Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

There is therefore required of us a merciful motion of pity, so to regard other mens calamities as though they were our own: it is looked for at our hands, that we should be as sorrowful minded for another mans trouble, as he that feeleth the misery, according to that saying of the Apostle. Be mindful of them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and of them which suffer adversity, as though ye your selves also being in the body suffered adversity. Secondarily the Samaritan passeth not by, but cometh unto him, he doth not with sorrowful words wish health to the wounded, and so letting him lye, depart to dispatch his own affairs: For James the Apostle saith. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: and yet notwithstanding give them not those things that are needful to the body, what shall it profit? The Samaritan therefore cometh unto him, setteth to his hand, and showeth the skill that he hath (which was not much ywis) to heal the silly mangled man. He doth not loath and turn his face from the ill-favoured colour, bloody matter, corrupted filth and stench of his wounds, but bindeth them up him self, not letting them alone for another to do. He maketh not his excuse that he is no Physician: but doth what he can in that necessity, using such medicine as for the time present he had in a readiness, till more conveniently he might come by better. Wine and Oil he had taken with him when he began his journey, which in that necessity he doth use, and that not very inconveniently, because wine purgeth wounds and oil doth make them supple.

There is therefore required of vs a mercifull motion of pitie, so to regard other mens calamities as thoughe they were our owne: it is looked for at our handes, that we shoulde be as sorrowfull mynded for another mans trouble, as he that féeleth the miserie, according to that saying of the Apostle. Be mindfull of them that are in bondes, as bound with them, and of them whiche suffer aduersitie, as thoughe ye your selues also being in the body suffered aduersitie. Secondarily the Samaritane passeth not by, but commeth vnto him, he doth not with sorrowefull words wish health to the wounded, and so letting him lye, depart to dispatche his owne affaires: For Iames the Apostle saith. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode, and one of you say vnto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: and yet notwithstanding giue them not those things that are needefull to the bodie, what shall it profite? The Samaritane therefore conuneth vnto him, setteth to his hande, and sheweth the skyll that he hath (whiche was not muche ywis) to heale the sillie māgled man. He doth not loath and turne his face from the yllfauoured colour, bloudy matter, corrupted filth and stenche of his woundes, but bindeth them vp him selfe, not letting them alone for another to doe. He maketh not his excuse that he is no Physician: but dothe what he can in that necessitie, vsing suche medicine as for the time present he had in a readinesse, til more conueniently he might come by better. Wine and Oyle he had taken with him when he beganne his iourney, which in that necessitie he doth vse, and that not very inconueniently, bycause wine purgeth woundes and oyle doth make them supple.