The True Christians T est, Part 2 · Meditation 22
MEDITAT. XXII. Of Inn-Keepers.
I Have no mind to conſider the Popular Objections that are made againſt the very Employment of Taverners and Inn-Keepers. For although perhaps it is not proper to call it a Trade, yet the Employment ſeems to be ancient, and, as the World goes, is neceſſary, and rightly managed, may be honeſt enough. The Example of Rahab, who ſeems to have kept an Ale-Houſe in Jericho, a long time ago, juſtifies the Antiquity of this Employment; though I confeſs the Example of Rahab the Harlot, does not add much Credit to it. If any Body be ſo witty, as to ſay the Hebrew word Z…nah, and the Greek word foreign, do ſignifie an Hoſteſs, as well as an Harlot; I will not from thence infer, That an Hoſteſs and an Harlot are Synon…ma, and that therefore every Hoſteſs is an Harlot: Yet this confuſion of the Signification of Words is apt to engender a foul ſuſpicion in men, and therefore I think for their Credit ſhould not be much talk'd of: But if we allow the Antiquity of this Employment, I cannot ſee what conſiderable Service it will do them; for it ſeems that Harlotry, and many other bad things that I could name, are as old as it.
But be it Ancient or New, it is now become neceſſary in ſeveral Reſpects; though perhaps not ſo neceſſary in ſome others, as the Inn-Keepers would have it, and many Gueſts do make it. I ſay it is now become Neceſſary, as Men are now adays: For in the Primitive and Purer Ages of the World, the kind and hoſpitable Temper of men ſeems to have ſuperſeded this Employment, and to have well ſupply'd the want of it. It is not likely, may ſome think, there were any Inn-Keepers upon the Road, when Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, Travell'd from one Nation and Kingdom to another, and no man wrong'd them, Pſal. 105. 14. Nor any Ale-houſe in Gibeon, a great City of Benjamin, when the L…vite and his Concubine had like to have lain in the Streets for want of Lodging: But yet there might be for all that; and for ought I know, thoſe properly hired Inns where Jacob's Sons lodged, when they were fain to go as far as Egypt to Market; And M…ſes, when he Travell'd to be their Deliverer out of the ſame Egypt. But be this matter as it will; however kind and hoſpitable the firſt Ages of the World may be ſuppoſed to have been, and theſe laſt Ages are commanded to be, Hebr. 13. 2. we find it neceſſary now, to as many as go abroad, and cannot carry their Houſes and Proviſions along with them, that there be appointed places of Entertainment, where they may buy the things which otherwiſe they muſt want; and hire Lodging, or elſe lie out of Doors.
I confeſs I do not well know, what, in the Senſe of the Law, is called, A Laudable Vocation; but I doubt not but that this Employment, abſtracted from all the ill manners of men that have corrupted it, is, in its own Nature, warrantable and honeſt. The Luſts of Man have mingled themſelves with the beſt and pureſt Employments upon Earth, no wonder then if they have brought a Blame upon this. The Blame indeed is more general in this than in others, but yet it is to be hoped not Univerſal neither. For if we except theſe that follow, and ſuch like, for Lovers of the World, more than of God, the reſt may paſs for currant Chriſtians. I mean,
Such as are Inn-Keepers out of Covetouſneſs, that have other Eſtates, or convenient Ways to maintain themſelves and their Families comfortably, and yet will adventure to live in an Employment ſo full of Snares and Temptations to Sins both of Omiſſion and Commiſſion. This ſeems to conclude a greater Zeal for Earth, than Heaven.
Such as are Inn-Keepers out of Luxury and Intemperance; not ſo much to accommodate the Neceſſities o… other men, as to pamper their own Luſts. Who live in that way, meerly becauſe they have made it their Element, and muſt be Inn-Keepers, to keep themſelves out of Inns. Theſe make not Proviſions for the Neceſſities of Nature, but for the Fleſh, to falfil it in the luſts thereof.
Such as are Inn-Keepers our of meer Idleneſs; preferring a Life of Temptations and Snares, before a Life of Pains and Labour; venturing their Salvation, to ſave their Bones.
Such as over-value their Wares, and obſerve no juſt proportion between the worth of the Thing, and their own Gain; that care not how much they get for how little.
Such as over-reckon their Gueſts, demanding money of them for that which they never had, only becauſe they think that they cannot tell but that they had it.
Such as draw in and inveigle men to ſpend their money, preferring their own Gain before their Neighbours Time, or Buſineſs, or Family: Or if they do not draw them in, yet draw them on, by one Wile or other, to pend more Money, or conſume more Time than they ought or would: Is this to love ones Neighbour as ones Self?
Such as care not to what Exceſs or Intemperance they ſerve their Gueſts, but will either put their Bottle to their Noſes, or will never with-hold it, though they have drunk never ſo long, or ſo largely, ſo long as they ſee the Shot will be paid; that add Fuel, when they ſee that men are already on Fire.
That make no difference between Day and Night, nor between one Day or another.
Such as either ſeek to pleaſe their Gueſts by prophane and filthy Speaking, or are afraid to diſpleaſe them by offering any Reſtraint or Reproof. To ſit ſtill, and be content to ſee Gods good Creatures abus'd, and Man, the beſt of them, abuſing himſelf, and turning himſelf into a Block or a Beaſt; to be content to hear God's Holy Name pro…ned and blaſphemed without Reproof or Regret; and all this to make up a Reckoning, will make up a bad Reckoning at the laſt.
Such Hoſts as will find Men, Women into the Bargain, if they will but pay well for their Drink.
Such Hoſteſſes as ſet themſelves to Sale, together with their Liquors; or by their wanton Behaviors inveigle the Silly to miſpend their Time or Money.
Such as Cheat the King or his Commiſſioners what they ought to pay for, by the ſame Law whereby they enjoy any thing.
In a word, All ſuch Victuallers, Inn-Keepers, Ale-Houſe-Keepers, that prefer Gain before Godlineſs, Worldly Advantage before the Publick Peace, or the Peace of their own Conſciences; That will expoſe the health of their Bodies, the ſalvation of their Souls, the order of their Families, to live Idly, Gainfully, Luxuriouſly, are predominant Lovers of the World, and the Love of the Father is not in them. Go now Landlords and Landladies, and comfort your ſelves in the Antiquity, Neceſſity and Lawfulneſs of your Employment.