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ble of the charitable Samaritan, Luke x. 30-37; A certain Lawyer, i..e. a Scribe: or Doctor of the Law, upon Occasion of mentioning this Precept, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself, propofeth this Question to Jefus, And who is my Neighbour? If, in Answer to his Question, Chrift had told him, directly and at once, that, by our Neighbour, we are to understand every Man to whom we have an Opportunity of doing Good, and that standeth in Need of our Affiftance, however differing from us in Nation or Religion, yea, though, he were a Samaritan; it would have ap→ peared a very ftrange Doctrine to the Lawyer, who probably by his Neighbour, in that Precept, understood a few or a Profelyte, as the Jews generally understood it then, and as their Doctors ftill understand it. But our Lord, with admirable Wisdom, inftead of giving a direct and immediate Anfwer, propofed a Parable unto him, which in an eafy and familiar Way fet the Truth before him in fo clear and ftrong a Light as carried Conviction along with it, and gained an Acknowledgment, from the Man's own Mouth, of what otherwife he would have been very unwilling to own: A certain Man (faith he) went down from -Jerufalem to Jericho, and fell among Thieves, which ripped him of his Raiment, and

wounded

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wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by Chance there came down a certain Prieft that Way, and, when he faw him, he paffed by on the other Side. And likewife a Levite, when he was at the Place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other Side. But a certain Samaritan, as be journeyed, came where he was; and, when be Saw him, he had Compaffion on him, and went to him, and bound up his Wounds, pouring in Oil and Wine, and fet him on his own Beaft, and brought him to an Inn, and took Care of him. And on the Morrow, when be departed, he took out two Pence (two Roman Pence or Denarius's, making about fifteen Pence of our Money) and gave them to the Hoft, and faid unto him, Take Care of him; and whatfoever thou Spendeft more, when I come again, I will repay thee. And then follows our Saviour's Application of this Parable: Which now of thefe three, thinkeft thou, was Neighbour unto him that fell among the Thieves? i. e. acted the Part of a Neighbour towards him? And be faid, He that fhewed Mercy on him. Then faid Jefus unto him, Go, and do thou likewife. If our Lord had put the Cafe of a Samaritan's being in Diftrefs, and that a Jewish Prieft and Levite had paffed by him, the Lawyer perhaps would

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not have been easily brought to own, that it was the Duty of a Jew to concern himself about him; fince there were no People whom the Jews hated fo much, as they did the Samaritans. But, as it was a few to whom all this Com-1 paffion was exercifed, he could not deny that it was an excellent Action to fhew him fo much Kindness in his Distress. From hence it followed, that, if it was a laudable Thing for a Samaritan to treat a few with fo much friendly Tenderness, notwithstanding the Enmity that fubfifted between the two Nations, it must also be a good Action in a few to behave after the fame Manner towards a Samaritan; and that confequently we fhould be ready to extend our Benevolence to all Mankind, however differing in Nation or Religion from ourselves, as far as we have Oppor tunity.

To this may be added another Parable, relating to the Forgiving thofe that have offended and injured us, which is one of the nobleft, and, at the fame Time, one of the most difficult Inftances in which our Benevolence can be exercifed. As this is of confiderable Importance, fo it is what our bleffed Saviour frequently inculcateth and urgeth upon us. One of the Petitions,

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in that fhort and comprehenfive Form of Prayer which he hath taught us, is expreffed thus: Forgive us our Trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trefpafs against us. To make us fenfible, that we are not to expect Forgiveness of our own Sins from God, if we be not ready to forgive our offending Fellow-Creatures. But no-where is this more admirably illuftrated, than in that beautiful and excellent Parable, Matt. xviii. 23. to the End. After having faid, that we must be ready to forgive our offending Brother, upon his Repentance, not merely seven Times, which Peter thought was carrying it very far, but feventy Times feven; he propofeth the following Parable: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King, which would take Account of bis Servants; and, when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand Talents. But, forafmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be fold, and his Wife and Children, and all that be bad, and Payment to be made. The Servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, faying, Lord, have Patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that Servant was moved with Compaffion, and loofed him, and forgave bim the Debt. But the fame Servant

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went out, and found one of his Fellow-Ser vants which owed him an hundred Pence: And he laid Hands on him, and took him by the Throat, Saying, Pay me that thou oweft. And bis Fellow-Servant fell down at his Feet, and befought him, jaying Have Patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not; but went and caft him into Prifon, till he should pay the Debt. So, when his Fellow-Servants faw what was done, they were very forry, and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked Servant, I forgave thee all that Debt, because thou defireft me: Shouldft not thou alfo have had Compaffion on thy Fellow-Servant, even as I had Pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. And then our Saviour applies this Parable: So likewife Shall my heavenly Father do alfo unto you, if ye from your Hearts forgive not every one bis Brother their Trefpaffes. What an admirable Representation is here of the rich Grace and Mercy of God, and his Readinefs freely to pardon the moft heinous Offences, which are compared to an immense Debt of ten thousand Talents, if, with penitent and contrite Hearts, we humbly apply to

him

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