The Good Samaritan, Part 3
A certaine man went downe, Text. &c.
Firſt looke we into the Story: (Conſider we the words according to the letter) and then after into the Myſtery. The Text ſaith; Homo quidam. A certaine man there was, but who this man was, is left uncertaine.
Doct. Scripture ſets downe things neceſſary for Salvation, not for ſatisfying curioſity. It is well obſerved that in the books of the Kings and Chronicles, this is often repeated. The reſt of the Acts, &c. They are written in the bookes of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda, &c. So Eſter 10.2. The reſt is written in the bookes of the Kings of Perſia. As if the Spirit of God ſhould ſay: I have ſufficiently told you here, ſo farre as may corcerne the Church, and make for your edification in Godlineſſe; it is not my manner to ſatisfie your curious deſires, and luſtfull appetites, if you would know more go you to your owne Regiſters. See 2 Tim. 3.16.
Vſe Beware we than how we abuſe any part of Scripture by jeſting or overcurious handling, to pleaſe mens humors: This is (as it were) to put the Prophets and Apostles into a Fooles-coat. They are not penned for any other end then to further mans ſalvation and happineſſe And in reading of them let our aime be to profit, and not to paſſe the time away, Dr. HallTrue it is there is no Hiſtory ſo pleaſant as the Sacred: The magnificence and antiquity of the matter, the ſweetneſſe of compyling, the ſtrange variety of memorable occurrences doth ſweetly ſteale away both time and Reader. But let us ſtill remember, the delight in reading is nothing unleſſe it be reduced to Ʋſe: God penned his Word not to tickle the eare, but to ſave the ſoule.
In the Myſtery; Aug: Tom: 4. Queſt Evang: l: 2. cap: 2.This certaine man was Adam, and every one that comes from the loynes of Adam; even mans whole nature. Homo enim iſte ipſe Adam intelligitur in genere humane (ſaith St. Auſtine.)
In this Expoſitors do agree concluding (according to the truth.) That Adam and, Doct. his poſterity is the rob'd and ſpoyled man. See Gen. 3. Pſ. 49.12.
Vſe Let every one then ſo looke upon himſelfe, and thus judge. So did St. Paul, Rom. 7.24. foreign O wretched (ſpoyled) man that I am.
Man by Creation was indeed an admirable creature, the Maſter-piece of all Gods works, conſiſting of a materiall body, but as immortall as his ſoule which was divine and immateriall: his Inſide was full of ſpirituall, his Outſide was full of naturall perfection, both carrying the Image of his God, and he in both being the glory of Gods Worke-manſhip in this inferiour world: Placed in a Paradiſe, prepared and furniſhed with all delights and rarities for his entertainement. Such a place as no mans eyes might ever bee ſo happy as to behold, but his owne: Appointed Lord and Soveraigne over all the creatures upon the Earth, which received their denomination from him, and did their homage moſt readily unto him. In a word, he was a creature every way ſo abſolutely happy, that unleſſe we had againe his firſt perfections, it is impoſſible to make compleate relation of his happy and glorious condition.
Thus God made man upright, Eccleſ. 7.29.but he hath ſought out many inventions of his owne. Although he was created thus Excellent, yet mutable. He was made good, but changeably good: In power of ſtanding, and poſſibility of falling: Power of ſtanding he had from God his Creator; poſſibility of falling from himſelfe being a creature; ſo as that this his eſtate might be altered and changed by force of temptation.
That the creature (righteous by Creation) may ſo eternally remain; Two helps, or favours from God, are neceſſarily required. 1. A power to perſevere in goodneſſe (for without this Power the creature of it ſelfe ceaſeth to be good.) 2. An act or deed; and that is the will to perſevere or perſeverance it ſelf. Both theſe helps the good Angels have, and therfore kept their ſtanding. Adam received the firſt of God, but not the Second: For beſides the goodnes of his will, he received of God, a power conſtantly to perſevere in goodnes, if he would; Yet the act of perſeverance was left to the choice and liberty of his own will; which power he abuſed, and ſo falling into the hands of Theeves, the Divel and his Angels, was ſoon rob'd and ſpoyled (as we ſhall ſee in the Proſecution)
Object. But how had Adam ſufficient grace having not the will to will that good he could and might.
Reſpon. He received ſufficient for the perfection of his nature; (if he would not have bin wanting to himſelf;) but he received not ſufficient grace for the immutability of his nature; nor was that of neceſſity to be given to a creature:Baſil: For then God had created a God (who only hath his Name and Nature I AM: it being only proper to him to be unchangeable good.)
A Gold-Smith makes a Jewell of great valew (ſaith one) he compounds it of gold, pearls and precious ſtones, when he hath brought it to perfection he doth not put this property to it, that if it fall it ſhall not be bruiſed nor broken: Thus God created man in all perfection, and gave him power and ability to continue in the ſame, if he would; yet he did not put unto his nature this condition, that it ſhould be unchangeable, when it ſhould be aſſayled by the force of outward temptation (as it was, whence he fell, and as a rob'd and ſpoyled man now remaines.) Judge not then of Gods goodnes to him by what now he is.
Vſe 2 Nor let any now truſt to his own ſtrength and power; you ſee the weaknes of man at his beſt eſtate without the power of God; he could not avoid the leaſt aſſault of the Theefe or robber further than he was aſſiſted by Gods good grace; which ſhould cauſe us (now much more) to renounce our ſelves and cleave to God; wholy depending upon his gracious aſſiſtance in all our actions and attempts. Let not our falſe heart deceive us which thinkes to goe beyond the Divell in ſwallowing of his baite and yet avoid his hook; Worlds of ſoules periſh by this fraud, fondly beguiling themſelves, whileſt they make themſelves believe by their wit, and ſtrength, they can beguile the Tempter.
Thus much for the Perſon ſpoken of. Next conſider we what it is that is ſaid of him.
Text. He went downe from Hieruſalem to Iericho and fell amongſt theeves, &c.
Firſt, we muſt ſpeake of the termes before we come to other particulars.