And when he saw them . Obser . Wee may here behold our Sauiours easinesse to be entreated , his readinesse to looke vpon and helpe distressed petitioners ; These poore men cryed & he heard them . He neither ( like scornefull persons amongst vs , who will not vouchsafe to looke vpon a poore bodie ) withdrew his eyes from their persons , for he saw them ; neither ( like our deafe worldlings , who will not heare the cries of the needy ) turned he his eares from their prayers : for hee heard them . Neither like our churlish Nabals , ( who refuse to releeue the distressed ) denied he their requests , for he cleansed them . Thus the eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous , his eares are open vnto their cry , and he deliuereth them out of their distresse a a Psal. 34. 15. .

The Lord who dwelleth on high , and hath respect vnto the lowly , heard Ionah , though he was in the sea , in a lowe place , euen in the fishes belly , when he cryed b b Ion. 2. 1. . Hee heard the pensiue Publicane , ( though knowing his owne filthinesse by reason of sin , the spirituall leprosie , as these lepers , by reason of their corporall leprosie , ) he stoode afarre off , when hee prayed c c Luk. 18. 13 ▪ . Surely , The Lord is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him , to all that call vpon him in truth : Hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him , hee will heare their cry , and saue them , Psal. 145. 18 , 19.

When the Lord called Samuel , Samuel ; Samuel answered , Speake Lord , for thy seruant heareth a a 1. Sam. 3. 10. ; When a godly man in his minde calleth , Lord , Lord , the Lord will graciously answer , Speake seruant , for thy Lord heareth . Salomon said to Bathsheba , desiring ( as shee said ) one small petition of him ; I will not say thee nay ; but yet he denyed her request b b 1 King . 2. 20. , but the Lord who hath said , Aske and it shall be giuen you , he will not refuse to giue to them that doe aske . Indeede the woman of Canaan cryed , but our Sauiour at first answered her not a word ; shee eryed againe , and said , Lord helpe me , yet he helped her not c c Mat. 15. 23. ; but hereby he sheweth not that he is vnwilling to heare and helpe , but how willing hee is to haue vs holde out in praying . Hee denyeth vs present audience to make vs cry with the more instance ; and they that with that woman , cry instantly , and doe holde out perseuerantly , shall at length ( as shee did ) finde , that the Lord , though he be not alwayes presently entreated , yet is easie to be entreated , and ready to heare , and grant such requests as are made according to his will , as S. Iohn saith d d 1. Ioh. 5. 14. 15. . Vse 1

Here then may they iustly be checked , who , as if the Lord was inexorable , will rather runne to any other then vnto him in the day of trouble . This is the reason , why so many liue in want , because they will not betake themselues to the meanes for supply ; they haue not , because they aske not e e Iam. 4. 2. . In this it is true , Spare to speake , and spare to speede . First , aske , and then ( not before ) it shall be giuen vnto you , Mat. 7. 7.

2. Heere is comfort for poore Christians : worldlings are vnmercifull , the times are hard , and the prices of victuals high ; but yet the Lord is bountifull , and open-handed : As his plenty is not abated , so his goodnesse is not diminished , and he is now as heretofore , easie to be entreated . In the siege of Samaria , when the famine was so great , as mothers made their children their meate , one of them cryed vnto the king of Israel , saying ; Helpe my Lord , O King ; And he said , If the Lord doe not helpe thee , whence shall I helpe thee a a 2 Kin. 6. 26. 27. ? But whosoeuer cryeth vnto the king of heauen , and saith , Helpe my Lord O King , he will say , If no man succoureth thee , yet will I helpe thee ; He will not suffer the soules of the righteous ( that cry vnto him ) to famish b b Pro. 10. 3 but will satisfie them in the daies of dearth , as the Psalmist speaketh c c Psal. 37. 19 ; according to his promise , ( Heb. 13. 5. ) hee will not forsake them , neuer faile them , nor withholde any good thing from them d d Psal. 34. 10. .

3. But lastly , although the eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous , yet his face is against them that doe euill e e Psal. 34. 16. He fulfilleth ( indeede ) the desire of them that feare him , but as for vngracious and imprudent persons , hee will not in fauour be found of them , nor to their benefite heare them : When these spreade foorth their hands , he will hide his eyes from them ; when they make many praiers , hee will not heare f f Esa. 1. 15. . More particularly , hee will neither heare the praiers of them that turne their eares from the poore , when they cry ; nor of those that listen not to the word when it is preached : Who so stoppeth his eares at the cry of the poore , hee also shall cry himselfe , but shall not be heard a a Pro. 21. 13 ; And hee that turneth away his Eare from hearing the Lawe , euen his prayer shall bee abhominable b b Pro. 28. 9 ; I wil close vp this point with the words of the man that was blind , God heareth not sinners , but if any man bee a worshipper of God , and doth his will , him he heareth c c Ioh. 9. 31. Text. .

Goe shew your selues vnto the Priests . This commandement our Sauiour gaue vnto them , because ( to omit other reasons ) it was ordained , that the lepers in the day of their cleansing , should bee brought vnto the Priest , by whom they should bee discerned to be cleane , according to that which wee reade , Leuit. 14. 2. Now hereby Obser. he teacheth vs , That none of the ordinances and rites which were prescribed by God , were to bee neglected , disregarded , or disused , vntill the Lord himselfe who ordained them , did disanull them . These are the commaundements , the ordinances , and the iudgements ( said Moses ) which the Lord your God commanded mee to teach you , that yee might do them d d Deut. 6. 1 : where as by the word ( Commandements ) is meant the morall Law , and by the word ( Iudgements ) the iudiciall Law ; so the Ceremoniall Lawe is meant by the word ( ordinances ) all which were to bee reuerenced , and obserued , vntill the time of reformation , ( as the Apostle saith e e Heb. 9. 10 ) that is , of Christs reuealing came , who was the body of those shadows . Concerning Circumcision , the Law was , Euery man-child among you shall bee circumcised ; of him that was vncircumcised , it is said , That soule shall be cut off from his people a a Gen. 17. 10. 14. , Concerning the Passeouer , all the congregation of Israel was to keepe it : and whosoeuer did eate leauened bread for the space of seuen daies , wherein leauen was forbidden , euen that soule should be cut off from the Congregation of Israel b b Exod. 12. 19. 47. . So Aaron was to make the belles which were vpon his garment , to sound , when he went into the holy place before the Lord , and when he came out , that he die not , saith the text c c Exod. 28. 35. . And the Priests , When they went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation , or to the Altar to minister , were to wash their hands , and their feete in the brazen lauer , that they die not d d Exod. 30. 20. .

Zachary and Elizabeth are commended for walking , as in all the commandements , so in all the ordinances of the Lord e e Luk. 1. 6. . Yea our Sauiour himselfe , shewing his due regard vnto them , was circumcised the eight day , presented vnto the Lord , went to Ierusalem at times appointed ; and ( as hee did here ) enioyned the lepers whom he cleansed , to goe shew themselues to the Priests .

Vse The multitude of ceremonies which were to be vsed before Christs comming , the Lord hath now ( as it is obserued ) reduced to two Sacraments ; And as those heretofore , so these now are to be respected , not disregarded , not despised . Farre be it from any man to scorne them , because of the meane shew they make ; or basely to esteeeme of them , because they seeme weake and simple : rather must we giue them their due valuation , because they bee of diuine institution . Let vs reuerence and honour them , feeing that the Lord hath ordeined them . Verily , I say vnto you , whosoeuer shall despise one of these ( as to the carnall eye they seeme ) vile Sacraments which Christ hath ordained in his Church , it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke , and that hee were drowned in the depth of the sea .

As they went . The example Text. Obser . of these men , teacheth vs obedience to Gods commands . When Elisha said vnto Naaman ( who was also a leper , ) Goe and wash in Iordan seuen times , and thou shalt be cleane ; Naaman at first was wroth , saying , Behold , I thought , he will surely come out to mee , and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God , and strike his hand ouer the place , and recouer the leper ; and he went away in a rage a a 2. King . 5. 10 , 11. . But when our Sauiour said vnto these lepers , Goe shew your selues to the Priests , they were not angry , neither murmured they and said , Behold , We thought , he will surely come vnto vs , and put forth his hand , and touch vs , ( as he did another leper , Matthew 8. vers. 3 : ) but they without any adoe , cheerefully went their waies . I might tell you of the like obedience of Abraham , who when the Lord said vnto him , Get thee out of thy countrey from thy kindred & fathers house , departed as the Lord had spoken vnto him b b Gen. 12. 1. 4. : and of other holy men , all which haue said vnto God , as the people to Iosuah , All that thou commandest vs , we will doe , and whither soeuer thou sendest vs , we will goe a a Iosh. 1. 16 Vse 1. .

Now for the vses of this point . First , these lepers beeing commanded to goe , went . There are diuers in these daies , who being commanded to goe , goe not ; like vnto him in the Gospel , to whom when his father said , Goe worke to day in my vineyard , went not b b Math. 21. 30. ; And , as those idle loyterers , to whom it was spoken , Math. 20. 6. Why stand ye here all the day idle ? they stand still , as though they had no commandement to goe about the works of that vocation wherein God hath set them .

But we are all enioyned to goe ; Magistrates must goe to the gate and iudge the people c c Exod. 18. 22. . Ministers must goe and preach the Gospel d d Mark . 16. 15. : People must goe and worke with their owne hands , & do their owne businesse , that is , such as to their speciall places appertaineth e e 1. Thess. 4. 11. . As the Lord therfore hath called euery one , So let him walke , as the Apostle saith . 1. Cor. 7. 17. Thus much for the particular calling .

Vse 2 Secondly , for our generall calling . As these Lepers went , so they went ( as it may be well thought ) directly ; and not as Ionah , who being commanded to Arise and goe vnto Nineueh , arose to flie to Tarshish f f Ionah 1. 2 , 3. . And thus must Christians go directly also , and make straight pathes to their feete , as the Hebrewes are exhorted , Heb. 12. 13. They must beware of circuiting perambulations , & take neede of going about , and fetching of compasse in religion : Their eyes must looke right on , and their eye-lids straight before them a a Prou. 4. 25. . Let vngodly men gallop for their pleasure , or profit , or preferment , in by-pathes and wry-waies ; wee must with Dauid runne ( and that directly ) in the way of Gods commandements , and turne aside neither to the right hand , nor to the left b b Deut. 5. 32. . We must still be ayming at the marke of the high price of our calling , and haue it alwaies in our eye ( as it were : ) and ( as Paul went with a straight course vnto Coos c c Act. 21. 1. , ) so must wee striue to keepe an euen and direct course vnto it .

Vse 3 Lastly , These Lepers went , and went on still , till they came to the Priests ; So Christians hauing once entred the way that leadeth vnto life , must not then sit downe , but be still going onwards . Saint Paul reached forth and pressed still toward the marke , Phil. 3. 13. And as he did thus himselfe , so exhorted hee others , saying , So runne that yee may obtaine , 1. Cor. 9. 24. Now they that would obtaine , must not giue ouer running , till they come to the goale ; Though now and then we slip and fall , and so are staied , yet we must not lye still , but vp againe , and make more hast in our way then before ; And to be short , we must go from knowledge to knowledg , from strength to strength , from vertue to vertue , from grace to grace , till we become perfect men in Christ Iesus . Thus much of the obedience of these Lepers ; Now in the next place let vs goe on to what happened vnto them in the way , as they went : And it came to passe , that as they went , they were cleansed .

As they went , they Text. Obser . were cleansed : From hence we may obserue ; that , As we walke according to Gods commandements , it shall goe well with vs . If Naaman the Syrian had not at last washed in Iordan , as Elisha badde him , hee might well haue beene a leper vnto the day of his death ; but going down , and dipping himselfe seuen times , according to the saying of the man of God , his flesh came again like vnto the flesh of a little childe , and he was cleane a a 2. King . 5. 10 , 11. 14. . And if these lepers had not went , as our Sauiour bad them , they might as well haue continued still as they were vncleane ; but as they went , according to his commandement , they were cleansed : As also the blind man going and washing in the poole of Siloam , whither Christ sent him , came backe againe seeing , and his eyes were opened b b Ioh. 9. 7. . More generally : As Iosiah did iudgement and iustice , as he iudged the cause of the poore and needie , it was well with him c c Ierm. 22. 16. ; and it was as well with Vzziah , as long as he reigned well : as long as he sought the Lord , God made him to prosper d d 2. Chron. 26. 5. . What the Prophet Ieremy said vnto Zedekiah is worthy the remembring : Obey , I beseech thee , the voice of the Lord , so shall it be well vnto thee , Ierem. 38. 20. And to the same purpose is that exhortation of Moses to the Israelites : You shall walke in all the waies which the Lord your God hath commanded you , that yee may liue , and that it may be well with you , Deut. 5. 33.

Vse 1 It is not then in vaine to serue God , as the wicked imagine ; It was not in vaine that these lepers went , according to Christs commandement ; neither will it be in vaine for vs to walke , according to Gods commandement . As they went , they were cleansed ; and as we walke , we shal be blessed . Blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord , that walketh in his waies : Happy shalt thou be ( that doest thus ) and it shall be well with thee , as the Psalmist saith , Psal. 128. 1 , 2.

Vse 2 Secondly , they take but an ill course to thriue and prosper , that wander in the by-waies of disobedience ; and they are farre wide , that imagine that it shall bee well with them , as they liue ill . It will bee euill with such , and that , first , in regard of their bodies . Our Sauiour cleansed these Lepers that were obedient ; but the Lord will smite such as are disobedient , with the pestilence , with a consumption , and a feuer , an inflammation , with the botch , and the itch a a Deut. 28. 21. &c. ; As Gehazi was smitten with the Leprosie for his falshood , 2. King . 5. 27. and Vzziah for his pride . 2. Chron. 26. 20. And 2. in regard of their estates , for , the treasures of wickednesse will profite nothing : Prou. 10. 2. They may indeede prosper in the world , but alas , their very prosperity shall destroy them , Prou. 1. 32. Hence it is , that as the Lord would haue it pronounced to the righteous , that it shall bee well with them , for they shall eate the fruite of their doings : So hee would haue it denounced against the vnrighteous , Woe vnto the wicked , it shall be ill with him , for the reward of his hands , shall be giuen him , Esa. 3. 10 , 11.

3. Lastly , here is encouragement for the godly to proceede in the wayes of godlines , and ( as the Lord said to Iosuah a a Iosh. 1. 8. ) if they would haue good successe , to obserue what hee commandeth . Indeede , as the most godly faile in their obedience , so are they many times corrected for the same ; but yet so farre as they are religious , so farre they are sure to bee prosperous , as farre as they are godly , they are sure to be happy . Surely I know ( saith Solomon ) that it shall be well with them that feare God , but it shall not bee well with the wicked , because they feare not before God , Eccles. 8. 12 , 13.

And one of them , when Text. he saw that hee was healed , turned backe , and with , &c. From the practise Obser . of this Samaritane , we may learn our duty , which is this , To glorifie God , and giue him thanks for fauours and benefits receiued from him ; This is the expresse Commaundement of God ; Call vpon mee in the day of trouble , I will deliuer thee , and thou shalt glorifie me , Psal. 50. 15. Where , as prayer , so praise for deliuerance is required , euen as the Apostle also would haue thanksgiuing ioyned with prayer and supplication , Phil. 4. 6. So that there is a necessary coherence betweene prayer and thanksgiuing : as prayer is the sending out for those things wee neede , so thanksgiuing is for the receiuing of them ; hauing receiued the things by prayer desired of God , we must giue him thankes for the same . The first thing which wee aske in the Lords prayer , is , to haue grace to glorifie Gods name ; and the last thing we are to performe in the same prayer , is to ascribe all glory to the said sacred Name .

Moses composed a song for the Israelites deliuerance from the Egyptians , Exod. 15. 1. and so did Hannah for her sonne a a 1. Sam. 2. 1. , both in thankfulnesse vnto God . Dauid calling to minde Gods benefits , and bethinking with himselfe , what hee should returne for them , What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? resolues on this duty , I wil offer vnto him the sacrifice of thanksgiuing , Psal. 116. 12. 17. And thus this Samaritane perceiuing that hee was cleansed , renders this sacrifice for the same , he glorified God , and gaue thankes .

Vse 1 The Apostle foretold that in these last dayes men should be vnthankfull , 2. Tim. 3. 2. We see the truth therof : People haue tongues to aske , hands to receiue , but remember not to glorifie God , when they haue receiued what they aske . In time of famine , sicknes , or any aduersity , they vsually pray vnto the Lord for helpe ; but when he deliuereth them out of their distresse , doe they then ( as the Psalmist exhorteth , Psalm . 107. 6. 8. ) praise him for his goodnesse ? or may it not rather bee saide of them , as it was of Hezekiah b b 2. Chro. 32. 35. , that they render not againe according to the benefite done vnto them ? I know there are certain words of course , as , God bee praised , I thanke God , &c. in most mens mouthes . Many there are that giue thanks and glorifie God formally , coldly , and superficially ; but few that doe it feruently , & zealously ( as this Samaritane did ) who with a loud voice ( which was argumentum zeli , a token of his zeale ) glorified God . ) Few cal vpon their souls to performe this duty , as Dauid did , Blesse the Lord O my soule , and all that is within mee blesse his holy name , Psa. 103. 1.

But let vs be exhorted , alwayes in all things to giue thankes vnto God ; As we pray for them , so let vs praise his Name for them , let vs glorifie him for what hee graciously giueth vs ; It is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord , and to sing praises vnto thy Name , O most High , Psal 92. 1.

Thankesgiuing ( saith one ) was an exercise in Paradise , and it shall be an exercise in heauen ; It shall continue , when others shall cease . In the next life wee shall not neede the Word , nor Prayer , nor Sacraments , but the praising of God shall not cease , beeing a peculiar exercise of the Angels and Saints in heauen . Now if wee would euer praise him in heauen , we must first praise him on earth ; we must glorifie him here , if we desire to bee glorified , and to glorifie him hereafter . I say then as the Apostle to the Hebrewes , Let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually , that is , the Heb. 13. 15 fruit of our lips , giuing thankes to his Name ; and alwayes remember , that in thanksgiuing as wee glorifie God , so wee benefite our selues ; The Lord will willingly giue vs what wee doe aske him , when hee seeth vs thankefull for that hee hath giuen vs ; thankes for former blessings is the way to gaine and procure future blessings .

When he saw , &c. hee Text. turned , &c. Againe wee may obserue from Obser. hence , That as thankesgiuing is required , so it is speedily to bee rendered ; as it is not to bee omitted , so it is not to be deferred . When Sisera was ouerthrowne , Deborah and Barak , euen on that day , sang , saying : Praise ye the Lord for the auenging of Israel , Iudg. 5. 1. 2. And as soone as this Samaritane sawe that he was cleansed , he turned backe ( viz. from the Priests ) glorified God , and gaue thankes .

Vse 1 Remember then to doe this presently after the receipt of any blessing ; As we must be swift to heare the word of God , a a Iam. 1. 19 so must we bee swift to returne thankes to God . Indeede we must ( as S. Iames saith b b Ibid. bee slow to speake : to wit , against the truth that is deliuered , but not Gods praises for blessings receiued : we must bee as quicke in thanksgiuing , as God is in giuing ; as ready to glorifie him , as hee to gratifie vs ; to giue him thanks , as hee to giue vs blessings .

Vse 2 Secondly , as thanksgiuing is not to bee put off , so neither is any other Christian and religious duty ; This Samaritane deferred not his glorifying of God , & so we must not deferre our seruing of God . Dauid made hast , and delayed not to keepe Gods commandements c c Psal. 119. 60. ; No sooner did Ionah cry in the streetes of Nineueh , Yet forty dayes and Nineueh shall be ouerthrowne , but they cryed mightily vnto Ionah 3. God , repented , and turned from their euill way . Our Sauiour hauing called Simon and Andrew , they straightway followed him , Mark . 1. 18. And Zacheus made haste to receiue him , Luke 19. 6. Alasse , people in these times , who make quicke dispatch of their worldly affaires , are exceeding slow in the most important busines of their soules . Good courses for the present are onely allowed , not followed : Conuersion and amendment the most purpose , but yet deferre them , young men till they bee old , old men till they be a dying . But as for young men they must remember their creator , feare him , serue him , now in the dayes of their youth a a Eccl. 12. 2 , and not put off all this , till their vncertaine old old age : and Audite senes b b Ioel. 1. 2. , Heare ye old men , it is sufficient for you that yee haue spent the time past of your life in the base seruice of the world , sin and Sathan ; now while it is called to day , turne from your sins to serue the liuing God . And let all , both young men and maidens , olde men and children , take heede of this delay and procrastination ; & set themselues about religious courses , & Christian duties with all speede and expedition . That thou doest , doe quickly , said our Sauiour to Iudas , Ioh. 13. 27. As hee made haste to saue our soules , so must wee make hast to amend our liues . As Rebeccas friends could by no requests hinder Abrahams seruant from speedy returne vnto his master , so let nothing hinder vs srom present conuersion to God our Master ; Make no tarrying ( saith the Sonne of Syrach ) to turne to the Lord , and put not off from day to day ; for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth , and in thy security thou shalt bee destroyed , and perish in the day of vengeance , Eccles. 5. 7.

Were there not tenne Text. cleansed ? ) Here we may note , that kindnesse is shewed by God vnto the wicked . These nine vnthankfull lepers were cleansed , aswell as the tenth , the thankfull one . Thus wee see that true which we reade , Luk. 6. 35. That God is kinde vnto the vnthankfull , and to the euill . And as our Sauiour cleansed the bodies of these vngratefull lepers , so filled he the bellies of his carnall and fleshly followers , Iohn 6. according as the Psalmist speaking of men of the world , which haue their portion in this life , saith , that their bellies the Lord filleth with his hid treasure , Psal. 17. 14. As he filleth their bellies , so he filleth their barnes also : Yea , and so loadeth them sometimes with this worlds good , that their barnes are not large enough to receiue their fruits , and to hold their goods , as appeareth by the parable of the rich man . Luk. 12. 16. Thus corporal and temporall benefits , Impijs impertitur Dominus , the Lord imparteth to vngodly men . And this he doth : First , that they might bee the more inexcusable , and haue nothing to alleadge for themselues at the day of their account . Secondly , that if they haue , or seeme to haue any good things in them , they might not bee altogether vnrewarded . Thus Ahabs temporary humiliation was recompenced with the remoouall of a temporall iudgement : and these lepers temporary faith with the remoouall of their leprosie .