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Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach

Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 7 · Part 6 – Part 7

The Church compared to an Inn.

Luke 10.34. — And brought him to an Inn.

BY the Inn, moſt Expoſitors (that I have met with) underſtand that Chriſt means the Church, which may be fitly compared to an Inne.

Metaphor.Parallel.
AN Inn is a Place to entertain Travellers, whilſt they paſs from one Country or City to another.SO the Church is a Place to entertain Chriſtians, whilſt they paſs through the Wilderneſs of this World, to the Land of Promiſe; or through the Valley of Tears, to the Mount of Joy.
In an Inn is a Hoſt, who is to take care of Strangers or Travellers that come thither, and to help them to whatſoever they need.II. In the Church are Paſtors, or faithful Miniſters, who wait to receive all poor Sinners, who come to take up their Lodging there, and make them very welcom.
III. An Inn is a Place of Refreſhment for Travellers, where they meet with convenient Food, and ſweet Repoſe in their Journey. A Man may have in ſome Inns what Food he pleaſeth, either Milk or ſtrong Meat, choice of Diet.III. So the Church is a Place of Soul-refreſhment to all ſpiritual Travellers and Pilgrims. There is both the ſincere Milk of the Word, and ſtrong-Meat,1 Pet. 2.1, 2. Heb. 5.12. all things ready the Soul needs. Some are for one ſort of Diet, ſome for another. In the Church alſo is ſweet Repoſe, there Chriſt giveth Reſt to the Weary.
IV. An Inn ſometimes lodgeth (unknown to the Hoſt) evil Perſons, Thieves, and Deceivers.IV. So the Church, notwithſtanding all the Care that is taken by her Officers, doth ſometimes receive or take in falſe Profeſſors, ſuch as are unſound at Heart, Hypocrites, and deceitful Workers.
V. An Inn is a very deſirable Place to Men in their Journey.V. So is the Church of God; hence David longed after the Courts of God's Houſe.Pſal. 84.2.
VI. An Inn is not a Place to abide long in; the Traveller takes up his Abode in it but a Night or two, and he is gone.VI. So the Church Militant is no long abiding Place; Chriſtians ſtay in it but for a ſhort time; 'tis a Place of Refreſhment (as it were) for a Night.Pſal. 30.5. Heb. 13.14 Here we have no continuing City, we are Strangers, as all our Fathers were; when we come to Heaven, we ſhall abide with the Church Triumphant for ever.
Metaphor.Diſparity.
IN an Inn there is little to be had without Money; if a Man hath not Money or Credit, he is no Gueſt for them.THe Church is a Place for the Poor, for ſuch as have no Money, they are welcome thither. The Doors of this Inne are always open to all ſincere Souls, whether they be poor or rich.
II. A Man that comes to lodge in an Inn, tho he hath never ſo good Entertainment, yet he is not contented to ſtay there, he makes ready in the morning to go forward in his Journey.II. But he that comes to take up his Lodging in the Church, or ſpiritual Inn, if he be ſincere, deſireth not to go out from thence any more; he deſireth to dwell therein as long as he liveth: tho our abiding in this World is but compared to a Night. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, and that will I ſeek after, Pſal. 27.4. that I may dwell in the Houſe of the Lord all the Days of my Life.
III. An Inn may be ſo full of Gueſts, that a weary Traveller, eſpecially if he come late, can have no Entertainment, but is forced to ſeek it elſewhere:Luk. 2.8. There was no Room for them in the Inne.III. The Church was never yet ſo full, but that there was Room for all thoſe that were weary and heavy-laden. All that ever truly travelled towards Sion, have found Entertainment there; nay,Mat. 22 3, to 14. tho the Servants of the Lord have been ſent into the Streets and Lanes, to fetch in the Poor, and the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind, and they do accordingly, yet there is Room. As there can be no want of any Accommodation, of ſpiritual Food, ſo there is no want of Room. All that have been called by the Word and Spirit, and compelled by Grace to come in, in all Ages, have had bleſſed Entertainment; and as God hath enlarged and encreaſed Converts, ſo he hath enlarged and encreaſed the Church, by three thouſand at a time.Acts 2.40.
IV. Commonly thoſe that lodge in an Inn are Strangers and Foreiners, and ſtaying but a night, or a very ſhort time, have no acquaintance with any that dwell therein.IV. But the Saints that are in the ſpiritual Inn, the Church,Eph. 2.19. are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but therein make their abode: for tho it be ſaid, 'tis but for a Night, or a Day, &c. yet 'tis as long as they live; and they get very great Acquaintance with thoſe that dwell therein.

Inferences.

BLeſs God, that he hath provided ſuch a Place of Refreſhment for poor weary Travellers.

2. You that look upon your ſelves to be Strangers and Pilgrims in this World, may learn from hence where to take up your Lodging.

3. Alſo it may inform God's People, and faithful Miniſters, what care they ought to take in receiving Men and Women into the Church: Inn-keepers will examine all ſuſpicious Perſons.

The Church compared to a Vine.

Pſal. 80.8. Thou hast brought a Vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the Heathen, and planted it, &c.

Verſe 14. Behold, and viſit this Vine, &c.

Cant. 2.15. — For our Vines have tender Grapes, &c.

Hoſ. 14.8. — And flouriſh as the Vine.

The Church is compared to a Vine.

Metaphor.Parallel.
A Vine is no beautiful Plant, yet very fruitful; it abounds with inward Sap.SO the Church, altho ſhe doth not ſeem ſo beautiful to carnal Eyes, yet ſhe is very fruitful to God.Pſal. 104.6 The Trees of the Lord (that is, the Saints of God) are full of Sap, full of Divine Vertue, or good Fruits.
II. A Vine ſpreads forth its Branches, and accordingly grows much in a ſhort time.II. So the Lord's ſpiritual Vine hath in former times exceedingly ſpread her Branches forth; the Mountains are ſaid to be covered with the Shadow of it, and the Boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars:Pſal. 80.8, 9, 10, 11. She ſtretched out her Branches to the Sea, and her Boughs unto the River. Iſrael, God's ancient Vine, grew wonderfully; and ſo did the Goſpel-Vine, how did it in a little time ſpread forth its ſpiritual Branches, Eaſtwards, and Weſtwards, over many Nations and Kingdoms! She extended her Bouhgs into Parthia, Media, Meſopotamia, Egypt, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Aſia, Pamphilia, Lybia, Spain, Italy, England, &c.
III. The Vine muſt have much Pains taken with it; it needs Pruning often, or elſe it will decay.III. So God takes much pains with his Church; it is pruned and purged,Joh. 15.2. that it may bring forth the more Fruit.
IV. The Vine is in it ſelf but a weak Plant, and therefore needs Under-propping.IV. So the Church is in her ſelf but weak, and needs to be born up by Chriſt. God is the Strength of his People; they are wholly ſupported by Him.
V. Tho the Vine hath many Branches, yet all have a Sufficiency of Sap and Nouriſhment from the Root, to make them fruitful.V. So the Church, tho ſhe hath many Members, yet all receive a Sufficiency of Grace and Divine Virtue of the Root, (viz. the Lord Jeſus) to make them fruitful.
VI. The Vine, if it be barren or unfruitful, is the moſt unprofitable of any Tree, and fit for nothing but the Fire. Son of Man, what cometh of the Vine-Tree, above all other Trees, and of the Vine-Branches, which is amongst the Trees of the Forrest? Shall Wood be taken thereof, to hang any Veſſel thereon? Behold, it is caſt into the Fire to be burnt.VI. So are the Members of the viſible Church, if unfruitful, good for nought, but to be cut down, and caſt into the Fire, as our Saviour himſelf ſheweth, John 15. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Ezek. 15.6. As the Vine-Tree that is amongſt the Trees of the Forreſt, which I have given to the Fire to be conſumed; ſo will I give the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem: I will ſet my Face againſt them; they ſhall go out of one Fire, and another Fire ſhall conſume them: And ye ſhall know that I am the Lord, &c.