of Christ which is therefore also called the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. 12. 24. To this purpose the Apostle Paul saith How shall we that are dead to sin by the death of Christ live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were Baptized into Christ were Baptized into His Death into His personal Abasement Sufferings and Death whereto He was Abased and which He suffered for our sins 1 Pet. 3. 18. And how shall we then continue in sin God forbid let not such a thing be ever done by us The beholding sin in the Blood of Christ did fill them with an abhorrency and detestation of their sins Rom. 6. 1-3 And by the precious blood of Christ the Apostle Peter signifieth the Believers to whom he wrote were redeemed from their vain conversation in which sometimes they walked when they walked in Lasciviousness Lusts Excess of Wine Revellings Banquettings and abominable Idolatries 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with chapt 4. 3. Hereby they were called out of Darkness out of themselves who were sometimes darkness and out of their sinful and polluted condition and ways into Gods marvellous light and so were made of the elect and chosen generation 1 Pet. 2. 9. with Eph. 5. 8. Yea and in the cross of Christ the vanity and emptiness of our Idols is discovered to us and therefore it also evidenceth the great iniquity of those men who prefer vain things before the Lord of Glory Herein is made known and shewn unto us the vanity and unprofitableness of the world and the riches thereof In that we were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. They that trust in their Wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches none of them can by any means redeem his Bâ—other nor give to God a ransome for him Psal 49. 6-8 In the Cross of Christ is also discovered to us the bruitishness of our Wisdom and Knowledge In that this Wisdom was not found in the land of the living how we might be redeemed brought back to God from whom we were banished Job 28. 12-21 2 Sam. 14. 14. nay not only so but our judgment stood cross and contrary to that blessed way and means which God hath in His Wisdom and Pity found out and devised that His banished might not be expelled from Him Joh. 12. 31. 16. 11. And herein the Honour and Glory of this World is manifested to be vain and without â—…vail as to our acceptance with God in that Christ refused it and was made as the filth of all things His Visage was marred more then any mans and His form more then the Sons of men He received not Glory from men but He was a reproach of men and despised of the People Joh. 6. 15. 5. 41. Isa 52. 14. 53. 2 3. Bsal 22. 6 7. Herein is declared to us That the friendship of this World is enmity with God In that our Lord Jesus was hated and villified by the World disallowed rejected and refused by the men of it as one that was judged altogether unworthy and unmeet to be loved and delighted in by them Joh. 7. 7. chap. 15. 18. 17. 14. 1 Pet. 2. 4. Herein we may see the unprofitableness of our own works of Righteousness and of all we can do or perform in any wisdom and strength of our own to justifie us and render us acceptable in the sight of God in that Christ must needs have suffered For if Righteousness could have come by the Law then Christ died in vain Gal. 2. 21. The Holy Spirit in Glorifying Christ and taking of His things and shewing unto us doth convince the World of Righteousness and shews unto us the vanity and unavaibleness of ours in that He is gone to the Father and we see Him no more Joh. 16. 10. And such a discovery of the vanity of our Idols are we called unto in the Sufferings of Christ That no flesh might glory in the presence of God 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 but that thorow His Cross the World in the Riches Wisdom Honour Glory Customs Fashions Friendship Righteousness c. might be Crucified unto us and we to the World Gal. 6. 14. That we might not love the World nor the things that are in the World 1 Joh. 2. 15. And indeed in the Cross of Christ God hath wonderfully stained the pride of all our gloryings and brought into contempt all the honorable things of the Earth and World that we might not set our hearts upon them nor glory in our enjoyment of them nor covet after them nor trust in them seeing they were not crucified for us nor contributed any thing to our being delivered from that so great a Death under the sentence whereof we were fallen nor to the procuring and obtaining eternal Redemption for us 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 with Isa 40. 6-9 1 Cor. 1. 13. 2. Yea and unto Christ are men called by His faithful Servants in their preaching to them the Gospel as unto one in whom all things are ready and prepared for them Mat. 22. 4. Luk. 14. 17. Even all things appertaining unto and in which consists the Kingdom of Heaven and so unto such things as are infinitely better then our Sins and Idols unto those spiritual blessings in Heavenly things wherewith God hath blessed us in the Person of His Son Eph. 1. 3. unto Him are we called who is the desire of all Nations In whom there is that which may answer unto and satisfie all their desires And in whom is to be found by way of eminency and excellency that which they desire after and seek for in wrong objects and in such crooked Paths as in which they can find no peace Hag. 2. 7. To Him are men called in whom there is fatness to delight their Souls a river of pleasures of which they may drink and drink abundantly In whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Psal 36. 7 8. Col. 2. 3. In whom is everlasting Righteousness and Strength Prov. 8. 18. Isa 26. 4. with whom are Riches and Honour Prov. 3. 16. yea Glory and Honour that hath Immortality joyned with it Rom. 2. 7. In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And in Him is all compleatness prepared for us Col. 2. 9 10. Unto Him all things are delivered of the Father even all that the Father hath is His Luk. 10. 22. Joh. 16. 14 15. And so He is evidenced to be more precious then Rubies yea that all the things men can desire are not to be compared unto Him In whose right hand is length of days even Life for evermore And in whose left hand are Riches and Honour Prov. 3. 13-16 And therefore is the excellency of Him and the preciousness and compleatness of that provision in Him declared and made known to us To buy us off from those things which are sinful
them to jealousie Acts 13. 46 47. and 28. 28. Rom. 11. 11 12. And the Iniquity of too many of the Gentiles after Called and brought into the House Ver. 8 9 12. And this Verse we have propounded to speak unto contains in it particularly the Reason of God's great displeasedness with and severity 1. More remotely against the Jews who pâ—t away the Word of God and judged themselves unworthy of Eternal Life which was their own not God's Fore-judgment Acts 13. 45 46. Mat. 22. 7. 2. And more immediately against the unworthy Gentiles or the Man indefinitely that had not on the Wedding Garment Concerning whom He gives this Charge to the Servants Bind him hand and foot and cast him into â—uter Darkness there shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Ver. 11. 13. To which He subjoyns this I say as the Reason of His being so angry with and Incensed against the unworthy both Jews and Gentiles For many are Called but few are Chosen In the former part of which Words to wit Many are Called let us inquire and consider I. To what are the many Called and upon what Account II. By whom are the many Called III. Why saith He Many are Called and not All IV. To what End are they Called And this will lead us to the latter part First To what are the many Called and upon what Account They are called to the Marriage and Marriage-feast which God hath prepared in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord So it is said The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King which made a Marriage for his Son And sent to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Again he sent saying Tell them which are bidden behold I have prepared my Dinner Come unto the Marriage Ver. 2. 4. And when these first bidden Guests the Jews refused and made light of it he commands again Go ye into the High-ways unto the Gentiles and as many as ye shall find bid to the Marriage ver 8 9 10. And so it is to the Marriage and Marriage-feast there-with and thereby prepared to which the many are Called Bidden and Invited Now the Marriage to which they are Called signifieth not only as some say the Feast prepared though that may be and is included also But firstly and principally the Marriage it self which the King of Heaven the most High God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth who is indeed a great King Mal. 1. 14. made for His Son His only Begotten Son In which the Divine and Humane Nature were Married and United in a close and Personal Union in the Person of the Word the Son of God which was the Root and Cause of that Provision prepared for us And to which Men are Called to the end they might come to and be Espoused unto Jesus Christ This I conceive is first meant and intended by the Marriage here spoken of that in which the Word was made Flesh For asmuch as the Children were partakers of Flesh and Blood He also Himself likewise took part of the same That in our Nature He might be further Abased for us that He might take out of the way all that was contrary to us and obtain into Himself all the fulness of Grace and Truth John 1. 1 3 14. Heb. 2. 14. This is the first Branch in the Mysterie of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. And being made of a Woman He was under the Law as Mankind was fallen under it yet without Sin And had the Sins and Trespasses of the World imputed to and laid upon Him God made Him to be Sin for us who knew no sin Gal. 4. 4. with Rom. 3. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. And in and by this Marriage He was fitted and prepared to be Wounded for our Transgressions and Bruised for our Iniquities and to Taste Death for us even that first Death which was the Wages of our first Sin and Sinfulness As here it is said My Oxen and Fatlings are killed Mat. 22. 4. Christ our Passover hath been Killed and Sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. And so That whereto Men are Called first of all it is to the Beholding View and Belief of the Abasement and Death of the only Begotten Son of God in the Nature of Man which is indeed the procuring Cause of all the Glory conferred upon it in His Person 1 Cor. 15. 3. Gal. 3. 1. Phil. 2. 6. 9. John 3. 35. with Chap. 10. 17. Rev. 5. 12. And because all that is Treasured up in Christ is the Purchase and Procurement of His Cross and Sufferings therefore the Gospel is called The Preaching of the Cross and of Christ Crucified 1 Cor. 1. 17 18. 22 24. and Chap. 2. 1 2. Gal. 3. 1. and Chap. 6. 14. And together herewith also they are Called unto the Marriage-feast or Dinner which is prepared by means of the Sufferings of Christ in the Virtue whereof He is raised again in which all things are ready Which in a like Parable to this Luke 14. 16 17. is called A great Supper Great indeed for in it all things are ready And it is called a Supper because once in the end or Evening of the World Christ appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of Himself Heb. 9. 26. This Purpose and Grade was given in Christ before the Ancient or Agie Times But in these last Times all Things are now actually prepared 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. so as in Him there is a Justification from the Guilt of our first Sin and Sinfulness Rom. 3. 22 23. and 5. 18. the abolishing of our first Death 2 Tim. 1. 10. A Victory obtained by Him over all our Enemies Heb. 2. 14. John 12. 31. Psal 98. 1. And in Him there is Redemption through His Blood even the Forgiveness of our following Sins Acts 13. 38 39. And He hath brought in everlasting Righteousness Gal. 2. 21. And received the Spirit without measure John 3. 34. Acts 2. 33. In Him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Col. 2. 3. He is full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14 16. God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in His Son 1 John 5. 10 11. Yea in Him it hath pleased the Father that all Fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. and 2. 9 10. He is Glorified in our Nature with the Father 's own self with the Glory He had with Him before the World was John 17. 4 5. All Things that the Father hath are His John 16. 15. The Father so loveth the Son because He laid down His Life for us that He might take it up again that He hath given all Things into His Hand All Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things all things that pertain to Life and Godliness And all Power both in Heaven and in Earth John 10. 17. with Chap. 3. 35. Ephes 1. 3. Mat. 28. 18. By means of His being Sacrificed for us there is a Feast prepared for us 1 Cor. 5. 7 8.
the Waters and he that hath no money c. And to move them hereto He saith Behold I have given Him for a Witness For a Witness of His Love and Faithfulness He hath so loved the World that He hath given His only begotten Son to be the Saviour of it that all men through Him might believe John 3. 16 17. and 1. 7. 1 John 4. 14. And hence exhorts men To seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near Yea The Wicked to forsake his ways and the man of Iniquity his thoughts and to return unto Him and He will have Mercy c. Isa 55. 1. 4 6 7. Here is a good account and sure ground given in the Gospel both for the Servants to Call so as they shall not run at uncertainty nor fight as those that beat the Air But may both Preach to any man or every man as they have opportunity and Pray for them Without wrath though they be their Enemies and without doubting whether God bears any good Will to them or no For they may certainly know and conclude God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth Because Christ gave Himself a Ransome and Price of Redemption to God for all a Testimony in due time And for those who are Called who from hence may be Incouraged upon principles of Certainty and Truth to come unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily and in whom is all Compleatness prepared and treasured up for us And whosoever believeth in Him shall never be ashamed nor confounded Luke 6. 27 36. 1 Cor. 9. 26. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6 8. And so much for the first Inquiry Secondly By whom are the many Called By the Servants Instrumentally and Ministerially and especially by the Apostles in these last days For as we have said our Saviour in this Parable speaketh Prophetically of the Gospels being Preached unto Jews and Gentiles after He had finished the Work the Father gave Him to do upon the Earth And after His Death Resurrection Ascension Receipt of and sending forth the Holy Spirit in His Name in and by which His Apostles were fitted and furnished to Preach the Gospel according to the Revelation of the Mystery For until then the Servants had not Commission and Furniture to Preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ And though when Christ was risen from the Dead He gave Commission to His Apostles to go into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature of all the Nations yet they were by Him commanded to tarry at Jerusalem until they were Indued with Power from on High that they might be fitted and inabled to put in Execution that Authority and Commission they had received Mark 16. 15. Mat. 28. 18 19. Luke 24. 47 49. And then they were to be Christs Witnesses unto all men of what they had seen and heard And yet though by the Servants here are meant the Apostles principally yet not only For the Bride in general saith Come And he that heareth is commanded to say Come Rev. 22. 17. And so the many are Called by the Servants of the King indefinitly though principal Respect is had to the Apostles So much is plainly signified to us in this Chapter that the many Called are called to this Marriage and Marriage-feast by the Servants So it is said as with respect to the Jews The King sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Mat. 22. 3. Again He sent forth other Servants Ver. 4. And when the first invited Guests refused and dispitefully used them he saith to his Servants The Wedding is ready but they which were bidden were not worthy Go ye therefore into the High-ways c. Sâ— those Servants went out into the High-ways and gathered together all as many as they found Ver. 8 9 10. And indeed it is the Work of the Faithful Servants of the great King not to Commend or Preach themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord 2 Cor. 4. 5. And not to Disciple men unto themselves but to call and Espouse them to one Husband that they might be presented as a chaste Virgin unto Christ Acts 20. 28 30. 2 Cor. 11. 1 2 3. Their great Business is to bear Witness of Christ of His Sufferings and of what He hath thereby done and obtained into Himself and is become and is And of what He is now doing both from Heaven in the Name of the Father to us And in Heaven with the Father for us And what He will do hereafter John 15. 27. Acts 5. 30 32. 1 Pet. 5. 1. Heb. 13. 7 8. And not to proclaim their own goodness as the most men do Prov. 20. 6. that men might admire them or have their Faith standing in their Wisdom Goodness or Holiness 1 Cor. 2. 1 5. Acts 3. 12. But to Confess Praise and Call men unto Him in whom dwelleth all the Fulness that in coming unto and believing in Him they might of His Fulness receive and Grace for Grace But though they are called by the Servants instrumentally yet not by them only The King sends them not alone on this Errand of His but He accompanies them by the Light Influence and Power of His Blessed Spirit in their plain and faithful Ministration So much in former Times was signified to us As in that Scripture like to this and whereto it may seem our Saviour referreth in this Parable Prov. 9. 1 3. Wisdom hath Builded her House She hath hewen out her seven Pillars She hath killed her killing She hath mingled her Wine She hath also furnished her Table She hath sent forth her Maidens She crieth upon the highest places of the City c. Though She sent them forth to call others into the House yet Her Presence goes along with them And not only they Cry and Call but also She crieth Doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding put forth her Voice She standeth in the top of High places She crieth at the Gates of the City Unto you O men I Call and my Voice is to the Sons of Man She sends forth her Spirit in and with Her Servants that they might be successful Instruments in Her hand Prov. 8. 1 4 5. with Chap. 1. 20 23. So our Lord Jesus when He gave Authority to His Apostles to Disciple all Nations c. To Incourage them unto this their Service and against all their Discouragements He graciously assureth them that He would be with them always and not at some times only unto the end of the World And that He was faithful who promised another Evangelist informs us saying they went forth Preaching the Gospel every where the Lord working with them Mat. 28. 18 20. with Mark 16. 15. 20. Hence they are said to be Workers together with Him 2 Cor. 6. 1. And he that despiseth and rejecteth His Servants in their faithful Ministration of the Gospel rejecteth not Man but
is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men loved Darkness rather then Light c. John 3. 19. 20. And certainly God may Expostulate with us as He did with Israel of Old and say Oh thou who art Named the House of Jacob is the Spirit of the Lord straightned Though thou hast no power nor sufficiency of thy self as of thy self to come to Christ yet is the Spirit of the Lord shortned towards thee Are these thy disobedience and refusals to come His doings Are they His doings because He prevents thee not with power and capacity to what He Calls thee to Indeed they might be said to be His doings did He Call thee to the Feast and Threaten thee with destruction and yet not assord thee any power or ability to come As He might be said to Kill who did not what was proper and powerful to save the Life when He had an opportunity But it is not so here For as in His Hand is Power and Might so also in His Hand it is to give strength unto all He is Gracious and gives liberally unto all men without upbraiding Mic. 2. 7. with Mark 3. 4. 1 Chron. 29. 12. Jam. 1. 5. And therefore it will be found to be such an Iniquity in men as for which they will have no cloak however artificial their spiritual Taylors are that they will not come to Christ when thus Called As our Saviour signifieth when He speaketh concerning the Jews saying If I had not come Though my Servants had come never so oft and Called and Invited never so frequently and urgently Yet if I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their Sin John 15. 22. Because I have Called saith Wisdom and ye refused I have stretched out my hand my Power and Spirit in and with my Call to inable you to come and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity and mock when your fear cometh c. Prov. 1. 20 24 31. Thirdly Why saith He Many are Called and not All 1. Not because all men who are capable are not Called in due time by such means as the Great King in His infinite Wisdom is pleased to make use of For the Mighty God even Jehovah hath spoken And Called the Earth from the rifing of the Sun unto the going down thereof Psal 50. 1. Wisdom crieth without without the City without the Pale of the professed Church without where are Dogs Gentiles and Uncircumcised ones in heart and flesh compare Rev. 22. 15. with Mat. 15. 26 27. she uttereth her Voice in the streets How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge To these she calleth and stretcheth forth her hand Prov. 1. 20 23 24. Doth not Wisdom cry and Understanding put forth her Voice Can any one truely deny this she standeth upon the Top of High places by the Way in the places of the Paths She crieth at the Gates at the entry of the City at the coming in of the Doors that is she crieth and lifteth up her Voice every where without and within the City abroad and at home c. But to whom doth she put forth her Voice Surely to men indefinitely for so it followeth unto you O men I call and my Voice is to the Sons of man And not of Israel only O ye simple understand wisdom Hear for I will speak of excellent things c. Prov. 8. 1 4 6 10. and 9. 1 4 5. Christ was and is the true Light which Lighteth every man that cometh into the World And He is therefore a Light unto them that He might be for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth John 1. 9. and 8. 12 with Isa 49. 6. and Acts 13. 47. And the Gospel is Preached in every Creature or in all the Creation under Heaven Col. 1. 23. And those who have with the heart received the wholsome Words of our Lord Jesus and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness know and believe that God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth And that because Christ gave Himself a Ransome for all a Testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2. 4. 6. And though mens voices will be heard but a little way yet lo he sendeth forth His Voice and that a Mighty Voice and saith Look unto me all the ends of the Earth and be ye saved For I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 22. Psal 19. 1. 6. with Rom. 1. 19 21. Yea and the word Many doth also sometimes signifie All. As many of them that are in the dust of the Earth shall awake Some to everlasting Life and some to shame and everlasting contempt Certainly all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of the Son of man and shall come forth compare Dan 12. 2. with John 5. 27 29. 1 Cor. 15. 20 21. So again Through the offence of one many are dead And as by one man's disobedience many were made Sinners When as it is evident that by one man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 5. 15 19. with Ver. 12. 18. compare also Mat. 20. 28. with 1 Tim. 2. 6. Neh. 13. 26. with 1 Kings 3. 12 13. and Chap. 4. 31. Psal 32. 10. But though what we have spoken under this Head be verily true both that in due time God calleth all men as is said to the end they might come to the knowledg of the Truth and be saved And that many may signifie all Yet notwithstanding I judge 2. By many in this place we are insisting on all men are not intended nor meant Not only 1. Because all Infants are not called and commanded to come into the House and they are a very great part of the World But nothing is required of them in their Incapacity Hence when the Lord saith to Israel Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and keep his Charge and his Statutes and his Judgments and his Commandments alway He addeth And know you this day for I speak not with your Children c. Deut. 11. 1 2. God is no hard or austere Master to Reap where He hath not Sown nor Gather where He hath not Strowen though wicked Servants so say As where much is given much will be expected and where little little So by the same rule of Equality where nothing is given of such nothing will be required Indeed Infants are a part of the Nations that are to be Discipled and as a means to that end to be Baptized by the Servants in or unto the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost being brought unto them for that purpose As in former Times the Male-Infants of Israel were to be Circumcised And the Gospel
Christ shall be so raised and be ever with him And those that dye in their sins and out of Christ shall be so raised and perish for ever from his presence And the consideration hereof might awaken and Ingage us all that while it is an acceptable time and day of salvation we receive the grace of God to purpose even to be saved thereby For there is no work nor device nor Wisdome nor knowledge in the grave whither we are going Eccles 9. 10 And not to neglect the present time considering also our times are in Gods hand and we cannot boast our selves of the morrow for we know not what a day may bring forth Our times are in Gods hand In his hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all mankind And Behold he breaketh downe and it cannot be built againe he shutteth up a man and there can be no opening If he cut off and shut up or gather together then who can hinder him Prov 27. 1. Job 12. 10 14. and 11. 10. Tâ—…y therefore if we will hear his voice let us not barden our hearts Hebr. 3. 7 8. But now while it is called to day and while men are joyned to all the living there is hope their states are not now unalterable but men may pass from one state to another Such are at present out of Christ and so none of Gods Elect but under the sentence of death and condemnation may be of God made in Christ and so of the Elect and chosen generation And shall so be if they abide not still in unbeleife and disobedience to God and his Gospel As our Saviour signifieth and assureth the truth of it with a double asseveration Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life Or out of death into life Out of a state of death wrath and rejection into a state of Life Justification the favour of God and Election John 5. 24. To which also agreeth what the Apostle John saith signifying that they were instances of the truth hereof We know that we have passed out of Death into Life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3. 14. Men may now be delivered out of the Kingdom of Darkness and removed into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son Coloss 1. 13. Men may now be turned from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God And in being so turned they shall receive the forgiveness of their Sins and Inheritance among them that are sanctified by Faith in Jesus Christ Acts 26. 18. This Doctrine of Gods Election as it is declared to us in the Scriptures of truth is a sweet and comfortable Doctrine agreeing with the whole Gospel of Christ It leads us to mind and consider the preciousness and necessity of the Blood and Sufferings of Christ without which there could have been no Remission of Sins nor Eternal Life But all must have gone to Hell without difference or respect of Persons 2 Cor. 5. 14. And that if Christ had not been raised again we had been yet in our Sins and Preaching Faith and Hope had been all in vain 1 Cor. 15. 12. 20. It sheweth unto us that the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God in which his Arm is put forth for pulling men and choosing them out of the world into Christ And that such as obey it are blessed and such as reject it judge themselves unworthy of Eternal life 1 Thes 1. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. Acts 13. 46. And so leads us to glorifie the word of the Lord. It sheweth unto us that such as are Elect may possibly fail of the Grace of God if they abide not in Christ John 15. 2. 6. 16-19 And so instructeth us to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear To have and hold fast Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly fear for our God is d consuming Fire And so preserveth us from high-mindedness presumption and licentiousness Heb. 12. 16-29 And it assureth us that such as are at present of the world and not chosen out of it and so none of Gods Elect may be chosen and shall be if they with the heart believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God Joh. 15. 19. and 17. 6. Ephes 2. 2-5-8 1. Pet. 2. 9 10. Whereas that other Doctrine that device of such mens brains as are of no judgement in that particular concerning the Truth is a most comfortless and heart-breaking Doctrine to the greatest part of mankind for it perswadeth them that mens states were fixed before they were born And the greatest part by far reprobated or past by before they had a personal being And that there is no hope for them nor possibility of their being saved And that Gods end in all the mercies he bestows on â—…en and means he vouchsafeth to them is but to leave them without excuse and to aggravate their condemnation and render their sin more sinful and their Judgement more exceeding terrible But this Doctrine of Gods Election agreeeth with and is founded upon the word of the beginning of Christ Hebr. 6. 1 2. 1 Cor. 3. 10 11. In which are declared glad tidings of great joy unto all people because Christ the Saviour hath taken the nature of Man upon him of that kind or species of Creatures not as distinguished from another part of that kind but as distinguished from the nature of Angels which he laid not hold on Luke 2 10 11. Hebr. 2. 14 16. And that be the Lamb of God bare the sin of the world of mankind Joâ— 1. 29 And by the Grace of God tasted death for every man Hebr. 2. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14. And gave him self a ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 6. In which Doctrin we see the cordialness of Gods heart to man-ward And that he would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth The end of Christs dying for all men being that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. Tit. 2. 11-14 And so be happy for ever And to the end they might so do and be Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world And he is therefore a light to them that he might be for salvation to them that through him they might be saved from their sins and from the wrath of God and so out of and from that miserable condition and estate in which men are while they abide in ignorance and unbelief Joh. 1. 9. with Acts 13. 47. Joh. 3. 17. This Doctrine sheweth unto us that such as are not chosen out of the world at present may be so hereafter through the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men Though it also shews that it is dangerous to
so as to come unto Him let us hear that our souls may live and He may make an everlasting Covenant with us even the sure mercies of David Isa 55. 2 3. And to move us hereto let us consider the last thing propounded to be shewn namely 3. That it is the great and inexcusable iniquity of those Men who are called by the Gospel in the faithful ministration of it by the Servants that they are not chosen And such an one as is highly provoking to the great King Thus it plainly appears here in the foregoing verses first it appears to be an inexcusable iniquity in that when the King came in to see the guests and saw there a Man which had not on a wedding Garment He saith unto him Friend how camest thou in hither not having a Wedding Garment And he was speechless He was so silent to or silenc'd by this Question that he had not one word to say for himself If there had been none for him he might readily have made that reply But this he could not do for all things were ready Or if he had not been acquainted with it and called to it this might have been a considerable excuse But such a Plea he could not make for he was called and was one of the called ones into the house Or if he could not have put it on or it had been so far out of his reach that he could not come at it this would have furnished him with an Answer near at hand But he was convinced that his iniquity was altogether an inexcusable iniquity And therefore he was like a dumb man that openeth not his mouth Again it plainly appeareth that this iniquity is highly and eternally provoking to the great King by the judgment which such as are not chosen are therefore sentenced unto and shall in due time have executed upon them Then said the King unto the Servants bind him hand and foot who was tongue-tyed before and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of the Teeth ver 11-13 But why must he be thus dealt with and proceeded against It followeth as the Reason For many are called but few are chosen He must therefore perish for ever because he would not come to Christ that he might be chosen Him that cometh He will in no wise cast out but it appeareth this man came not to Christ to this end in that he was cast out And therein his sin was written on his punishment he was thus severely judged because he was not chosen compare Job 6. 37. Matth. 22 13. But as it appears here to be a great provoking and inexcusable iniquity that men are not chosen so we shall a little further demonstrate the truth hereof and shew how it appears to be such an heinous cloakless and provoking iniquity And in so doing I shall take the course which our Saviour and the Apostle sometimes do to wit say over again what I have said before Joh. 14. 28. Gal. 1. 8 9. Phil. 3. 1. And so 1. It doth appear to be a great and inexcusable iniquity that men are not chosen during the day of Gods grace and patience if we do consider what is proposed to and set before men by Christs faithful Servants in their calling them and to which they are called that they might be chosen they are called unto Jesus Christ to the fellowship of Gods Son Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 9. And so 1. They are called unto the abasement and sufferings of Jesus Christ to the Marriage of the Son of the great King in which the Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth a woman hath compassed a Man Jer. 31. 22. Gods own Son was made of a woman and made under the Law God made all our sins and trespasses to meet together on him and executed upon him the judgment of the World He was tormented for our Transgressions bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon Him It pleased the Lord to bruise Him He put Him to Grief He was oppressed and He was afflicted And God brought Him into the dust of death And all that which He indured as it was inflicted on Him or permitted and ordered unto Him by the Father it was for our sins and offences â—e suffered for sins once the just for us unjust ones He was delivered for our offences His Soul was made an offering for our sins And hereunto are men called first of all to the end they might be chosen out of this present evil World Joh. 3. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 1-3 Gal. 1. 4. 3. 1. and in this abasement and Cross of Christ is shewn unto Men. The vileness and odiousness of their sins and the necessity of their being Washed and Sanctified therefrom to the end they might lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness as it is thus reproved and discovered In the Flesh of Christ and in what He hath suffered therein God hath wonderfully condemned and judged against sin and shewed His utter and irreconcileable hatred thereto and abhorrency thereof Rom. 8. 3. This was the day of vengeance of our God in which He took vengeance on our iniquities in the Person of His own Son who knew no sin but was Holy Harmless Undefiled c. Isa 61. 1 2. And though His own Son cried out My God My God why hast Thou forsaken Me Why art Thou so far from helping Me and from the Words of My Roaring Yet His God was so Holy one of such pure Eyes as that He could not endure Iniquity and therefore He spared Him not but delivered Him up for our Offences Psal 22. 1-3 with Rom. 8. 32. 4. 25. Herein He hath manifested the exceeding sinfulness of sin that it might be abhorred and abstained from by us in that it could not possibly be purged away by the blood of Bulls and Goats nor by any Offerings and Sacrifices of the Law Heb. 10. 1-4 But Christ must come into the World to suffer for them and all His Sufferings would not avail unless He dye for them it was not one drop nor twenty drops of His Blood would make peace for us but Christ must needs Suffer and lay down His Life for us Acts 17. 3. It was otherwise impossible for our sins to be satisfied for and purged away Matth. 26. 39 42. For without doubt the Father who so infinitely loved His own Son would not without an absolute necessity have pleased thus to have dealt with Him Herein brightly and most clearly appears the odiousness of our sins unto God And unto this Cross of Christ are men called by the Gospel that they might look unto Him who was Crucified for them and be saved from their sins Isa 45. 22. with Gal. 3. 1. And those that do thus come unto it as called by the Gospel are made willing to hate and deny that which is so displeasing and abominable to God and which is rendred so to be in the Blood