The Disabled Debtor Discharged, Part 29 – Part 30
For my Feet. Text.
The Feet are the loweſt part of the body, the meaneſt for account and homelieſt for imployment: And being neareſt the Earth are moſt apt of all other parts to gather ſoyle and filth. In which reſpect they ſtand in moſt need of waſhing, as our Saviour ſhews by that ſpeech of his to Peter after he had waſhed the Diſciples Feet (wherby he taught them both Holyneſſe and Humility) Ioh. 13.10. He that is waſhed needeth not ſave to waſh his Feet. In which ſaying, our Saviour either alludes to this common practiſe amongſt the Iewes, whoſe firſt office to Gueſts and Strangers was, foreign, eſpecially after travell; or els to bathing from whence none comes without ſome gravell ſticking betwixt their Toes, in which reſpect they uſe to waſh them laſt of all: but to the firſt he alludes (moſt likely.) Thus much we note from hence,
Doct. The loweſt and meaneſt member of the body is not to be despiſed.
The Feet are to be waſhed, as well as face or hands: litterally this is true, 1 Cor. 12.21, 22, 23, 24. So we find that there were widdowes appointed of purpoſe for this end, 1 Tim. 5.10.
And Myſtically it is true,Pedes noſtri affectus noſtri, Aug. in Pſ. 64. Ioh. 13.10. where by Feet we muſt needs underſtand the Affections of the ſoule, on which it ſtands, or falls, as the body doth by the Feet of it; and is moved and carried too and fro by them; as the Body is with thoſe ſtrong-men (as Salomon cals them, Eccleſ. 12.3.) Thoſe have (in a ſpeciall manner) need of waſhing, for that they are next the Earth, having to do with earthly things, as Honours, Profits, Pleaſures: As likewiſe for that they do follow naturally the Dispoſition and Temperature of the Body; in which reſpect they are called, earthly members by the Apoſtle, Col. 3.5.
Now though the ſoule be waſhed in the Bath of Iuſtification, yet in regard of Corruption remaining there is an uſe of daily waſhing in the Bath of Sanctification. The former is the Kings bath and ſerves for the Guilt of ſinne, the other is the Peoples hath, and ſerves to do away the filth or ſtain of ſin.
Queſt. But why did not ſome of our Saviours Apoſtles waſh his Feet after hee had waſhed theirs?
Reſp. Two Reaſons are rendered why they did not.
Firſt,Amb. de Virg. lib. 3. for that Mary had already waſht them (as here you find) and it was not Chriſts mind that the luſtre which was given to his Feet by Maries teares ſhould be waſht off againe with ordinary and common water.
Secondly, The waſhing of the Apoſtles Feet was Myſticall, and ſignified the cleanſing and ſanctifying of their ſoules, and the affections of the ſame: Now this could not ſuit with our Saviour who was free from the leaſt filth of ſinne, there was not the leaſt tainture in him.
Vſe. Now to apply this.
See that we be carefull of our Bodies, In hoc mundo cum noſtris tentationibus naſcimur, & caro nobis aliquando adjutrix eſt in bono opere, aliquando autem ſeductrix in ma lo. Siigiturei plus, quam debemus, tribuimus, hoſtem nutrimus; Et ſi neceſſitati ejus, quae debemus nō reddimus, civem necamus. Satianda eſt ita que caro, ſed ad hoc uſ que , ut in hono opere nobis ſuſſiciat; nam qui quis ci tantum tribuit, ut ſuperbiat, ſatiari penitus ignorat. Ars ita que magna eſt ſattari, ne unuſquiſ que per ſatietatem carnis ad iniquitatem prorumpat turpitudinis, Greg. Mor. l. 12yea of the loweſt and meaneſt member (for that it is alſo a Member of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 6.15.) In which reſpect there is an honour due unto them; as alſo for that the Body and overy part of it, is a ſervant to the ſoule, and an inſtrument wherby it worketh; ſo that the neglect of it, will greatly diſable the ſoule and hinder the actions, and functions therof. You know the Carpenter layes by his Axe when the edge is blunted, and the Muſitian his Lute when the ſtrings are broken; and an Inbabitant ſoon forſaketh his houſe when the walls fall downe: So doth the Soule the body, as you find, Eccleſ. 12.1, 2, 3. &c. And therfore it is our Duty to keep it in the beſt repaire we can, that we may do God the better and the longer ſervice.
Notwithſtanding our chiefeſt care muſt be for our Soules, and in looking unto that care muſt be had in a ſpeciall manner to our Feete, that we keepe them cleane, for as much as it is Satans ſpeciall drift to fowle them.
Our Affections are the Eves which the Divell makes uſe of to betray our ſoules. Theſe are the Iaels he uſeth to ſeduce us: They are the Dalilah's he imployes to betray us and lull us a ſleepe whilſt the Philiſtines be upon us. God hath placed Affections in the ſoule, as the Sentinell upon a Citty wall, to give the watch-word when danger is neare, and to keepe the reſt from ſleeping and idleneſſe: Now if Satan can but prevaile with them, he will ſoone enter and overcome all, Eph. 4.27. 1 Tim. 6.10. Tertullian tells us it was the fetch of Heretiques in his time, prius ſuadere, firſt to perſwade and then teach: After they had wound into the Affections of Hearers they did corrupt their Iudgements.
The more to be pittied is the practiſe of ſuch as beſtow all their pains in waſhing other parts, whilſt their Feet are too much neglected.
Some mens care is only for the Face, that it be cleane: So thoſe Hypocrites we read of, Math. 6.16. All they do is to be ſeene of men: Their Devotion is a Stage Devotion, it begins not till the Spectators be all ready, and the Galleries filled.
Some beſtow moſt pains about their Hands, with Pilat them they waſh profeſting themſelves to be free from the blood of all men. Their whole care is about the Duties of the ſecond Table to keep their hands from picking and ſtealing, and give every man their due, whilſt in the meane time God is forgotten: And theſe are boaſting Phariſees and meere civill men. But the care of a Chriſtian ſhould be, not only to waſh away the Iniquity of his hands, as Pſal. 26.6. but alſo the iniquity of his heeles, as Pſal. 49.5. And the rather for that (as you have heard) Satan in that part eſpecially deſireth to bruiſe the Chriſtian, Gen. 3.15.
And as this care muſt be had of our owne Feet, ſo likewiſe of Christs (I meane the meaneſt and loweſt member of his Myſticall body) ſmall omiſſions towards them are obſerved and taken ſpeciall notice off, Math. 10 42. Mark. 9.41. & Math. 25.40, 45. With-hold not any thing from the pooreſt member of Chriſt Jeſus, that may make for his comfort or refreſhing, when it is in our Power to doe it. Thus much of Simons firſt Defect: How this was ſupplyed by this Woman follows,
But ſhe hath waſhed my Feet with teares, and wiped them with the haires of her head. Text.
Two things may here be noted. Firſt, this Penitents Contrition, She hath waſhed my Feet with teares.
Secondly, Her Humiliation or Abjection. And wiped them with the Haires of her Head. Firſt of Her Contrition.