TI, 13» cords the ſame picce of Hiſtory, which we met with Matth, 22. 35. and Mark 12. 28. (See the Notes on both thoſe Texts,) but neither of thoſe Evangelifts have the foliowing part of this Diſcourſe;which makes me doubtful whether Lube ſpeaks of the ſame Perſon coming to Chriſt which the others mention, A Lawyer he was, who came to our Saviour upon a deſign to Tempt, that is, to make a tryal of him whether he would deliver any Doftrine contrary to the Law of Moſes, It is plain, that he fancied that the Eternal life which Chritt preached was to be obtained by doing what the Law required, Our Saviour agrecth it, that if he did what the Law required, according as ke himſelt had given an account of it, he ſhould live, I apprehend no ad{urdity, to attirm that our Saviour ſpeaks here of living Eter- nally, Its rather abſurd to fancy, that our Saviour did not anſwer ad idem to the thing about which the Queſtion was propounded. Neither 1s Salvation impoſſible, becauſe the Law in it ſelf could not give Life, but becauſe of fe weabneſs of our Fleſh, ſo as we cannot fall it, So that conſidering our intirmity, the Law ſerveth to us only as a Schn1lrnaſter to bring us to Chrift, and as a Mark which we ought to ſhoot ar, though we cannot ſhoot home 3a rule to direR us in our duty, though we cannot perform or fulfil it.
29 Bit he willing to juſtifie himflf,, faid unto Jeſus, And who is my neighbour ? This Lawyer's Befire to juſtifie himſelf, ſpake him an Hypocrite.
The reafon of that Queſtion Ii» 7s my Neighlmur, was the Notion of the Nejzhb:zur (mentioned in the Law) which the Scribes and
Fx Pet.1.10.
* Deut. 6. s.
templation, and that this was that good part Mary had co9/en.
V Kk E
and Benefaors, at leaſt none but thoſe that were of thcir-o%. N tion or particular Scct, and had taught their People tliat the, __ vet hate their Enemies. Our Saviour (this being but 2 21 e A ſtion contidering the received Interpretation amongſt ” on Lai of God,) doth not think fit to anſwer his Queſtion dirc@]\ ws
i telling hima ſtory, maketh him anſwer himſelf, ASE har
i 30 And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid, A certain man Went
down from Jeruſalem to Jericho,and fel] among thieves Þ]
which ſtripped him of his raiment, and
aud departed, leaving -imhalf dead. 27
| , 3 1 And by _— _ came down a certain prieſt
'That way, and when be ſaw him, he pa
other kde -2 Sean _ "= 32 And likewiſe a Levite when he was at the Place
_—_ and looked on him, and paſled by On the other
&.
33 But a certain Samaritane, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he ſaw him, he had comPaſtion on him.
34 And went to him, and bound up his woungs pouring in oy] and wine, and ſet him on his own beaſt, and brought him to an inn; and took care of him,
to him, Take care of him ; and whatſoever thou {peng- eſt more, when | come againlI will repay thee.
36 Which now of theſe three, thickeſt chou, wa; neighbour unto him chat fell amons the thieves ?
57 And he ſaid, He that ſhewed mercy on him,
Then {aid Jeſus unro him, Go, and do thou likewi& :T 15 Cerraiu. that the Principal Scope of our Saviour in this Hiſtory :2r Parable, was to convince the Lawyer, that every one is our Ne? bour to whom God offered us an opportunity of doing good, whetiier he te
of our Nation or R.ligion, yea or no. ' Every objed of our Merc | 1s Our Net;hbour, whom God requireth us to love as our ſelves; thy was quite contrary to the common Dottrine of the Sc1ibes and Plz. , riſees, interpreting the Law, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbs ur as thy fel, and excellently ſerved our Saviour's defign, to thew this Lawyer thit he underſtood not, much leſs obſervea the Law of God in thit mn. ner as that he could juſtifie himſelt from the Violation of it. He 11. fo by the by ſheweth him, that the Samaritans, whom the Tews ſy much abhorred, better underſtood the Law of God than the 1:1. Heal Guides of thoſe times, who yet pretended to be Teachers fir co others 3 for ſome of them by the Light of Nature diſcerned then. ſelves obliged to do good to every one that ſtood in need of their aelp; or if not by the Light of Nature, yet by the Light of Rew2/;. tion in the Law of Moſes ;, but the Scribes and Phariſees by ter falle [nterpretation of the Divine Law, had taught People to oniit preat part of their Duty required by it,and ſo could not hope to be juſii- ed or to obtain eternal Life and Salvation from the obſervation oft
38 Now it came to paſs, as they went, that heen:
tred intoa certain village: and a certain womai nam ed * Martha, received him into her houſe.
at Jeſus feet, and heard his word.
iuterpreters thiok this Village was Bethany, and that this 3th; and Mary were the fame which are mentioned 7ohn 11. 2. Inn: pro- tably were not fo frequent then, and in thoſe places, as they are now, fo as ſtrangers were often receivedgin private Houſes, Chriſt loſeth no opportunity of Preaching the Sſpel. While they were preparing Supper, he was entertaining the Family with the glad Tidings of the Goſpel, (the fea made upon the Mountain if (a things, Ia. 25. 6.) The Lips of the Righteous feed many, It was their Faſhion co have their Diſciples fit at their Doors feet, to hear their Ward ; there Mary fixcth her ſelf, 40 But Martha was cumbred about much ferving, and came to him,and faid,Lord, doſt rhou not care that my ſiſter hath left me to ſerve alone? bid her therefore that ſhe help me. Two things are blameable in Martha. 1. That ſhe made too much ado about the Entertainment of our Saviour ; that ſhe entertained our Saviour ſhe did well ; but herein ſhe erred, that ſhe made her Entertainment of him ſo troubleſome, as it would not give her [cave to take that advantage which ſhe might,or ought to have dove, from the Entertainrhent of a Prophet. 2. That ſhe is diſplealed with her Siſter, becauſe ſhe would not lend her her hand, but choſe r1- ther to fit at Chriſt's Feet, and hear his Word, and ectirct! Clit to ſend her away to her Aſſiſtance.
41 And Jeſus anſwered, and faid unto her, Martha»
Martha, thou art careful, and troubled about maiy
things.
42 * But one thing is needful.
_ that good part, Which ſhall not be taken away fron er.
Our Saviour plainly blameth Martha for her too great Sol icitud C and Trouble to provide a Dinner or Supper ror him, whe had Meat to cat which ſhe was not aware of, it being his cat aud Drink to 69
the Will of his Father, and to preach the Goſpel. i.;cerpreters much