The Good Samaritan, Part 25
He tooke out two pence and gave them to the Host. Text.
Here you ſee what is left to ſupply this mans wants and need, and with whom he left it, with the Hoſt. That I note from the letter of the Parable ſhall be this,
Doct. Mony at an Inn beares the maſtery, that makes welcome: What Salomon ſaith of it in the generall, is moſt true in this particular, Argontum reſpondet omnibus, money anſwereth all things, Eccleſ. 10 19. this cauſeth attendance, furniſheth the Table, fils the Cup, opens Locks, commands all, yea Conſcience it ſelfe many times not excepted; that in an Inne is at the beck and command of mony A point ſo evident that it will ſeeme time miſpent to ſtand upon any long or large confirmation of it. Therfore for Uſe.
Vſe 1 It may be our wiſdome to diſtinguiſh betwixt Alehouſ-friendſhip and true friendſhip. There no longer pay, no longer play: Friends there, are well read in Theognes, They ſeeme with the tongue to flatter all, but in their deeds they love none at all, they are like Ariſtotles fallations and falling Starrs; Eccleſ. 6.Videntur & non ſunt. It is the mony they are friends unto; while that laſts they will be as thy ſelfe and at thy ſervice, but if that be gone thou ſhalt find them faile thee, as Pompey did Cicero, to whoſe houſe Tully flying for ſafeguard of his life, Pompey ſlipt out at a backe doore and would not be ſeene: Three things onelyonly continue them, Much ſpending, little asking, and taking nothing at all from them.
Myſt. In the Myſtery, The Miniſters and Paſtours of the Church are this Hoast.
Doct. Stabularij ſum illi quibus dicitur, Ite in orbē univerſum & praedicate Evā gelium univerſae creaturae, Amb in loc.So they are in regard of their Authority in the Church (though not over the ſoules and conſciences of any in the Church, yet) therin they have rule and command, as an Hoſt hath in an Inne: In which reſpect they are ſaid to be Maſters of the aſſemblies Eccleſ. 12.11. Yea Princes of the Congregations, Iſa. 43.28. And to have the overſight therof, 1 Pet. 52 and the Rule, Heb. 13.17.
But beſides this generall take we notice of ſome more ſpeciall reſemblances (whence Gods Miniſters may ſpell their duties.)
If we conſider what Saint Paul writeth to Timothy and Titus concerning a Miniſters qualifications we ſhall find them every way fitted for ſuch a 1 Tim 3 2. Tit. 1.6, & 16calling; 1 Tim. 3.9.Every one you know is not fit to be an Hoſt.
Firſt, He would be no Youth that keeps an Inne, it is requiſite an Hoſt ſhould be ſtaied and grave: So a Miniſter he may not be foreign, and novice, foreign eſt nup…r plātatus & Ecleſ…aei ſitus, quates craat cate…hu…ni.one rew en ered (as it were) into the Schoole of Chriſt: In which reſpect under the Law we find, that only ſuch as were of t…irrty yeares of age were admitted to ſerve in the Tabernacle and Te…ple.
2. An Hoſt would be a man of an unblameable life and converſation. So ſh…uld a Miniſter: A S…andalous perſon is not fit for that holy function. Tit. 1.6.S. Paul to Titus willes he ſhould be foreign inculpatus, one againſt whom no juſt exception can be taken. None of Arons ſons or ſeed who had any blemiſh in them, might come neere the vaile, nor ſtand before the Altar, nor once preſſe to miniſter before the Lord, Lev. 21.17. the ſacrifice ſmells of the hand that offers it.
3. An Host may not be wayward nor ſelfewilled, Tit. 1.7but of an affable, courteous and pleaſing carriage: ſuch muſt Gods Miniſters be, not foreign froward, inflexible and ſtubborne, but foreign modeſt and gentle, 1 Tim 3.3.paſſing by ſome injuries for peace ſake, endeavouring to give all good content that may bee; and ſo far as may ſtand with a good conſcience, 1 Cor. 9.20, 22. 1 Cor. 11.1.
4. An Hoſt may not be a wine-bibber, or pot-companion; 1 Tim. 3.3. Tit. 1.7.drink he may to his Gueſts, and with his Gueſts; but not quaffe, nor ſit by it. So Gods Miniſters may not bee foreign, given to wine, under which one kinde, all other kindes of that nature are forbidden. He may uſe that creature for his neceſſity; as 1 Tim. 5.23. Prov. 31.6. Yea and for delight too, Iohn. 2. but he may not ſit at it till he be inflamed by it, Iſa. 5.11. nor ſuffer his heart to be oppreſſed thereby, and he made heavy for holy duties, Luk. 21 34.
5. An Hoſt may not be a fighter nor quarreller; nor may Gods Miniſters. No fighter; foreign (ſaith S. Paul to Timothie) alienus a pugnis, a jurgijs. foreign, 1 Tim. 3.3.no ſtriker, ſaith the ſame Apoſtle to Titus; his duty is to heale wounds not to make them.
6. An Hoſt would not be covetous, Tit. 1.7.nor greedy of gaine, for then he would chop away a good conſcience for money. This vice as ill becomes a Miniſter, and therefore required (by the Apoſtle) as a neceſſary qualification in him, that he be foreign no lover of money, foreign nor given to filthy lucre, this ill beſeemes any, much leſſe a Miniſter. Thou ô man of God fly theſe things.1 Tim. 3.2.
7. An Hoſt muſt be harborous, ready to lodge and entertaine ſtrangers. Tit. 1 8.This in a ſpeciall manner is required of a Miniſter, he muſt be foreign, a lover of hoſpitality, as hath beene a ready ſhewed, verſ. 31.
8. An Hoſt would be a lover of his good Gueſts, theſe ſhould have the beſt reſpect. Tit. 1.8.So muſt a Miniſter bee foreign, a lover of good men, all ſhould be reſpected, but ſuch as honour and feare the Lord ſhould be preferred by him.
9. An Hoſt would be wiſe, Tit. 1.8.juſt, holy, temperate; And all theſe (which time will not ſuffer to ſpeake of particularly) are required of a Miniſter: He muſt be foreign a man of a ſound mind; And foreign a juſt and righteous perſon; giving every one their owne: and foreign a holy perſon: For God will bee ſanctified in all that come neere him: and he muſt be foreign, a continent or temperate perſon, one that muſt maſter himſelfe and his appetite, and not ſuffer any inordinate luſt to beare ſway in him.
10. To conclude, 1 Tim. 4.an Hoſt muſt be watchfull, and give attendance. This S. Paul requires of Timothie, foreign, dum venio attende. And ſo of every other Miniſter who is willed to be foreign, watching even as the Hoſt watcheth for a gueſt to invite him in, and then attends on him and ſees that he hath all things fitting; ſo Miniſters for ſoules, Heb. 13.17.
Vſe. Hence you may inferre the neceſſity of the Miniſtry; Every one of us being as Travellers and ſtrangers here on Earth and too too often benighted; the ſhadow of death and darkneſſe being ſtretched out upon us before we be aware.
In ſuch a caſe who would not thinke it a great part of his happineſſe to light upon a good Inn and Hoſt, at whoſe hand hee may find good uſage? So in a darke tempeſtuous night, when the ſnares of death do compaſſe us, and horrour of conſcience hath ſeized on us, no mens feete ſhall be more beautifull to us then theſe mens, whoſe face in the day of proſperity we will not know.
But wee beſeech you bretheren know them which labour amongſt you, and are over you in the Lord and admoniſh you: 1 Theſ. 5.1….and ſee
Firſt, That you eſteeme them very highly in love for their worke and callings ſake. It may be (as Plato was wont to ſay of his Maſter Socrates) they are to looke upon, like the Apothecaries gally pots, which on the outſide have Apes, and Owles, and Satyres on them but I muſt tell you, within they have pretious drugs for diſeaſed perſons, which every one will covet in time of need.
2. As they welcome you, ſo take you heed of grieving them, Heb. 13.17. For that will be unprofitable for you; little care hath the Hoſt to viſit ſuch a gueſt; rather glad when the houſe is well rid of him and the coſt cleared.
3. Reward them; The Hoſt is well payed by an honeſt Gueſt for all his paines; and charges are honeſt…y defrayed, and the Host thanked for his good entertainement at departure. So in this caſe it ſhould be, 1 Cor. 11.13, 14. We owe them much: how much? our goods, Gal. 6.6. our eyes, Gal. 4 15. our ſelves, Phile. 19. our lives, Rom. 16.4. In former ages Gueſts were better paymaſters then now they are, they would diſcharge what was owing, and be bountifull to the Hoſt and houſe beſides but now wee depart away out of our Inn, and leave all on the ſcore.
4. Give good teſtimony of them unto others: ſo doth the good Gueſt of a good Hoſt, Rom. 16.23. 2 Iohn. 1.2. If ever you had received any good by Gods Miniſters, you would aſſuredly give a good teſtimony of them, as we read that plaine man did, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. & Acts. 22.11.
5. Enquire of them as the traveller doth of his Hoſt, Hag. 2.12. Mal. 2.7.about the way wherin you are not well acquainted. So Ier. 6.16. Thus did the Diſciples of our bleſſed Saviour frequently, Mark 4.10 & 7.17. & 10.10. Iohn. 9.3. So the Corinthians of S. Paul, 1 Cor. 7.1, 10, 22.
6. Forſake them not: the traveller doth ſtill know his Hoſt and Inn, Deut. 12.9.and cannot eaſily be drawne away without ſpeciall cauſe. In forſaking of thy Miniſter ſee thou beeſt able to approove thy heart to God upon good and ſufficient warrant, there is a brand laid on ſuch as do, 2 Tim. 1.15. & 4.10, 16.
Duo denarij ſunt duo Teſtamenta qua imaginem in ſe habent aeterni Regis expreſſam, quoniam pretio vulnera noſtra curantur. Amb. in loc.Come we next to conſider, what was left in hand with this Hoſt, The Text ſaith,
Hee tooke out two pence, and gave, &c.]
By the two pence, ſome underſtand the two Teſtaments: others the Word and Sacraments. But wee may ſafely take the meaning to be more large; and ſo underſtand thereby whatſoever gifts Chriſt hath furniſhed his Miniſters withall, whether they concerne this life, or an other; So S. Auſtin (de Queſt: Evang: lib. 2. q. 19.) ſeemes to me to underſtand the meaning. Vel duo Sacramenta: aut etiam duplicem doctrinam Legis & Evangelij, paenitentiae & gratiae. Aret in loc.It is evident enough,
Chriſt hath betruſted his Miniſters with gifts and graces, for the reliefe and comfort of distreſſed ſoules, Mat. 25.14.
Theſe gifts are of two ſorts; Spirituall and Temporall. The Spirituall are either Ouward, as the Word and Sacraments; theſe are put into their hands, Math. 28.19. Or Inward, as the graces of the ſpirit, ſuch as thoſe ſpoken of, Eph. 4.8, 12.
The Temporall gifts, we read of in the Law, Deut. 10.8, 9. Lev. 27.30. compared with, Numb. 18.21. And in the Goſpell, 1 Cor. 9.4, 14.
Vſe 1 Such miſtake then, as thinke Miniſters beggarly and empty fellows. A Biſhop (ſaith Nazianzen) is not foreign a vaine and empty name, he is well furniſhed (if in travelling from Hieruſalem to Iericho he hath eſcaped the Theefe) at leaſt it is intended he ſhould ſo be. Read, Math. 13.52. There you ſhall find he is a Rich Houſe-houlder, and is able foreign to tumble out of his treaſury, foreign, things new and old.
Vſe 2 Wherfore make uſe of us, and of thoſe gifts wherwith we are betruſted; For we are debtors to you, (ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 1.14, 15.) You are apt enough to make uſe of our temporals, but not of our ſpirituals. When you come into the company of a Lawyer or Phyſitian, you will be inquiring for your ſelves, ſtates, children, but the moſt uſe you make of ſome Miniſters is, to bury a corps; Church (or rather chamber) your wives. Nor let any thinke to do well enough without theſe, God gives his gifts to us through their hands. Luk. 15.22. Iohn Baptiſt muſt give water; or Christ will give no bloud. There is a neceſſity to wait upon them (though not Infallibilitatis yet ordinis) if you would have comfort take it from their hands by whom God ſends it.Rom. 10.14.
With the two pence a charge is given.