9. Matth. 15.22, 28. Luk. 24▪ 8, 9, 11. Judg. 4.21. Eſter. 8▪ 4. Act. 8.3. & 9.2. & 16 13. Luk. 8.3. & 10.39.Curteſie and Constancy in well doing (wherin they have many times excelled) leaving upon a perpetuall record, their praiſ-worthy works for the ſerious imitation of men: directing withall the Penmen of holy Scripture to write Epiſtles to them (as S. John to the elect Lady) yea to dedicate whole Books to their names (as that of Ruth and Eſter) for their everlaſting Honour.
Through your gentle hands I commend this poore peece of my ſtudies to the world. It is not neceſſary that I ſhould give it an account why I ſeeke ſo farre from home: GOD hath wrought my heart to love thoſe that love him, and diſtance of place cannot abridge my duty: Withall this I would the world ſhould know that I am one, amongſt thoſe many, who truly honour You for Your virtues: In teſtimonie whereof I make this Dedication to Your worthy name, which I beſeech You to accept of, as an acknowledgement of that debt I owe, and the unfained deſire I which the Prayers ſhall never bee wanting of him, who is
Obliged to ſerve and honour You Nehemiah Rogers
TO THE READER.
I Have made my ſelfe thy Debtor by promiſe, and reſolve upon a ſpeedy payment (if God lend life:) Fiſhes wax ſcant at ſhore and (in ſuch a caſe) it is not amiſſe to lanch forth into the deepe: God may ſo bleſſe our labours, that we may have cauſe to beckon to our Fellowes to come and helpe.
Thy former acceptance of thoſe rude notes of mine upon ſome other Parables encourageth me to ſend thee theſe upon two other. I have given that liberty to my pen in the Preſſe (in reſpect of Quotation) which I held not fit to give my tongue in the Pulpit: It is an Expoſition I intend, wherein I love to follow ſuch ſound Interpreters (both Antient an Moderne) as have gone before: Let not that offend thee. Who are diſpoſed to carpe and cavill will picke matter to worke upon out of the beſt Bookes (Gods own not excepted) There are faults eſcaped the Preſſe, nor will Bookes be without them, whilſt men have them; make no more then there are (thou ſhalt no need) mend thoſe thou findeſt, and ſo (who knowes, but) the Booke may helpe to mend thee; how ever pray for him who is,
Thy Servant (if thou beeſt the Churches) Nehemiah Rogers.
Errata in the Penitent Citizen
Pag. 3. line. 24. ſ…r He read She. p▪ 29. l. 12. for foreign, p. 35. marg. vocabilum, r. vocabulum. p. 77. marg for a iota, r ab iota p 56 l. 13. for are r. 2…. p▪ 130. marg …mlationem, r▪ emulationem. p. 168. l. 3…, for eying, r. lying, p. 206. … ▪ 5. for w…ought, r. wrot, pag. 224. l. 10. for foreign.
Errata in th… …ona Samaritane.
Pag. 57. lin 20 for eſcaped of, read eſcaped the plague of, p. 36. l. 18. for miſcendae, r. miſcend…. p. 157 l. 34. for ipſe 1. ipſi, p. 64. l. 3…. for i…s readi….
The Text, Luke 7. Verſe 40, 41, &c.
Verſe 40. And Ieſus and anſwering, ſaid unto him, Simon, I have ſomewhat to ſay unto thee: And he ſaith, Maſter, ſay on.
Verſe 41 There was a certaine Creditor, which had two Debters: the one ought five hundred pence and the other fifty.
Verſe 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both, Tell me therefore, which of them will love him moſt?
Verſe 43 Simon anſwered and ſaid, I ſuppoſe that he to whom he forgave moſt: And hee ſaid unto him, Thou haſt rightly judged.
Verſe 44 And he turned to the woman, and ſaid unto Simon, Seeſt thou this woman, I entred into thine houſe, thou gaveſt me no water for my feet: but ſhe hath waſhed my feet with teares, and wiped them with the haires of her head.
Verſe 45 Thou gaveſt me no kiſſe: but this woman, ſince the time I came in, hath not ceaſed to kiſſe my feet.
Verſe 46 Mine head with oyle thou didſt not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Verſe 47 Wherfore I ſay unto thee, Her ſins which are many, are forgiven, for ſhe loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the ſame loveth little.
Verſe 48 And he ſaid unto her, Thy ſins are forgiven.
Verſe 49 And they that ſat at meat with him, began to ſay within themſelves, who is this that forgiveth ſinnes alſo.
Verſe 50 And he ſaid to the woman, Thy Faith hath ſaved thee, goe in Peace.
A briefe view of the Method obſerved in this Expoſition upon that Parable of the Creditour and his two Debtors, Luk. 7. verſ. 40, 41. &c.
In this Parable, Luk 7.40, 41, &c. We have conſiderable.
The Preface, verſ. 40, and therin
The words of the Evangeliſt to us declaring
The Author of the enſuing Parable [Ieſus]
The Occaſion of propounding it, which was a Queſtion made ſecretly by Simon, to which [He anſwering ſaid]
The words of our Saviour to Simō, cōtaining
An Excitation to Attention, and there
The Perſon nominated [Simon]
Our Saviours purpoſe and intent intimated [I have ſomewhat to ſay]
A Replication made by Simon, where
A reverend Appellation [Maſter]
His ſubmiſſe and ready Attention [Say on]
The Parable it ſelfe, v. 41, &c. containing,
An Allegorical narratiō, v. 41, 42, 43. where a caſe
Propounded, v 41, 42. wherin is ſpecified,
The Parties whom it did concerne, viz.
A Creditor who is deſcribed,
By his Profeſſion or cou…ſe of life in Generall [There was a certaine Creditour] or Ʋſurer
By his Dealing with theſe his Debtors in ſpeciall, [He frankly forgave them both, &c.]
And his two Debtors deſcribed,
By their number, [Two]
Alike
Both were indebted to him
Both were forgiven by him
Unlike
One owed a greater Summe then the other
One loved more than the other
By their Condition, which we muſt conſider as it was
Alike
Both were indebted to him
Both were forgiven by him
Unlike
One owed a greater Summe then the other.
One loved more than the other
The Quere made, wherin,
The Thing demanded [Tell me which of theſe, &c.]
The Ground of that demand. [Therfore]
Reſolved, v 4… wherein is declared,
Simons Sentence or Opinion [I ſuppoſe he, &c]
Our Saviours approbation [Thou haſt rightly judged]
The morall or Application, v 4…, 4…, 46, &c. where our Saviours.
Poſture, ver. 44. there
His Act or motion He turned
The Object or Perſon [To the woman]
Speech & that
To Simon, verſ 44-48. containing
An Interrogation, v. 44 wher
A Dutie enjoyned [Seeſt thou this woman]
The Perſon on whom it is impoſed [Thou]
Againſt, Civility, Thou gaveſt me no water, &c.]
Againſt Charity, Thou gaveſt me no kiſse.
Againſt Ho…pitality, my head with oyle thou didſt not annoint.
An Expoſtulation, v. 44-47. which hath in it.
To the woman, ver. 48, &c. d… claring.
Her Abſolutiō, v. 48 49. & in it
The Sentence givē ver. 48.
By whō, he ſaid For whō, thy ſins
A Pre…erence, wherein
A Reprehenſion of Simon …r his Defects.
A Commendation of the woman for her reſpects laid down Antithetically.
She hath waſhed my Feet with teares, &c.
She hath not ceaſed to kiſse my Feet, &c.
She hath annoynted my feet with oyntment, &c.
An Inference verſ. 47. and there
The Doctrine delivered containing
A Poſition in which
The Point [Her ſins] &c.
The Proofe [for ſhe loved much]
An Oppoſition [But to whom little is forgiven, the ſame loveth little.]
The Confirmation [Wherefore I ſay]
The thing effected [Hath ſaved]
The Exceptiō ther at taken, v 49. where
The perſō, they that ſat, &c. Their accuſation, who is this, &c.
Her diſmiſſion, v 50 wherein
A certificate ſhewing
A Paſport preſcribing
The meanes [Thy Faith]
The way [In Peace]
The courſe [Goe]