The Good Samaritan, Part 11
And when he ſaw him, he paſſed by on the other ſide] Text.
We have ſeene theſe Paſſengers deſcribed by their Profeſſion, now ſee their Diſpoſition. 1. Generally notified, in that they paſſed by on the other ſide. And 2. More particularly aggrivated, in that ſeeing him in the way, yet they paſſed by, &c.
They ſaw him then, and this was an aggrivation of their fault, in that they turned their faces from him whom they ſaw in miſery.
Doct. It is a fault (which many are guilty of) to turne away the face from the afflicted in the day of their diſtreſſe, Obad. 1.5 Amos 6.6, 8. Iſa. 53.3, Pro. 21.13.
1. It is a breach of Gods Commandement, 1 Theſ. 5.14. Reaſon Comfort the feeble minded, ſupport the weake, &c.
2. It is moſt unnaturall, as the Apoſtle ſheweth, 1 Cor. 12 and argueth want of Gods bleſſed Spirit.
3. It ſhewes there is no feare of the Almighty in us, Iob 6.14.
Vſe 1 Such deſerve Reproofe: Firſt, ſuch as will not ſtep aſide to viſit thoſe who are afflicted, but turne away their eyes and faces from them (as from an object that may not be endured to be looked on) out of a deſperate reſolution to doe nothing for them, fearing leaſt their conſcious eyes ſhou'd check their churliſh hearts, for their barbarous inhumanity: Such would do well to remember what is ſaid, Pro. 21.13.
Theſe come ſhort of the Charity of this Prieſt and Levite, yea theſe men fall below the very Beaſts (as Sheepe and Swine) they will come and look upon the wounds and diſtreſſes of their fellowes, while theſe doe what they may to put away the cries and groanes of thoſe that be miſerable.
A ſecond ſort are ſuch as looke on and ſee, yet are nothing mooved nor affected with the diſtreſſes of their Brethren, Eſter 3.15. They with Haman are in jollity, whilſt Shuſhan is in Perplexity: So Amos 6.6. Theſe ſort of people jumpe with this Prieſt and Levit in their Charity and no whit exceed.
A third ſort to be reproved are they, who adde affliction to affliction; it is wicked, miſerum relinquere, but worſe it is, miſerum facere. If theſe Paſſengers be taxed for not helping this robbed Travellor, what thinke you ſhall their puniſhment be that ſpoyled him? What do you other who charge the afflicted of Hypocriſie, and by your inſolencies and other cruelties make more bitter their afflictions, giving them Gall for meat, and vineger to quench their thirſt? Let ſuch conſider what is ſpoken, Pſ. 69.24, 26, 27. & Pſal. 109.16. It is dangerous to make their backs blew which are already black with ſmiting. This for Reproofe. Be we next perſwaded.
Vſe 2 Not to turne the eye away from any, when by Gods Providence we are called to be eye-witneſſes of their Calamities: Saint Auſtin ſeeing a poore miſerable man tooke occaſion thereby to admoniſh himſelfe and his Company, Aut ſumus, aut fuimus, vel poſſumus eſſe quod hic eſt.
St. Iames 1.27. makes it a badge of that Religion which is undefiled, to viſit the Fatherleſſe and Widdow: It would wonderfully affect the heart (as hereafter we ſhall ſee) and ſtirre up compaſſion in us; in which reſpect the Wiſeman ſaith, It is better to go to the houſe of mourning then to the houſ of feaſting, Eccle. 7.2 And Pilate to move compaſſion preſented Chriſt unto the Jewes ſcourged, ſaying, Ecce homo, behold the man.
Object. But I cannot endure ſuch objects, my heart faints within me to behold them?
Reſp. Yet thou beholdeſt daily objects that are worſe and more loathſome in the eyes of God, and his bleſſed Angells.
2. Chriſt looked upon a worſer object when he looked upon thee, yet he turned not away his face; why doſt thou from any of his members?
3. Do what thou mayſt, knowing God accepts the will for the deed, if it be ſincere.
Object. But ſay the diſeaſe be infectious, am I bound to viſit?
Reſp. No, unleſſe thou be ſtrictly tied by ſome ſpeciall bond: We are not to thruſt our ſelves needleſly into any danger.
2. Yet ſuch would be ſpoken unto, as Daniell was through the Den: we may viſit yet keep of the infection.