In the 11. of John, Christ is said to love his whole family; and here he is said to come unto them. For whom ⟨image 28⟩he loveth he cannot choose but visit,1 like the friends of Job that came to comfort him in his great adversity, yea and the greater love he beareth unto any, the oftener he will resort unto them, yea he will come and dwell with them.2 John. 14.23. Like Jacob that came down into Egypt, to his beloved son Joseph, and dwelt in Goshen. But Christ is yet more kind then Jacob was,3 for he came not till he was sent for with horses and Chariots, but Christ came of his own accord to this beloved family. Thus doth he always prevent us with his blessings: before he was desired he came into the world, he called his Apostles before they came to him, and before he was requested he came unto this noble house. O happy house that entertained such a guest, but thrice happy inhabitants to whom such a guest would vouchsafe to come! When he came unto the swinish Gadarenes, they desired him to ⟨image 28⟩depart out of their coasts, preferring their Swine above their Saviour:4 but this godly family received him into their house, preferring their God before their gold, and the health of their souls, before their worldly wealth.5 They received him into their house, who had not a house wherein to put his head.6 Wherein their hospitality is commended, and shall certainly be rewarded at that dreadful day: for with this and such like works of mercy, the Lord shall answer the sentence of judgement, which is to be denounced against the wicked, that never exercised those works of mercy. Let us learn by their example to be harberous and given to hospitality, which is so often commended unto us in the Scripture, and shall be so richly rewarded at the last day. Those godly Fathers Abraham and Lot,7 entertained Angels in the habit of strangers: So we may daily entertain Christ Jesus▪ in the habit of a ⟨image 29⟩poor man, of a blind man, of a lame man, and whatsoever is done unto any of these that are his members, he accounteth and accepteth as done unto himself. Now as this virtue of hospitality is commendable in all sorts of men: so is it more specially commended to the ministers, who are expressly commanded by the Apostle among other things,8 to be given to hospitality.9
In the 11. of Iohn, Christ is said to loue his whole familie; and heere he is said to come vnto them. For whom ⟨image 28⟩he loueth he cannot choose but visit,1 like the friends of Iob that came to comfort him in his great aduersitie, yea and the greater loue hee beareth vnto any, the oftner he will resort vnto them, yea hee will come and dwell with them.2 Iohn. 14.23. Like Iacob that came downe into Egipt, to his beloued sonne Ioseph, and dwelt in Goshen. But Christ is yet more kinde then Iacob was,3 for hee came not till he was sent for with horses and Chariots, but Christ came of his owne accord to this beloued familie. Thus dooth he alwayes preuent vs with his blessings: before hee was desired hee came into the world, hee called his Apostles before they came to him, and before he was requested he came vnto this noble house. O happy house that enterteyned such a guest, but thrise happie inhabitants to whome such a guest woulde vouchsafe to come! When hee came vnto the swinish Gadarenes, they desired him to ⟨image 28⟩depart out of their coasts, preferring their Swine aboue their Sauiour:4 but this godly family receiued him into their house, preferring their God before their golde, and the health of their soules, before their worldlye wealth.5 They receiued him into their house, who had not a house wherein to put his head.6 Wherein their hospitalitie is commended, and shall certainely be rewarded at that dreadfull day: for with this and such like works of mercie, the Lord shall answere the sentence of iudgement, which is to be denounced against the wicked, that neuer exercised those workes of mercie. Let vs learne by their example to be harberous and giuen to hospitalitie, which is so often commended vnto vs in the Scripture, and shall bee so richly rewarded at the last day. Those godly Fathers Abraham and Lot,7
- 1Job. 2.Iob. 2.
- 2Gen. 47.
- 3Gen. 45.
- 4Luke. 8.
- 5Matth. 8.19
- 6Matt. 25.
- 7Gen. 18. Gen. 19.
- 81. Tim. 3.2
- 9Num. 35.
