The Good Samaritan, Part 32 – Part 35
And he ſaid, Text. he that ſhewed mercy on him; then ſaid Ieſus unto him, Verſ. 37 go and do thou likewiſe.]
We have here the Anſwer to our Saviours Demand, where,
1. The Anſwerer who he is [He]
2. The Anſwer it ſelfe, which is fairly and fully put in by the Lawyer, and then Ratified by the Lawgiver.
He] that Lawyer ſpoken of before, verſe 25. who made the Queſtion, ver. 29 [He] is the Reſpondent.
How contrary the Gloſſe of the Phariſees was to this Anſwer you have heard before, and may read, Mat. 5.43 yet here he is inforced though an Adverſary to teſtifie the Truth.
Thence note,
Doct. The truth wants not ſometimes the teſtimony and ſuffrage of an Adverſarie, Exod. 8.19. Iudges 7.14. Iohn 11.49-53. & 19.22. Math. 27.54. Luk. 4.22.
This teſtimony doth every Hypocrite and diſſembler give whilſt they profeſſe the truth, for if it be not worthy, why do they make any Profeſſion therof? Now God is pleaſed to have it thus.
Reaſon Firſt, Deut. 32.15.That the truth may be glorified; what ſtronger teſtimony than the teſtimony of an Adverſarie? True it is, Non eget teſtimonio hominis, Ioh. 5.34. It ſelf is teſtimony enough, and therfore called the Teſtimonie, Iſa. 8.20. It bearing witneſſe to it ſelf: It is of the Nature that God himſelf is, whoſe Glory is not capable of any augmentation, nor paſſive of any diminution: As the Splendour of the Sunne is not inlarged by them that bleſſe it, nor eclipſed by them that hate it. The Sea may be multiplied, the Earth ſwel'd bigger, the Heavens ſtretched out, Hell inlarged; but God and truth is ever the ſame, 2 Pet. 2 2.and yet in reſpect of us both the one and the other may be ſaid to be magnified or diſhonoured. We may make them appeare greater in us though they cannot be made greater by us: It may be made to appeare more glorious or inglorious to others, though it cannot be made either glorious or inglorious in it ſelf.
Secondly, That the godly may be more ſetled and confirmed in it: To heare a Saul preach, Balaam bleſſe, Caiaphas propheſie is a notable ſtrengthening and confirmation to our Faith, that what is delivered is of God and not of man.
Thirdly, This makes for the further confuſion of wicked ones, who ſin againſt the known light and teſtimony of their own Conſciences; had not God revealed the truth unto them their damnation would be the eaſier, their judgment the lighter, but now that they ſay they ſee, their ſin remaineth, Luk. 12.47, 48. Ioh. 9.41.
Vſe 1 Let this firſt informe us of the hardſhip, which truth undergoes and ſuffers in this world. Without all Queſtion ſhe is often queſtioned and put to defend her ſelfe by witneſſe of her Neighbours. Truth is fallen in the ſtreets and equity cannot enter (ſaith the Prophet, Iſay. 59.14.) And the way of truth is evill ſpoken of (as ſaith S. Peter, 2 Epiſt. 2.….) And the talk is, that truth is not only in a ſwoone, but like to die for want of Confeſſion, becauſe there is none to be found who will be her Confeſſor.
Yet not after the wont of wayward men (as ſometimes ſpake a Reverend Prelate of ours) let us ſo bemoane what we want, D Senhouſe B. of Carlile.as not to bleſſe God for what we have: The voyce of truth is heard in our land (as Salomon ſpake of the Turtle) and as God ſaid of Corinth, I have much people in this Citie; So both in Citie and Country, God hath many, who are ready to beleeve truth on her bare word: But what are theſe flockes of kids, being compared with theſe mighty troopes of Aramites? Tell the Polititians of this world, Papinians truth, that is the beſt po…licie which …k… moſt for piety: … a covetous man of S. Paules truth, that the love of money is the roote of all evill. &c. Strait ſhe muſt proove her honeſty by witneſſe. Or if the like liberty were given to thoſe, whoſe hearts ariſe againſt theſe truths, as was by Gideon in the audience of all the people to the timerous and faint hearted, to depart, our auditories, which are now thin enough, would ſoone be thinner, Vel duo vel nemo. We ſeeme to entertaine the truth lucentem, but we hate it redarguentem (as ſaith S. Auſtin) And as the Fryer told the people, that the truth was like to holy water, which every one will call for, yet when it came to be caſt on them, they would turne away their faces, ſo wee call to have the truth preached to us, but the truth is, it will not by many be endured.
Vſe 2 Doth not the truth want teſtimony ſometimes from the mouth of a very adverſary? why then it is a ſhame if the profeſſed friends of truth ſhould faile her: Veritatem Philoſophia quaeris, Theologia invenit, Religio poſſidet (ſaith Miranaula) Philoſophy ſeekes truth; Divinity hath found truth; Religion profeſſeth truth; And yet with the Church in the Canticles, may truth complaine, I am wounded in the houſe of my friends. Had it beene an enemy that had thus reproached mee, then I could have borne it (ſaith David) So may truth ſay, had it beene a Heathen and Pagan I could better have ſuffered it, but it was a Profeſſor, a Chriſtian I ſuffered by, this is grievous.
Queſt. But who doth thus?
Reſp. Thoſe ſpoken of, Rom. 1.18. who impriſon truth through wilfull diſobedience, and hold her in injuſt captivity, and will not ſuffer the truth revealed, to have her perfect worke in them for their through ſanctification, Ioh. 17.17. Thoſe alſo who walke not in it, nor worthy of it, 3 Epiſt. Ioh. 4. ſuch caſt aſperſions on the faire cheeke of Gods truth, and ſtick not to give her the lye.
But let all ſuch as indeed love the truth, have courage for her. Let Magiſtrates be ſeene in her Livery; Moſes was counſelled by Iethro, to chooſe Viros veraces, men of truth for judicature. The Egyptian Judges had the Picture of truth alwayes in a chaine about their neckes; And Charles the great, had this written on his ſword, Decem Praecep…orum custos Carolus: Charles keeper of the ten Commandements.
Let the Prieſts of God be cloathed with Righteouſneſſe and have veritatem written on their breaſt-plate, as Aaron had alwayes, when he gave ſentence: remembring that of Tertullian, nihil veritas erubeſcit, niſi ſolummodo abſcondi.
And let all that profeſſe the truth witneſſe in her behalfe, both Actively and Paſſively; Our Lord and Maſter tells us, that his comming into the world was, to beare witneſſe to the truth, and our beeing in the world is for the ſame end. God is truth; his wayes are the wayes of truth; his word is truth; his workes are truth, all truth, Bleſſed are they who defend his truth.
Object. But veritas odium parit; and who but children or fooles tell truth?
Reſp. Veritas odium parit, ſed non eſt odioſa. (as ſaith judicious M. Calvin in Gal. 4) It brings hatred, but it is not hatefull, but every way moſt excellent and glorious, ſo that in all our ſufferings for it, the ſpirit of glory and of God reſts on us, 1 Pet. 4.14.
2. Gods eyes are upon the truth, as ſpeaketh Ieremiah, and upon them alſo that ſtand out in her defence, 2 Pet. 2.9. Pſ. 37.6. Lam. 3.56, 57.
3. Though none (unleſſe children and fooles) will tell the truth, yet unleſſe we be ſuch fooles and children, we may not think to enter into the kingdome of Heaven, Pſal. 15.
Vſe 3 Let us in the third place, learne to receive the truth who ever be the bringer; Doe we like the Sun ever the worſe becauſe it breakes out of a darke cloud? why ſhould we diſregard the truth, breaking forth of an enemies lips? S. Paul rejoyced herein, and would rejoyce that Christ was preached. Phil. 1.17, 18.
Doe we not often ſend a letter by a dirtie carrier? and ſome diſorderly meſſenger brings us money which is none of his owne. Balaam may bring a bleſſing in his mouth though himſelfe a wizard; Elijah be fed by a Raven, though an uncleane bird: Balaams Aſſe did ſpeake to anothers underſtanding, though not to his own: Moſes may have good counſell given by a Midianite: and do you not know the Apothecaries boy gathers herbes and ſimples for other mons diſeaſes, not for his own?
Conclude it then to be (if not wickedneſſe) yet waywardneſſe at leaſt, in thoſe who turne their care away from the teſtimony given to the truth by a wicked man. It is not ſo in civill things, why is it thus in ſpirituall? All truth is ſweet (it being Gods, not ours) whereſoever it is found, the Kings Coine is currant, though found in a fowle clout, or impure channell: Receive the teſtimony given to truth as S. Paul did, though comming out of a Heathens mouth, Tit. 1.13.
The Midianites dreamed a dreame which fell out true, Iudg. 7.13. But the benefit redounded neither to the dreamer, nor interpreter thereof: So one may deliver the truth and teſtifie the ſame, who yet ſhall never taſte the ſweetneſſe and comfort thereof. Let us not then ſtumble at this, but be more confirmed that the truth delivered is Gods, not mans; And as one ſpake once of Atheiſme, that nothing ſhould more confirme us againſt it then to here an Atheists teſtimony; ſo I here of wicked men, that teſtifie to the truth of Chriſt.
Vſe 4 Laſtly, take notice of Gods providence and power, who ex ore inimicorum, out of the mouth of a very adverſary, can fetch teſtimony to his truth We are not ignorant how the wicked reſiſt and rebell; how that they draw away their wecks from obedience, and caſt away the cords of diſcipline from them; yet God can ſo over-power them, as that they ſhall reade their owne ſentence of condemnation, and denounce their owne doome. This is that Salomon ſpeakes of, Prov. 16.1. there are many preparations in the heart of man; Thoughts and words ſet in battaile aray againſt God and his truth, ſo that we may conclude with our ſelves, both what to ſpeake, and how to ſpeake; yet God over-rules: ſo that nothing ſhal be ſaid of ſpoken, but what he pleaſeth to permit, Numb. 22.35. Gen. 31.24. & 33.
Hee that ſhewed merey on him]
Text. Object, What then? was not the Prieſt nor Levit neighbour to the wounded man? was the Samaritane he, and none elſe? if ſo, how agreeth this with what was before delivered?
Reſp. Our Saviours intent is not to teach the Lawyer, who was not his neighbour, but who was: That the former were, the Lawyer made no queſtion of, he doubted of the latter; Now our Saviour ſhewes, that the two former came farre ſhort of the Samaritane in the duties of true neighbourhood, and concludes,
Doct. Hee that heales our woundes, and helpes us in our miſeries is to be preferred in reſpect of neighbourhood.
We have an excellent Proverb tending to this purpoſe, Prov. 18.24. the meaning of which Proverb is, that as all friends and neighbours ought to be reſpected by us; ſo that neighbour in a more ſpeciall manner, whoſe heart is glued to us as Ionathans to David; whom we finde more ready to miniſter helpe then a naturall brother or kinſman, he above the reſt ſhould be reſpected and eſteemed.
Let this informe our judgements of the lawfulneſſe of preferring one before another, in the affection of neighbourhood. True it is all are neighbours; but amongſt all, thoſe are moſt to be reſpected (as true neighbours) who doe the offices of neighbours. Nor ſhould others grudge or repine, if they heare others in this reſpect have praiſe above themſelves.
And amongſt all others, the godly are to be accounted of, who are the members of this good Samaritane, who bound up our wounds, and powred in this oyle. Theſe are more excellent then their neighbours, and to be preferred, Pro. 12 26.
Then ſaid Ieſus unto him. &c.]
Text. Chriſt admits of this Anſwer made, as is evident in this replye, wherein are two things.
1. The Duty, [Goe and doe thou.]
2. The manner of performing it, [Likewiſe.]
In the former,
1. A Diſmiſſion, [Goe.]
2. A Commiſſion, [Doe.]
Then ſaid Ieſus unto him.]
1. Something in generall is to be learned, in that our Saviour admitteth of this his Anſwer, (though he were his enemy) and approves it, it being diſcreetly and directly to the point.
Doct. What is good in any, is to be liked and allowed of, though he be an enemy or adverſary. Rom. 10.2. Mark. 10.21. 2 Sam. 1.23. Luk. 16.8.
Reaſon 1 So farre forth as any thing is good, it comes from God, Iam. 1.17. and therfore is to be liked.
This likewiſe ſtands with the rule of equity, to give every man his due: and ſo commendation to whom commendation belongs.
This is a good encouragement to well doing: It is an allurement tempered to the inclination of nature, which is with nothing led more kindly then with commendation, Act. 26.27.28. Phil. 4.8.
Beſides it cheriſheth concord, and friendſhip amongſt men, when the neglect doth often ſtirre up ſtrife and hatred.
Vſe 1 This reproves ſuch, for ſowre and uncharitable men, who for ſome fault, condemne whatſoever good they find; either through weakeneſſe (as not being able to diſtinguiſh betwixt the worke of God, and the worke of ſinne) or through wickedneſſe and envy, ſhutting their eyes that they may not give vertue its due praiſe; this is not to be like God, who omits not the due praiſes of thoſe Churches, whom he ſharplieſt reproveth; and doth readily take notice of the leaſt good thing in his, both to commend it, and reward it. The little goodneſſe found in Abijah amongſt all the ſonnes of Ieroboam, 1 King. 14 13.the Lord paſſeth not without mention and recompence.
Vſe 2 Let this be a ground of moderation, in ſpeaking of our Adverſaries; if we mention their vices, for loathing or amendment, yet forget not what deſerveth praiſe; give them their due: Is he learned? Act. 26.ſay not as Feſtus of S. Paul, hee is mad. Is he bountifull and a good houſe keeper? ſay not of him as it was ſaid of Chriſt, Luk. 7.hee is a glutton or a wine bibber. Is he temperate and ſober, judge not as they of Iohn the Baptiſt, that hee hath a divell. What man but hath ſomething in him good? that take notice of, and commend, be he what he will.
Verſ. 3 Encouragement to the godly: If Chriſt deale thus gratiouſly with ſinners, what will he do with Saints? Surely our infirmities and weakneſſe ſhall not ſo hide our good deſires, but God will ſee them, and commend us for them, which ſhould be a great incouragement in holy duties.