Metaphors, Allegories, Similes, Types, &c. - CONCERNING S- I N AND THE D E V I L. S I N A T H I E F. .A;ui Jefus anf,_vered and faid, A certain Man went down from Jerufalem to Jericho, and fell among '.thieves, which flripped him of his Raimeilt, and wounded him, leaving hitil half dead, &c. Luke x. 10. T H IS is generally taken for a Parable, though it is not· fo called, and before I run the Parallel co.ncerning Sin and a Thief; I !hall very bri fly open the whole Parable, according eo my prefent Underftanding, and commit i·t to better Judgments. 1. By this certain Man, I underfhnd the firlt Adam. 2. By Jerufalem, that happy State, and Place of Peace, and Relt, which he enjoyed before his Fall. 3- By his going from Jerufalem to Jericho, his departing from God, in obeying the' Serpent. 4· By Thieves, Sin a"d Satan, &c. Thefe {tripped him of his Raiment, viz. hi• firft Righteoufnefs, &c. and fpiritually wounded him., leaving him half dead, i. e. though he was alive in his Body, he was dead in his Soul: In the Day thou eateft tEereof thou-jhalt furely die. 5· By the Priefl and Levite who had no Coti1paffion on him, may be meant the Law and Levitical Priefthood. 6. By the Samaritan, Jefus Chrift. 7· By pouring in Wine, the Blood of Jefus, that precious Fruit of the true Vine;· by Oil, the Holy Spirit, which thofe rece1ve who partake of the Virtue of Chrift's Blood, called the Oil of Gladnefs. 8. By fetting him on his o;.,n Bealt, may be intended the Doctrine of the Gofpel; for that, a Doctrine, metaphorically, is faid to carry the Soul, as a Beaft does the Body; Be not carried about with divers and flrange Dotlrines, &c. Heb. xiii. 9· By the Inn, may be meant the Chmch of God., for thither the true Doctrine of Cluift carries Believers. .10. By the Holt, the Minifter or Paftor of the Church. 11. By the two Pence given to the Halt to take care of the poor wotmded Perfo", ·may be meant the Gifts and-Graces of the Holy Spirit; or, as others, the Old an<l New Teftarnent: But I rather conclude rbe former. rz. The Sa;naritan going away, m <lY fignify Chri(l.'s Afctnfion into I-leaven, who befides all the divine Gifts, Graces and Comforts of the Spirit, he beftows upon his faithful Minifters here, and ro capacitate and fit them to do their Work and Office, he will when i:e comes again give them eternal Life. Obferv. Sin and the Devil are, and may jitly h compared to Tbteves mrd Robbers. Jj this may not fafely be inferredfrom hence; )'et from divers other 'Texts of S<"ripture it may .naturally be reduced, &c. See Rom. vii. r 1. 2 Cor. xi. I, 2. Eph. iv. 22. Heb. iii. 13ln the Opening of rhis, we !hall firft !hew what Sin and the Devil robs Men of. 2. Shew what kind of Thieves .and Robbers Sin and the Devil are. THIEVES. l. A Thi~:f, is one, or more, that in a fecret and felonious Manner rakes away that which is .another Mans, whether it be Goods PARALLEL. 1. SIN and Satan fhive unjultly to take away, or deprive the Sons of Men, of their undoubJed Right to divine Things. Adam was invefted with a 'ery great Eftate, he had great Abundance of all
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