The Church Compared to an Inn

    THE CHURCH COMPARED TO AN INN

    ------"And brought him to an Inn," Lu 10:34.

    BY the Inn most expositors, that I have met with, understand that Christ means the Church, which may be fitly compared to an Inn.

    METAPHOR

    I. An Inn is a place to entertain travellers, whilst they pass from one country or city to another.

    PARALLEL

    I. So the Church is a place to entertain Christians, whilst they pass through the wilderness of this world, to the land of promise; or through the valley of tears, to the mount of joy.

    METAPHOR

    II. In an Inn is a host, who is to take care of strangers or travellers that come thither, and to help them to whatsoever they need.

    PARALLEL

    II. In the Church are pastors, or faithful ministers, who wait to receive all poor sinners, who come to take up their lodging there, and make them very welcome.

    METAPHOR

    III. An Inn is a place of refreshment for travellers, where they meet with convenient food, and sweet repose in their journey. A man may have in some Inns what food he pleaseth, either milk or strong meat, choice of diet.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the Church is a place of soul-refreshment to all spiritual travellers and pilgrims. There is both the sincere milk of the word, and strong meat, all things ready the soul needs, 1Pe 2:1-2. Some are for one sort of diet, some for another. In the Church also is sweet repose, there Christ giveth rest to the weary.

    METAPHOR

    IV. An Inn sometimes lodgeth, unknown to the host, evil persons, thieves and deceivers.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So the Church, notwithstanding all the care that is taken by her officers, doth sometimes receive or take in false professors, such as are unsound at heart, hypocrites, and deceitful workers.

    METAPHOR

    V. An Inn is a very desirable place to men in their journey.

    PARALLEL

    V. So is the Church of God; hence David longed after the courts of God's house, Ps 84:2.

    METAPHOR

    VI. An Inn is not a place to abide long in; the traveller takes up his abode in it but a night or two, and he is gone.

    PARALLEL

    VI. So the Church militant is no long abiding place; Christians stay in it but for a short time; it is a place of refreshment, as it were, for a night. Here we have no continuing city, we are strangers, as all our fathers were; when we come to heaven, we shall abide with the Church triumphant for ever, Ps 30:5; Heb 13:14.

    METAPHOR

    I. In an Inn there is little to be had without money; if a man have not money or credit, he is no guest for them.

    DISPARITY

    I. The Church is a place for the poor, for such as have no money, they are welcome thither. The doors of this Inn are always open to all sincere souls, whether they be poor or rich.

    METAPHOR

    II. A man that comes to lodge in an Inn, though he have ever so good entertainment, yet he is not contented to stay there, he makes ready in the morning to go forward in his journey.

    DISPARITY

    II. But he that comes to take up his lodging in the Church, or spiritual Inn, if he be sincere, desireth not to go out from thence any more; he desireth to dwell therein as long as he liveth: though our abiding in this world is but compared to a night. "One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life," Ps 27:4.

    METAPHOR

    III. An Inn may be so full of guests that a weary traveller, especially if he come late, can have no entertainment, but is forced to seek it elsewhere: "There was no room for them in the Inn," Lu 2:7.

    DISPARITY

    III. The Church was never yet so full, but that there was room for all those that were weary and heavy laden. All that ever truly travelled towards Sion, have found entertainment there; nay, though the servants of the Lord have been sent into the streets and lanes, to fetch in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind, and they do accordingly, yet there is room. Mt 22:3-14. As there can be no want of any accommodation, of spiritual food, so there is no want of room. All that have been called by the Word and Spirit, and compelled by grace to come in, in all ages, have had blessed entertainment; and as God hath enlarged and increased converts, so he hath enlarged and increased the Church, by three thousand at a time, Ac 2:41.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Commonly those that lodge in an Inn are strangers and foreigners, and staying but a night, or a very short time have no acquaintance with any that dwell therein.

    DISPARITY

    IV. But the saints that are in the spiritual Inn, the Church, "Are no more strangers and foreigners," Eph 2:19, but therein make their abode; for though it be said, it is but for a night, or a day, &c., yet it is as long as they live; and they get very great acquaintance with those that dwell therein.

    INFERENCES.

    I. Bless God, that he hath provided such a place of refreshment for poor weary travellers.

    II. You that look upon yourselves to be strangers and pilgrims in this world, may learn from hence where to take up your lodging.

    III. Also it may inform God's people, and faithful ministers, what care they ought to take in receiving men and women into the Church: inn-keepers will examine all suspicious persons.