bring good out of it This consideration is of great use we will a little look into it All the creatuets both in heaven and earth act go and come at Gods command When we see men bold in their opposing the wayes of God we many times are troubled we do not consider that as in wisdom he made all things so in wisdom he ordereth all things excellently Gen 45. ver 5.7.8 saith Joseph there God did send me before you to preserve life c. And Gen. 50.20 but as for you ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring it to pass as it is this day to save much People alive And so for lusts and temptations God suffers them sometimes in his own children either to teach us to observe his rules better or to humble us that we may cleave closer to God and that graces may grow Humility saith one is the Nurse of graces or that we may know God and our selves better or that we may be the more thankfull when victory comes but yet all this while God is bringing good out of it and that Oracle worthy to be remembred that all things shall work together for good to them that fear God c. Rom. 8.28 will be found in the end to be gloriously true Vse 3 Therefore let us learn to take notice of the power wisdom and goodness of God that can and doth thus bring good out of evil good effects out of evil causes Mot. 1 This will confirm us in the truth of Gods goodness and other attributes And Secondly It will teach us in evill times instead of murmuring to bless God for his providences and goodness and power in thus converting of evil to good And Lastly It will make us to walk confidently and to lie down confidently and to put our trust in God and in nothing to be carefull Though we meet with afflictions yet we shall not be much troubled because we shall by taking notice perceive that these are to nurture us Deut. 8.2.5 that we may learn to know him better and to know our selves Therefore it is good I say to take notice of Gods dealing in this kind So much for this point From the word of command Go ye we may learn Doct. That Christians must do warrantable actions They must have a care to do what they have a word of command for at least what is neither directly nor indirectly forbidden in the word of God For there are some actions which are called indifferent as 1 Cor. 7.28.30 If thou marry thou hast not sinned c. and to weep as though we wept not and to rejoyce as though we rejoyced not Such things are not a transgression of a Law for so sin is 1 Jo. 3.4 they are indifferent in themselves Though every particular determined thought word or action be either good or bad a step either to heaven or to hell yet for the actions themselves there are some that are neither good nor bad But to the point I say Christians must do warrantable actions Reas 1 For first they are Gods Servants Servants must attend upon the commands of their Masters And Secondly We have all the ancient practices of the Saints to look upon As first of Noah Gen. 7.14 and cap. 8.1 〈…〉 In both which chapters he had a word 〈…〉 mand both for his making and also for 〈◊〉 entring into the ark and ver the 8. for his taking in accordingly clean and unclean beasts as he was commanded c. 8.12 and 16. he staied other seven dayes that is he would have a warrant for his comming out of the Ark. And Abraham Gen. 12.1 had a command to go out of his country from his kindred and from his fathers house c. And Jacob Gen. 31.3 must be bid to return unto the Land of his fathers and to his kindred And in his old age though he resolve to go to Egypt Gen. 25.28 yet he must have and had a warrant cap. 56. ver 1.2.3 and 4. And Numb 9.18 At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched c. Heb. 5.4 No man taketh this honour unto him to wit of the priesthood but he that is called of God as was Aaron Vse 1 Therefore such as do unwarrantable actions can have no comfort in their doings For they sin though they think not so Sin is not defined to be a thing against the Law only in regard of the actions of sin but even sinfull habits are forbidden in the Law therefore mans nature being out of tune is not so ready to do good nor so knowing what good is God therefore hath given rules to be observed which not to observe is a sin Mot. 1 And indeed well done will be pronounced only to those that have done what they have been bidden and warranted to do Neither will Conscience be so well satisfied with doing naked actions that are destitute of command and example and every thing that might be a ground of comfort to the conscience of the doer Neither will God have any glory from unwarrantable actions it is as if God were not wise enough to give rules or as if we had not a perfect rule to walk by Lastly It is an evil example to walk in this liberty of doing what is right in our own eyes as if we had no Law-giver this brings in boldness among men and makes them fearless But blessed is he that feareth allwayes I omit the School utrums upon this point as not being so usefull to this auditory Go ye therefore into the high wayes From the word of command we come to speak of the place where they they must go Luk. 14.23 hath it thus Go out into the high-wayes and hedges The mind of the spirit is to shew us Doct. That God in the offer of grace is altogether without respect of persons For all mankind are alike to him Reason Job 31.15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him and did not one fashion us in the womb cap. 34.19 He accepteth not the persons of Princes nor regardeth the rich more then the poor for they are all the work of his hands Therefore are the Commissions so large Mat. 28.19 and Mark 16.16 All Nations must be taught every creature must be preached unto Acts 10.34.35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Read Acts 13.46.47 And mark the last words of the latter of those verses I have thee to be a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldst be for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth Mat. 11.25.26 At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes Even so father for so it seemed
so many Gentiles there were many that wanted the wedding garment for there be many hypocrites in every visible Church Many people came in Isaiah 2. ver 2.3 among which there could not but be many unfound ones But it is spoken in the singular Number to shew the strictness of the search He saw a man not one can escape the eyes of the Lord. Hence observe Doct. When the Lord comes to view his Church and to see his Guests he will sind out every unsound one in it Reason And the reason is Deus est totus oculus because he is an al-seeing God none can go from his presence Psal 139. from the 1. to the 6. verse read Jer. 23.23.24 Dan. 2 22 Heb. 4.13 And yet more evidently because in him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28 I might heap up places of Scripture to shew how God hunteth out sinners * Gen. 3.8.9 Adam †Cap 4 9.10 Cain ‖ Exod. 32.1.6.7 Joshua 7.10.11.20.21 2 Kings 5.20 Mat. 26.14.15.16.21 Acts. 5.1.2.3 the People of Israel when they had worshipped the calfe which Aaron made the Lord knows it And sacrilegious Achan is found out by this al-seeing God And Gehazi And Judas And Annanias and Saphira all these were spied out by the Lord. The darkness is no darkness with him the night is as clear as the day c. But I hasten to the Uses Because I chiefly look upon the next Verse to speak of the fault charged upon him that is here spied out Vse 1 Vse 1. They are fool-deceived that think their wayes and works are hidden from the Lord. Yet this is not only the fault of hard-hearted sinners but even of Jacob and Israel Isai 40.27.28 We think God sees not or regards nor our misery this is our folly But on the other side What a poor thing it is to think to slie from the presence of the Lord yet so foolish was Jonah cap. 1.3.4 He paid the fare of a ship and went into it to go to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord but could he O no it followeth vers 4. God sends after him with a witness Vse 2 And certainly wofull is the case of all sinners yea of the closest and best coloured Hypocrites they shall be seen in their proper colours by the Lord. Isai 29.15.16 Wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the dark and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potters clay For shall the work say of him that made it he made me not Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it he had no understanding It is a notable place Vse 3 And therefore Lastly to end this point and ver Be advised to take heed of sin no corners are darke enough to commit sin in God will see as well at midnight as at noon day Pray to God to unite your hearts that you may fear his name it is a good expression when our hearts are united to God we shall stand in awe and shall not sin Especially take heed of Hypocrisie for the danger is great of that sin as may be gathered out of Mat. 25.41 their portion of misery is none of the least as you may see by the Lords dealing with this poor wretch which is next to be handled Verses 12.13.14 And he saith unto him Friend how camest thou in hither not having a Wedding garment and he was speechless Then said the King unto his servants Binde him hand and foot and take hiw away and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth For many are called but few are chosen HAving finished out of the foregoing verse the manner and issue of the trial of this unworthy Guest I now come to the third particular noted in the Lords proceeding against him Wherein three other things are observable 1. His examination about his offence Secondly His conviction thereupon both which are in the 12. ver Thirdly His condemnation or the Lords Commission and warrant for his execution with the ground or reason thereof ver 13.14 of which afterward In his Examination we have 1. The matter laid to his charge 2. The manner of Gods dealing How camest thou hither not having a Wedding garment is his charge This man came with others to the marriage of the Kings son but he came unprovided he was without a Wedding garment and this is the summ of his accusation and the fault that is laid to his charge aggravated by his impudency in daring to come in that trim How camest thou in hither c. that is how didst thou dare be so bold to come hither unprepared The great question is what is meant here by the Wedding garment The Papists understand hereby love and good works but they miss the mark By the Wedding garment we are here to understand the righteousness of our Lord Jesus put on by the hand of a true saving and justifying faith and manifested by a holy sincere and upright walking in the wayes of godliness and therefore the Apostle Paul speaking to this purpose and somewhat altering this phrase wills us to put off the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light Rom. 13.12 And in the next two verses he expounds his meaning viz. Not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying but putting on Christ c. where Christ and a mans own lusts his sinfull lusts are opposed read ver 13. and 14. and he doth more fully mention this Ephes 4.21 22 23. In these words and phrases To hear him to be taught by him as the truth is in Jesus To put off the old man to be renewed in the spirit of our minds to put on the new man All which is performed by the power of sound and saving faith For ye are all the children of God by faith in Iesus Christ saith Paul Gal. 3.26 And again For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ver 27. By all which you may see plainly what it is to have or to want the Wedding garment The sum of the Charge brought against this Professor in my Text was that he wanted sincerity he was not that he professed himself to be He drew no vertue from Christ he had not put on Christ by Faith and therefore could not walk in sound and sincere obedience I observe this Doctrine Doctr. It is a shamefull thing for any to make profession of Religion and not to walk in truth and sincerity As on the other side It is most glorious and comfortable to have honest and good hearts and such are comely creatures such have the Wedding garment and shall stand with boldness before God in all Trials You may read for proof of the Doctrine Isaiah 1.1 2 3. and verses 10 11. where the Lord by Isaiah keeps wofull doings
peace And especially to be often hammering on this that this rich vouchsafement will have its Errands end one way or th◠other It is like strong Physick if it do not work t will kill If the word be not the savour of life unto life it will be the savour of death unto death Thus have I finished the second verse wholly Out of which I have spoken of the Subject matter of this Parable the Kingdom of Heaven and of two Branches of the praedicate viz. the Marriage-maker and the Bridegroom and in the latter of all three particulars viz. the fountain of Grace the Union between Christ and his Church and the way and means whereby this is wrought The third viz. the Guests is next to be handled So much for this time The Third Sermon Matthew 22.3 And send forth his Servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding And they would not come THis verse begins the point of the Guests that are gratiously invited by the Lord to come to Christ The third particular in the praedicate Both Jews and Gentiles The double Call of the Jews Gods old acquaintaince is vers 3. to the 8. And then the Call of the Gentiles upon their refusal unto the end of the Parable We are now to make enterance and to speak of the first invitation of the Jews Gods old customers as it is set down in this verse now read unto you In which we have two parts First Gods favour in giving them the first offer of this Grace in these words And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Secondly Their ingratitude shewed in their willfull refusing of it in these latter words of the Text And they would not come We will begin with the first and therein again we have many particulars to take notice of and speak upon As first a description of the Jews the parties invited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a word wherein their priviledge is gloriously held forth They were the bidden ones or the called ones as the word signifies Such as before the comming of Christ were entrusted which the Oracles of God and were Gods People Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The instruments of their present invitation are said to be his Servants Gods Servants Thirdly The ground of these Servants proceeding in the work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sent them that had a Commission for what they did Of these in order They which were bidden to the marriage to wit anciently must first have the News when Supper is ready 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By these words saith Piscator are understood those which a little before the preparation of the Marriage feast Intelliguntur invitati qui paulo ante apparatum nuptialis convivii invitati ad illud fuerunt were invited to it The like Phrase we have 1 Sam. 9 13. And afterwards they eat that be bidden that is such as are invited Hence this Doctrine That the Lords bidden Guests are readiest to be called unto his sons Marriage Here they were the Jews Gods selected People Gods peculiar People and treasure above all People Exod. 19.5 And so Deut. 7.6 The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a speciall People unto himself above all People that are upon the face of the earth They were bidden in Abraham Gen. 17.7 And I saith God will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee It was their priviledge and dignity to have Gods Oracles committed to them Rom. 3.1.2 They were Israelites to whom pertained the adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises Rom. 9.4 Reason And there is some reason or illustration of the truth of it For such are as it were registred in Gods note book for this very purpose It is an allusion saith Mr. Calvin to such men as write a Catalogue of their chief friends whom they intend to make their Guests when they make a Feast O say they we must needs bid such a one and we cannot leave out such a one c. So is it with the Lord so he is wont to deal Mat. 10.5 6. These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go into not the way of the Gentiles and into any City of the Samaritans enter ye not But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel And cap. 15 ver 24. saith Christ I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel To make this out more fully that it may be fitted for use to be made of it The Lord being about to reform his Church in all places of the word for the time is at hand of glorious things to be done for and in Christs Church looks upon England his old acquaintance for whom he hath done much often to whom of old he hath been many ways gracious England I say shall have a fair offer they shall be first bidden yea bidden again O England saith the Lord Thee have I known of old I rooted out Popery out of thee I delivered thee in 88 from the Spanish Invasion I discovered the hellish Gun-powder-Plot I have for thy sake poured contempt upon Princes and shattered Nobles Armies commanded by Royalty have been brought to nothing c. Now take me while I am offering my self to thee in this my reforming time And so to this very place may we apply it O Tavistock I have afforded that to thee which I have not to all Towns Hath not the Lord striven with you in former times Mr. G. H. in regard of that powerfull Ministry you enjoyed And hath he not as it were made you the first in Church-resurrection in these parts Doth not the Lord even beg you to accept of him Doth he not suffer many abuses in his Servants among you well what shall I say You are fairly offered you are first offered you have the Refuse as we use to say So much for the Explanation Vse 1 The first use shall be for information to store you with this one truth among others That it is a priviledge for a people to live in the visible Church and under Ordinances to be within sound of this Bow-bell of the Gospel For when times of discoveries of God and reformation come about these shall have the priviledge to be served first at least with offers And it shall be their fault as we say if they partake not of the richest effusions of the spirit that are going And doubtless then it must needs follow that To make light of Gospel priviledges is a fearfull sin as may be gathered out of the following verses of this Parable I wish from my heart that you would be convinced of this truth What a priviledge it is to enjoy the sound and saving Ministry of Christ And
also of that consequent truth viz. That if he be cursed that continueth not in every thing that is written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. then much more to have an invitation an offer of Christ and not to regard it of which more shall be said in due place It is an unworthy part to see Christ scorned and rejected and his word slighted and his blood trampled on and not to be moved with it not to weep with Paul Philip. 3 18. that the cross of Christ hath Enemies But to be actors in this Tragedy must needs be most hideous and abominable Vse 2 In the next place you invited Guests may come boldly being bidden And you may be of good comfort when ever God makes a feast to his Church he will have you in his remembrance His old Chapmen shall have the first sight of his new stuff I do not mean that we must look for New Doctrines but fuller discoveries of the old faith which was once delivered to the Saints but hath a while been in Captivity in Babylon Vse 3 And now if this mercy be vouchsafed in any sort be bold to take out the utmost of it And be thankfull for this priviledge and improve it to your advantage For the greater the priviledge the greater the mercy Mot. the greater will our judgement be if we do not improve it Beloved it will be easier for Pagans then for Christians I mean so called and for those poor holes that have scarce a good Sermon in a year then for such as have much of God in this kind if their thankfulness and obedience be not answerable Quest Quest But how should a People or a person improve this Priviledge Answ I answer By coming at the first call not to delay nor put off lest God should swear once against you should fall a sealing you and searing you So much of the first the parties invited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call the called ones The parties imployed in the work are next to be taken notice of And sent forth his servants That is such as were Gods Servants in speciall This word is excellently joyned with another in the 3. chap. of Amos ver 7. The words there are Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets Here you see Prophets are called the Lords Servants So Ministers also 2 Tim. 2.24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive c. And that it is to be understood of teachers is evident out of the following vers 25. vers In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves c. Well then the Lesson hence to be learned is Doct. That Gods speciall servants Prophets Apostles Ministers are his ordinary Instruments to call men to the Weddding supper That is in plain English to preach and teach Luke the other Evangelist that records this Parable sets this punctually down cap. 14.17 and in many other verses besides in the Parable And the Reason is because they are fittest for this employment It is not for the Masters dignity to go himself neither yet that such be imployed as have no relation to him or no Commission from him but Servants entertained put apart or separated unto the Gospel of God Rom. 1.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now to make a man fit for this service it is best that he be called by Gods Grace or to the state of Grace himself Yet is it not so absolutely necessary as to conclude every one that is a lawfull Minister is certainly a gratious man A man may be sanctified to his calling that is not sanctified savingly in his person But this is absolutely necessary that these Servants be fitted for their work that is that Teachers of others be first taught themselves Now these teachings of God are of two sorts the one extraordinary and immediate So Amos 7.14.15 I was neither Prophet nor son of a Prophet c. And the Lord said unto me go Prophesie unto my People Israel The other way is by the means and Ministry of man Now where revelation is wanting this kind of teaching and learning is necessary There are and have ben foor sorts of Teachers in the World 1. Some taught by God and not by men 2. Some taught of men and not of God 3. Some taught by God through the means of men 4. Others bold Bayards that never were taught either by God or men And yet many there are that take upon them to teach and interpret Scripture that are poorly fitted that cannot be said to abide in the things that they have learned 2 Tim. 3.14 But because the matter is of great weight in these speaking times as they Phrase it I will a little stay upon it for satisfaction to such as are desirous of it First therefore you must know that every one that taketh upon him to be a servant of the Lord in this work of preaching must be taught one way or another And therefore they are to be blamed that take upon them to be teachers of the Gospel and were never taught by revelation or by any ordinary way Secondly They must teach what they have learned they therefore are to be blamed that deliver opinions which they never learned from the Scriptures or any Ministry Thirdly That it is most orderly that Gospel-Preachers be ordained and put apart by men acccording to rule for Preaching Fourthly That yet in times and places where there is a common corruption of Doctrine or a common abuse of the office of teaching and neglecting of ordaining Godly as well as learned men there sometimes men Godly competently learned by an instinct as it were for a time may teach and preach and find the Lord with them But all must take heed of nulling offices and officers and also of refusing when they may orderly have an outward call to accept of it For although God upon great changes doth dispence with some things about his Church for a time as he did with circumcision in the Wilderness Yet the first opportunities must be taken of returning to the exact rules of the Word for preaching and other Church-Ordinances But I return whence I digressed to shew you that not all but Some special servants of the Lord are made use of for this work of winning People to Christ in the way of publike teaching For otherwise all are to improve their interests and to be as we may say coadjutors to the Gospel-Teachers Vse 1 Now the first use shall be to let us know that it is a great unhappiness to be without these servants of Christ and that such are not like to be Christs Guests that want them Miserable are those towns and villages that are without faithfully-Preaching-Ministers And wo to such as live under blind guides Mat. 15.14 They are in danger both Priests and People of falling into the ditch Vse 2 And then it is a happiness and blessing to enjoy these Servants of the Lord and
blessed Ordinances If the messenger sent please you not yea suppose you had just cause of your displeasure yet that will not excuse your slighting of the Sender and his gracious messages Do not think that what we do by vertue of the Authority which the Lord hath given us shall be let fall by him He will require an account of our sowing from all sorts of ground where we sow He telleth our fleetings He puts our tears into his bottle and our groans under your wrath of pride and folly are written in his book The Lord bless unto you these words You and I shall appear at the barr of his tribunal upon this very controversie between us And so much of the first part of this Text. The great ingratitude of the Jews comes next to be spoken of out of these words And they would not come There is an emphasis in these words they could not come Would they not come why would they not come Surely there can be no other reason given but this they would not because they would not So that here is intended to be set forth by the Holy Ghost First The willfull contempt of the People of the Jews And Secondly From the word they is to be noted the generality of their wicked wilfullness They it is not said some of them but they that is as it were all of them Surely the greatest part of them by farr They were upon the matter as we use to say all hanged in a string never a barrel the better herring They would not come Beloved it is a very sad story That God should have a peculiar people whom he calls his own John 1.11 He came unto his own and his own received him not But that there should be such a general defection and blindness on the whole Nation aver few only excepted not worth the speaking of is a sad aggravation of the condition of the Jews so pitifull in bondage to Wicked Will And is it so in Israel And shall we wonder if it be so among us But I will keep to my method which I have accustomed you unto This shall be the Doctrine Doct. That the great Grace of God in inviting men to the Marriage of his Son Christ is by the most of folk willfully refused or neglected That at least it is neglected but here wilfully refused Quest Question But you will say perhaps Why do you put into the Doctrine this word neglected seeing you have so urged the emphaticalness of the words before Answ To this I Answer That the greater contains the lesser where there is wilfull contempt there must needs be careless neglect Therefore no wrong is done to the Text. And I would lay the Doctrine as large as might be that it might be extended in the Application to the greater advantage of all the hearers We read of such a general distemper 2 Kings 17.13.14.15 But I will but read the 14. v. because the time runneth apace mark it Notwithstanding they would not hear but hardned their necks like to the neck of their fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God And so of Judah we read 2 Chro. 24.19 Yet he sent Prophets to them to bring them again to the Lord their God and they testified against them but they would not hear And there is the like complaint Psal 81.11 but my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me Such another instance is John 5.40 And ye will not come to me saith Christ to the Jews that ye might have life Reason Now the reason of this rejecting of God and his Son Jesus is because people are married already to their sinfull lusts So Isaiah 65.1.2 The Lord there complains of his spreading out his hands all the day unto a rebellious People which walked in away that was not good after their own thoughts Now when men either leane to their own wisdom or are Wedded to their own will or have any carnal worldly or sinfull distemper in their hearts and do inebriate themselves with the present comforts of the world though the things in themselves be lawfull or have inordinate cares or lastly do harbour and cling to any base lust whatsoever here there is no room for Christ he can have no entertainment Strong lusts hang upon men as an haereditary disease and they must not be crossed If you would oppose them they swell the more as a water that is pallisadoed up swells and overrunns all This is the reason that the gracious offer of Christ is so contemned and despised Vse 1 Then first learn that the enjoying of the outward means of Grace is no certain or infallible argument to prove people to be happy People may live under excellent vonchsafements and yet be of the number of negligent and unprofitable hearers yea despisers of them Many do deceive themselves in this kind Because they eat and drink in Gods presence c. they think there are Jews and Pagans enough to fill up hell But they shall have the worser place in Hell that have glorious means of Grace and despise them or though they do but slight them What is a man the better to have abundance of good food if he will not eat of it If Christ be offered and people will not receive As it is recorded of the Jews John 1.11 That when Christ came urto them they would not receive him and therefore had not the power or priviledge of being the Sons of God Their case is the worse not the better that Christ is among them but they do not receive him nor submit to him Vse 2 The second Use is to set forth the greatness of their sin that will not submit to Christ that will not receive him They expose themselves to great danger their sin is great for they set light by Gods Grace as it is said ver 5. of this chap. They made light of it they cared not for Christ his Supper Herein people do even despite the spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 They tread under foot the son of God and count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing Yea they grieve Gods spirit which is condemned at least dehorted from Ephes 4.30 And indeed do but consider Would it not grieve a man when he hath made a feast for his friends and sent his messengers to call them thereunto if they should peremptority reject his kindness and good will Now here the danger must be very great this contempt being offered to the King of Heaven and Earth Surely they shall smart for it We read 2 Chron. 24.19 of this sin to wit that when the Prophets sent to the people to bring them back to the Lord had testified against them they would not hear Therefore it is denounced against them vers 20. by Zachariah the son of Jehojadah the Preist that they should not prosper and that the Lord had forsaken them It is true they stoned him for his labour ver 21. But yet they
found it true enough what he said afterward You may see more to this purpose Jer. 18. ver 12. to the 18. their sin is they departed from the ancient path to walk in a way not cast up They made their will their Law And their punishment is to be made desolate and a perpetual hissing to be scattered as with a East wind before the Enemy And oh sad business tremble if there be any life in thee I will saith the Lord in the 17. ver of that chap. shew them the back and not the face in the day of their Calâ—mity Mat. 23.37.38 ye may read there what the punishment of this sin is The sin is and ye would not the punishment your house is left unto you desolate Luk. 14.24 For I say unto you that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my Supper So again had I time I might read unto you Luk. 19.42.43.44 A sad Prophesie of the destruction of Jerusalem which afterwards came to pass Heb. 10.28.29 He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God c. This great sin is in England yea in this very place Read therefore for it is yours Isaiah 30. ver 8. to the 15. Now go write it before them in a Table and note in a Book that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever that this is a rebellious People lying children children that will not hear the Law of the Lord c. Then at the 12. ver begins the sentence Wherefore thus saith the holy one of Israel because ye despise this word and trust in oppression and perversness and stay thereon therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high wall whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters Vessel c. Vse 3 Lastly Let me perswade some of you sith there is little hope that I shall all or the most heed ye be not of the number of those that say Mot. 1 they will not come To move you to be the more wary of this sin know it is a sin we are naturally prone unto to pout and mogg Secondly We have many bad examples in this place I have hardly known the like in any place where I have been therefore we have the more cause to beware Thirdly Without fail as the Lord liveth they shall know sorrow that slight Christ offered in Gospel-Ordinances So much of the 3. ver containing the first offer of Christ to the Jews and their refusal and so much at this time The Fourth Sermon Matth. 22.4 5. Again he sent forth other servants saying Tell them which are bidden behold I have prepared my dinner mine oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready come unto the Marriage But they made light of it and went their ways one to his Farm and another to his Merchandise WE are out of this verse and the following unto the eight to speak of the second invitation of the Jews to come to Christ We will take notice first of the invitation it self as it is set down in this fourth verse Secondly of the success of the Invitation or the manner of their entertainment that were sent ver 5 6. And Lastly we shall come unto the behaviour of the King upon the course and unworthy entertainment of his gracious Message and of his Messengers which is set down in the seventh verse We will begin with the first branch which is in the fourth verse And we finde it illustrated 1. By the circumstance of time when the Servants were sent in the word again 2. By the Instruments made use of for that purpose other Servants 3. By the manner of the Message which these other servants were to deliver it is full of grace and sweetness Tell them that were bidden I have prepared my dinner c. Bid them come to the Marriage Again This word sets out much of God in point of long-suffering and patience Notwithstanding the Jews had formerly rejected Gods grace and would not come in yet God will not give them over so but sends again Again he sent c. Doct. We may hence learn That God in the offer of Grace is wonderfull patient The truth is God is wonderfully excellent in all his makings forth but now we are to speak of the patience of God as it is shewed and exercised to mankinde But I will endeavour to make out to you what kinde of beam of God that is which we call patience I will not meddle with the patience of Christ that I mean which he shewed in our nature which he took but of that which is attributed to God and is handled among his divine perfections There is not such a patience in God as the word properly signifies which is versed in griefs or calamities but in injuries and wrongs As a King is said to be patient which moderatly beareth abuses and contains himself from revenge which he might easily take if he would Posse nolle nobile O this is a glorious vertue in man But in God it is a most glorious beam to wit when he acteth this way to suffer sinners and not to take vengeance upon them This infinitely excelleth the patience of the most patient men in the world because the abuses which are offered to God are infinitely greater then those which are offered to men and because he doth most distinctly see them all and doth most sharply resent them and hath in readiness wayes to take vengeance and yet he withholds He knows all that he hath done for us Simul in conspectu Dei sunt omnia beneficia quae ipse in nos omnes injuriae c. Lessius and on the other side our ingratitude He sees all the abominations committed in the world which did the most patient man in the world see but one hour he would certainly burn the world the next saith a late VVriter And although God be not capable of grief and sorrow yet he very bitterly takes his dishonour and is provoked to revenge He perceives the unworthiness of sin and that his own Majesty his unspeakable goodness shewed to the creature is vilepended He is armed with thousands of Plagues and yet forbears yea continues his former benefits expecting and stirring up to Repentance and to come to his sons Marriage Admirable patience So with the old World did God deal Gen. 6.3 1 Pet. 3.20 with others Gen. 18.24 Jerem. 31. cap 5. ver 1. Luke 13.34 Reason And the reason is rendred 2 Pet. 2.9 Because he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18.32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye and so cap.
33.11 Hos 6.4 O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee O Judah what shall I do unto thee c. and cap. 11.8 How should I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah How shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Doct. So then this shall be the Doctrine That God in the offer of grace notwithstanding shamefull repulses is wonderfull patient He sends again and again Again he sent forth other servants c. Vse 1 Then certainly we have no cause to complain of Gods impatiency Vse 2 And they that reject grace are without excuse They cannot say it was not offered to them Indeed Gods patience occasions perversness through the wickedness of peoples hearts Psal 78. verses 17. to the 22. and 37 38 39. and 56. 59 60. verses In those places the marvellous untowardness of the Israelites is shewed but yet God tempteth no man but woes and argues and allures And they that do abuse his patience will know one day that they had a fair offer O think upon it Vse 3 Thirdly If God be so gracious and so patient then surely he will not cast away any that desire Grace though by reason of their corruption they come slowly forward Though they be like smoaking flax Matth. 12.20 A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgement into victory If there be any hope of thy recovery the he avenly Physitian will not give thee over To conclude this point The fourth and last Vse shall be to perswade all to take heed that they abuse not Gods patience but thankfully improve it to their own benefit Motive Consider to stir you up a little Laesa patientia fit furor the abuse of Gods patience will at last provoke the Lord to cast down heavy judgements Psal 78.49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger wrath and indignation c. Rom. 2.4 5. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and for bearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God I might give you instances and examples of the Old World of the Sodomites of the Jews But I had rather shew you how you might improve Gods patience and not abuse it For I cannot but think that you see the necessity of the work Means 1 Therefore know first that speedy repentance must prevent wrath and is a way to improve Gods patience to our advantage Joel 2.12 13 14. Isaiah 55.6 7. Friends there is no sin so great no sins so many no abuse of Gods grace so grievous but repentance will help all Secondly and Lastly improve Gods patience by a godly imitation of his example therein Matth 5.44 45. Phil. 4 5. So far of the circumstance of time VVe come next to the instruments other servants Again he sent forth other servants Doct. The Lord is not only patient in the offer of Grace but very diligent in providing means and instruments to draw men That shall be the next Doctrine You see God doth not presently upon their refusal give over but sends other servants Reason And the Reason is as before it hath been said He would have no man to perish but that all should come to repentance Understand by his will his word his approbation and liking of it Voluntas approbationis effectionis but what he willeth from everlasting that he worketh and bringeth to pass and so saith David Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven in earth in the Sea and in all places But to the matter The Lord I say is not only patient to wait but diligent in providing means here is another glorious beam of the Deity shining forth His Spirit strives with men to do them good He giveth gifts to men for the sake of mankinde He exposeth his Ordinances to contempt and his servants to injurious abuses that men may not perish but have life everlasting Vse 1 The first use is for Information and it teacheth us that then the use of means is necessary for this purpose to wit that men may hear of Christ believe in Christ and be saved by Christ That therefore is a vain conceit of many that think Grace will come without the use of the Means And therefore though men will take pains in the use of the means about worldly matters yet they regard not to use means about the gaining of grace And this will be their condemnation as it is written Joh. 3.19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evil Many will not so much as give the word a hearing Such we read of 2 Kin. 17.13 14 15. Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah by all the Prophets and by all the Seers saying Turn you from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my Statutes according to all the Law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the Prophets Notwithstanding they would not hear but hardened their necks like to the necks of their Fathers that did not believe in the Lord their God And they rejected his Statutes and his Covenant that he made with their fathers and his testimonies which he testified against them and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the heathen that were round about them concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them So Jer. 18.11 The Lord is to his work exhorting menacing using means to make them there spoken of to return from their evil way But in the 12. ver you shall see their behaviour And they said There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart And chap. 25. ver 4 5 6 7. to the same purpose we may read a large Discourse of the truth of my Doctrine and the untoward spirit and behaviour of the people though to their own hurt as it is there written But I will enlarge no more upon this Use Vse 2 I come to a second Here in this Doctrine of the diligence of God in providing means and instruments to draw People to Christ we have a ground of comfort unto such as truly desire Grace and Mercy at the hands of God They cannot desire it more then the Lord doth to use Scripture expressions and language nor be more willing or diligent to use means for their good then he is And therefore assuredly there will be a concurrence with them in their prayers and endeavours and a condiscention to their desires and requests Vse 3 Take notice of this O all ye people let the Lords kindness
herein be accepted Joyn with the Lord in these actions Let us do it We have many Motives Mot. 1 For first God will hereby be glorified the contrary will be to his great dishonour Secondly the benefit will be our own for it is the only way to get grace Ask and ye shall have seek and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you Matth. 7.7 Thirdly and Lastly It will be a good example to others our example may draw others as bad examples do spread like a leprosie So much for that We come in the third place to the Message that the Lord wills to be delivered Tell them that are bidden Behold I have prepared my dinner my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready come unto the Marriage There is not much in these words which hath not been spoken of already Only mark here is an invitation to a Marriage Venite inquit non ad labores aut ad luctum sed ad Nuptias Marlorat He doth not say come to labours or lamentation but to a marriage Per terrena autem adumbrat Christus Coelestia c. Here by earthly things are shadowed out heavenly But that which I shall a little fasten upon and yet I shall not be long neither is the opportunity offered t is supper time all things are ready therefore come and take it whilest it is going as we say whilest it is to be had Doct. This shall be the Doctrine or observation That the opportunity of the season for the gaining of grace ought to be a special Argument to perswade people to come c. Reason It is an Argument that is wont to be of special force with men concerning their worldly affairs Men will go to Market upon the Market-day and make hay whilest the Sun shines cut their Corn when it is ripe much more should it be a prevailing Argument in more weighty matters For man also knoweth not his time as the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Eccles 9.12 Great use is made by the Spirit of God of this Argument in many places of Scripture I will quote and read some Prov. 9.1 2 3. Wisdom hath builded her house she hath hewen out her seven pillars she hath killed her beasts she hath mingled her wine she hath also furnished her Table She hath sent forth her Maidens c. Isaiah 55.6 7. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is near Let the wicked forsake his way c. Matth. 3.2 Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand 2 Cor. 6.2 For he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Heb. 3.13 But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin from all which Places this truth is plainly made good that the opportunity and Seasons of Grace are to be regarded And therefore we will now come to the Uses of the Point Vse 1 And first it lays great blame on them that neglect the pretious opportunities that are put into their hand that do not make hay while the Sun shines that do not repent while it is called to day Remember the foolish Virgines Vse 2 And next here is comfort for wise Virgines such as take Gods Grace when it is offered such as take oyle in their Vessels with their Lamps Mat. 25.4 Such as are faithfull ver 21. They shall enter in with the Bridegroom into the Marriage ver 10. They shall enter into the joy of their Lord ver 21. aforenamed Vse 3 Lastly hearken to this serious admonition that I am about to give you It is through the great mercy of God that you enjoy now a season of Grace Gods dinner is prepared c. O how have I been deceived in you What fair promises were made if the Lord would but let you see the face of a Minister of your own again How did the Lord seem to hide his face from you for a great while Motive 1 Consider more particularly Its Grace and mercy not desert that you are once more invited We are not worthy to be bidden Guests not the best of us all yet we are Secondly This renewed season is uncertain how long it will continue Friends it is like be a catching harvest the base carriage of the great Ones among you the like whereof I have hardly met with wherever I have lived and of the most besides threatens a removal of the means of Grace from you There is such a deal of pride and heart-burning and despight shewed to the People and wayes of God among us as that we may justly fear the season of Grace will not be long Gospel seasons in glory are not usually long Thirdly If you will consent to accept of Christ now while he is going and take him to be your Priest Prophet and King you will do your selves the greatest pleasure that possibly can be imagined Ye shall go in with the Bridegroom into the Marriage The Lord set home what hath been said Amen Amen I proceed ver 5. But they made light of it c. Here begins the second Branch under the second Invitation of the Jews The success or the manner of the entertainment of this gracious offer again renewed Some neglect it as it is in this ver Others maliciously oppose it in the next verse In the vers now in hand two things are to be spoken of First To shew you how the Jews stood affected unto the precious season of Grace vouchsafed them viz. they made light of it Secondly The ground and occasion of their light esteeming of it to wit their overprizing of their worldly profits and Commodities their Farms and Commodities of Merchandizing their shops and their livings For the first They made light of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they had no care as the word signifieth they regarded him not nor his Salvation as a thing of no worth they did set it at naught and despised it You see this Lesson plainly may hence be learned Doct. That the precious seasons and means of Grace are little regarded by worldly-minded People Or Thus. It is the property of Worldly men to slight Christ if they may get Worldly things Covetousness is a great cause of irreligiousness The Lord sends forth his Servants to invite them to come to the Marriage of his Son but they had no great minde to it So their Ancestors long before 2 Kings 17.13.14 So God complains Psalm 81.11 But my People would not harken to my voice and Israel would none of me So Isai 65.2 Till Christ come with the power of his spirit into worldly mens hearts there is nothing but raking
of these are called the hoast of heaven Deut. 17.3 Now Hoast is the same with Army We finde the Lord making use of this hoast Joshuah 10.12 13. And he to wit Joshuah said in the sight of Israel Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon And the Sun stood still and the Moon staid c. Thirdly he hath his Armies of men Exod. 12.51 The Lord did bring the children of Israel out of Egypt by their Armies Yea even evil men wicked men are Armies that God sometimes makes use of Isaiah 10.5.6 7. O Assyrian the rod of mine anger and the staff in their hand is mine indignation I will send him against an hypocritical Nation and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil and to take the prey and to tread them down like the mire of the streets How be it he meaneth not so c. And so Jer. 25.9 Behold I will send and take all the families of the North saith the Lord and Nebuchadnezzar my servant c. Thus ye see the Armies of men good and bad are all the Lords Fourthly The Lord hath his Armies of water Gen. 6.17 The Lord prepares waters to drown the whole World for the wickedness of it And Exod. 14.27 28. The Lordoverthrew the Egyptians in the middst of the Sea And the Waters returned and covered the Charets and horsemen and all the host of Pharaoh c. So Judges 5.21 sings Deborah and Barak The river Kishon swept them away that Ancient River the River Kishon Fifthly The Lord hath an Army of fire Gen. 19.24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorra brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven So 2 Kings 1.10 Eliah is sent for but fire comes down from Heaven and consumes that Captaine and his fifty men that were sent to take him and another in like manner and his fifty ver 11. Sometimes the ayr is imployed as Gods Army to let flie its arrows of the pestilence Numb 16.46 Or of hailstones as Joshua 10. ver 11. Seventhly the Lord hath the Farth also to make use of for the destruction of his Enemies Numb 16 3â— The earth opens her mouth to swallow up Korah Dathan and Abiram Yea even the meanest creatures Lice Frogs Worms the Lord hath to fight against Pharaoh and Herod Exod. 8.6.8.16.17 and Acts 12.23 Lastly the Lord doth sometimes make a mans own Conscience a terrible Army against himself O when God shall fight against a man with terrors of Conscience he will be weary of his life as Judas was Mat. 27.3.4.5 These Armies are all at a minutes Call when God doth but say the word they go Vse 1 Now for the first use learn we hence that God wants not power to punish his adversaries Did folk consider Gods Armies they would not dare to go on in sin Men foolishly think earthly powers are above the powers of the Allmighty This is a great sin against the first Commandment Yet is it common that men fear earthly powers and fear not God who is the Lord of Hoasts and in comparison of whom all the Nations are as the drop of a bucket Vse 2 I will declare in the next place in the name of the Lord of Hoasts a woe to all those that are adversaries to this heavenly King God Allmighty He hath Armies to execute vengeance upon his Adversaries Surely they are not like to escape his wrath There is no sleeing from Gods Armies nor from his presence who is himself a consuming fire Whither shall I go saith David from thy presence Psal 139. Vse 3 Thirdly Stand in awe of the Allmighty be carefull not to displease him he is a great General he hath many Armies as you have heard Men of power are feared how much more ought God Quest But how may a man know whither he fear God or no Answ I answer By his diligent departing from evil and constant cleaving to that which is good Psal 34.11.12.13.14 Come ye children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile depart from evil and do good seek peace pursue it Pro. 8.13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil pride and arrogancy the evil way the froward mouth do I hate And so I come to shew you the nature of the sin that is here laid to the charge of Gospel opposers and neglectors that you may see the greatness of it and the more abhor it Murder is laid to the charge of the Jews They were guilty of murder many ways First Minister Murther In that they murdered Gods Messengers Now this again is done First By taking away their lives So Stephen was murdered Acts. 7.58.59 So in Queen Maries dayes Cranmer Ridley Latimer Philpot Bradford Saunders Rogers Julius Palmer were cruelly burned because they wit nessed for Christ Secondly Gods Messengers are sometimes Murthered in their good name and in their reputation He that shall say to his brother Raca Mat. 5.22 is in Gods account a Murderer We know our times are in Gods hands and our reputation riseth and falleth even as the Lord will Yet those evil tongues that speak such devouring words of us are murtherous tongues before the Lord. And so also Thirdly When people are causelesly angry with any much more with Ministers and swell in their pride and passion Mat. 5.22 aforenamed the former part of the verse Lastly To detain from them that whereupon they and their families should live It is a sin to withold goods from the owners though there be power in mens hands so to do But blessed be God who hath granted us meat to eat some other way and wherewith to live Yet give me leave to tell you that sit here before me and are guilty of this crying sin that you must answer for it before that God whom we serve The second sort of Murder is Soul-murther Soul murther I mean of their neighbours All that oppose the wayes of God do by consequence make themselves guilty of their blood that perish in their sins They shall perish but their blood shall be required as at the hands of careless Ministers so at your hands that either neglect to do your best to procure Preachers or which is far worse oppose them that God hath sent among you Thirdly Ye are guilty of self-murther Self-murther in regard of your poor souls And for a man to be found in this sence felo de se will procure a sentence not only to be cast out to a dog-like burial in the high way 4. Christ-murder but to be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth Fourthly Such will be found Murtherers of Christ also Heb. 10.29 They tread underfoot the son of God c. they are guilty of
thee from being King Mens unworthiness is the common cause of all calamities Health wealth the Gospel it is unworthiness of them deprives you robs you of them all Vse 1 If this Doctrine be true if not any defect in God or want in the merits of Christ but unworthiness be the cause of rejection if our sins be the cause of all our sorrows we lie under then God is not to be blamed when we are deprived of his benefits men may thank themselves for misery in any kinde Friends you should never live one sad hour more if you would accept of Christ if you would be ruled by God T is true Joseph was in prison yea but God was with him What care I may a Saint say where I am whither in a Palace or a Prison if God be with me Reason Surely this use may be made good upon this Reason God is rich in mercy and of a liberal disposition to bestow his grace and good things therefore saith Isaiah cap. 59.1 2 3. Behold the Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear c. It shews also the greatness of mans sin that will not open his mouth to be filled though God bid him to open it wide and hath promised to fill it Vnto us a child is born and unto us a son is given Here is a Christ offered to you all to save you from your sins O what a sin is this men will not thankfully accept of Gods offers Consid 1 Consider 1. This provokes the Lord wonderfully it moves him to take away his offers 2. It is a greater sin to refuse Christ then to break all the ten Commandments He that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 Let him be cursed and cursed over and above This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then light Joh. 3.19 3. Men sin against themselves they rob themselves undo themselves cast themselves away this is a sin of a high nature it is a sin against nature Men bring misery upon themselves through their foolishness Beasts that we are to deprive our selves of the means of grace of the fruit and benefit of them of health friends wealth every thing Christ hath provided all things O what pitty t is so much good chear should be lost Surely it is a very sinfull sin so to forsake our own mercies and to be guilty of our own misery Next for Counsell Seeing there is no defect in God or Christ seeing mans own unworthiness deprives him of good are you loth to be deprived of Gods benefits be carefull to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1.10 Otherwise we may be justly deprived of good Q. But what is it to walk worthy of the Lord It is for a man to improve to Gods glory and to the good of his own soul all those vouchsafements and enjoyments which the Lord hath bestowed upon him Say thus God hath given me wealth I will use my wealth to his glory the Lord hath given me opportunities of grace I will improve them to the utmost The talents which God hath given us we must imploy them trade upon them we must not wrap them in a napkin Have we riches honours children lands large possessions any thing Let us improve all to Gods glory let God be first in our thoughts let us exalt him in all things Servants Children Housholders Parents Constables Magistrates use your Talents your Relations improve your Interests to the glory of God this is to walk worthy of the Lord. And this is the way or rather a sign that God hath been will be and continue to be your God unto death We come to the matter of the Commission Ver. 9 Go ye therefore into the high ways and as many as ye shall finde bid to the Marriage In which words we may observe 1. The ground and occasion hinted Therefore 2. The word of command go ye 3. The place whither they must go viz. into the high ways 4. The work to be done As many as ye find bid to the Marriage From the first besides what hath been said already we may learn this Lesson Doct. The refusal of some is an occasion of the offer of grace to other some So Acts 13.46 47. The refusal of the Gospel by the Jews is an occasion of the offer of it to the Gentiles So Rom 11.11 Through the fall of the Jews Salvation is come to the Gentiles if one will not another shall Reason For God will have his full number whom he hath chosen to life to be called in spight of all opposition Yea to see a People given up to obstinacy and hardness of heart is but to see Gods punishment on such to make way for the calling of others The Lord will not have his Gospel to be preached in vain if the Jews reject it the Lord will incline the hearts of the Gentiles thankfully to embrace it Acts 13.48 And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed And so also Rom. 11.25 Blindness is hapned to Israel untill the fulness of the Gentiles be come in Therefore go ye out c. Vse 1 Then we may learn for our instruction That the coming and going of the offers of grace is not limited or disposed according to mens wills but according to the minde of the Lord. If men seek never so much to stop the current they labour in vain God alone doth all in this as in other things If Gods elect be but few or none in one place they be the more in another If the word want good success in this town it will find better in the next And yet let such places take heed as will not receive the Gospel as will not hear our words It shall be more tolerable for such as never enjoyed the word It shall be easier for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement then for those places Read Mat. 10.14 15. It is a monstrous absurdity to think that the removal of Ministers is in the power of two or three addle-headed fools Surely it is a business of a higher concernment then so Davids times were in Gods hands and so are the times of all and therefore no question Gospel preachers go and come by Gods special will Vse 2 Next we may learn that the Lord is able to bring good out of evil which may comfort Gods servants They that profit not by the means offered shall smart for it as the Jews do even to this very day But yet God will
as we use to say with the Jews about this very thing Reason And indeed such persons pollute and defile their holy profession Thoir Sacrifices are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 Yea their whole way viz. whatsoever they do is an abomination to the Lord ver 9. They bring scandal to the holy Religion which they profess whether Ministers as Elies sons 1 Sam. 2.17 made the offering of the Lord to be abhorred or People Rom. 2.24 by whose carriage the name of God is blasphemed or evil spoken of Vse 1 Then wo to those that do so They shall answer for their uncleanness before the Lord they shall be called to account they shall hear Friend how camest thou in hither as this unworthy guest here But unto the wicked said God What hast thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth Psal 50. ver 16. to the 22. verse Wo to you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites saith Christ Matth. 23.13 Vse 2 The Use in the second place may be to comfort those that walk in the ways of Christianity in sincerity and truth they are most assuredly clad with the Wedding-garment which this poor wretch in the Text wanted they shall be welcom to the Lord at all times come when they will for they smell in his nostrils as a field which he hath blessed Vse 3 And thirdly we should all be carefull to have on the Wedding garment and to try whether we have it or no. Mot. 1 For first the glory of the Garment the excellency of him that hath it may move us to look after this Garment Oh to have our robes washed Rev. 7.14 and made white in the blood of the Lamb will render us glorious creatures Cap. 19.7 8. Such may by the Law as we say rejoyce and be glad as are so made ready as are arrayed in this fine linnen which is clean and white This is the righteousness and beauty of Saints Secondly the necessity for else Friend how camest thou in hither will be heard one day All Sacrifices and Services are odious and abominable without this Wedding Garment Prov. 15.8.9 The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord c. Read to this purpose Isaiah the first chapter from the tenth verse to the 16. No sound comfort to the soul where this is not sorrow of heart and a curse belongs to deceitfull workers Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully Jer. 48.10 Cursed in his very prayers and performances of Religious Exercises though holy for the matter It is good counsell therefore Rev. 3.18 to buy this white raiment that nakedness be covered and may not appear which will procure a curse Thirdly the difficulty of having this Garment should move us to be solicitous and industrious about it Naturally we are all liars apt to deceive our selves We must know that all have not faith 2 Thes 3.2 Nay few For when the Son of man cometh shall he finde faith on the earth Eph. 4.16 to 22. Luk. 18.8 And yet none can put on the Lord Jesus without it Such as walk after the course of the Gentiles which know not God have not put on Christ they have but an outside at most of Christianity and not the Wedding Garment here spoken of We are next to speak of the manner of his Examination implyed in the word The Manner of Gods dealing Friend But why doth the Lord call this unworthy guest Friend he knew him to be his Foe and Adversary and a dissembling Friend I answer he doth thus term him by an Irony for his further conviction in that he pretended to be that which he was not and so sinned against his own knowledge and conscience So his seeming holy profession did the more aggravate his wickedness And also it may be that the Lord thus proceeds to take away all exception and to stop up every starting hole Men now pick quarrels at the manner of Ministers reproving them it is a common shift among us in this place so wise are men to their own hurt to put off just reproofs with accusations of passion and bitterness in the Speakers of the Word as Jeremiah was called the raving Propher and accused to have his ears more open then was fit to that tale-telling fellow Baruch the son of Neriah So men instead of sorrowing and making satisfaction for those evils of injustice deceit rejecting of Christ and despising the Church which they are plainly guilty of complain of the Reprovers But God will prevent them he will call them Friends yet and that justly cut their throats as we say They shal have no hole to pick in the manner of Gods dealing with them they shall have no hole to creep out at See how he speaks Ezek. 18.25 Yet ye say The way of the Lord is not equal Hear now O house of Israel c He calls them house of Israel reasons fairly with them And so again Isa 5. ver 1 2 3. where he giveth loving language well beloved and beloved and his vineyard yet the scope of this whole Chapter is to denounce judgments against them for their sins So that we may sum up all in this one observation Doct. That when God shall come to have to do with wicked men and shall call them to an account and bring them to examination he will so speak and demean himself as that they shall not have a word to say against his proceeding nor in defence of themselves Vse They surely are fools that dare continue in their sins under such poor shifts The Preacher is too sharp an angry man but will this make you guiltless Say it be true that we often spoil our work through our indiscretion yet know God will not he hath no passions he will be too hard for you he will call the sinner friend and yet condemn him The question Neighbours will not be Whether we speak in passion but Whether it be not against even a principle of nature to disannul or alter mens wills to embezeel things committed to your trust to convert publick stocks to private uses Read how Paul argues Gal. 3.15 to strengthen the Doctrine of Faith and take the former part of his Discourse and apply it to your selves for false dealing in publick stocks and altering the uses of things contrary to the wills of the dead You will have nothing to say to God though you have to us who yet allow not our selves in any expressions unsutable to the work we have in hand Vse 2 And Secondly let us learn and endeavour to imitate the Lord more and more that we may the more successfully do our business Judges and Magistrates Preachers and Pastors We should do as Joshuah did cap. 7.19 My son saith he to Achan give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil-speaking be put away from you with all malice and be ye kinde one te
be refused dis-regarded his Counsel must be set at nought before before fear cometh as desolation and destruction as a whirlwinde Read Prov. 1.24 25 26. 27. Yea all the day long he will wait and spread out his hands unto a rebellious People which walketh in a way that is not good after their own thoughts Isaiah 65.2 But when Gods time is come the time set of old then cometh sorrow as upon a woman in travell For when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them 1 Thes 5.3 Then out-comes Gods wrath with a vengeance The sword without and terrour within shall destroy both the young men and the virgins the suckling also with the man of gray hairs Then said the King unto his Servants That is when God hath given time When mens sins be ripe And when security seizeth on sinners When it is most for Gods glory and Honor to destroy his Enemies and get him a name by making bare his arm When it will be most for his Churches good then then and not till then will the Lord be seen in the mount of blessings for his People and plagues on his Enemies Thus you see the Lord hath a Then for his works of justice And to digress a little so he hath also a then for his works of mercy and grace truth and faithfulness Yea the very putting off of his plagues is of his goodness and Grace He is long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance as in the forenamed 2 Pet. 3.9 But when he seemeth to deferr his mercies he doth it as he doth all things else according to the Counsel of his will His will is a wise will it is guided by Counsell T is true his wayes seem sometimes to be full of contradictions and his promises of delaies But there is a mystery in all Gods workings which we must learn more and more to understand The only way is to delight our selves in him and we shall be sure to have our hearts desire It is vox vere Christianorum a speech fit to proceed out of the heart and mouâ—h of a Christian to say The will of the Lord be done I am as he is and my will as his is and my times when his are And be sure he can as well cease to be God as miss opportunities to do his People good Davids times are in Gods hands and Pharaohs times are in Gods hands The Lord hath a Then a time for every thing even for the very falling of a sparrow to the ground Voluntas dei necessitas rei for actions and circumstances But to the matter when the time is come then most certainly it shall not be well with the wicked Vse 1 Therefore it is not good to be careless of the judgements of the Lord which you hear mention of daily It is good for you to take warning otherwise God may take you napping in your wickedness Then nothing will profit you in that day Riches profit not in the day of wrath Prov. 11.4 There will a time come when all the riches in the world shall not do you one half-pennies worth of good I will read to you Ezek. 7.19 They shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be removed their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They had a Proverb in Israel The days are prolonged and every vision faileth But saith the Lord you may finde it Ezek. 12 22.2â— I will make this Proverb to cease and they shalt no more use it as a Proverb in Israel but say unto them The days are at hand and the effect of every vision and ver 24. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel T is true we have men of learning that are otherwise minded I would be loth to throw dirt in in any mans face Men of parts that are godly we cannot put a price high enough upon But yet let me tell you there are some men of great learning which are the most mischievous men in the world Take heed of that generation of men which though they have the teachings of men yet not of God These as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses do resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith 2 Tim. 3.8 You are much the neer sure to be told fair tales and to be humoured in your vanity and at last unawares to be overtaken with the storm of Gods vengeance while ye are dreaming of sair weather when both you and your priests fall into the Ditch Vse 2 The next use of this point and therewith I end Is it so that the Lord hath a then when he will assuredly punish as indeed he he hath and know by the way when God shall cease to be God then and not before shall wickedness unrepented of go unpunished Is it so I say Why then in the fear of God consider and mark that counsel which is given Isaiah 55.6.7.8.9 c. read the words your selves when you come home I have not time O seek the Lord call upon him O wicked folk forsake your wayes O unrighteous men forsake your imaginations There are in that place great store of Admirable Motives taken from the goodness of God his readiness to be found and to pardon the height of his love and thoughts thereof above mens thoughts of love and pitty But to all that is there let me add what is in my text Take him bind him hand and foot c. Go get the Wedding garment But thou wilt say Where is it to be had I answer Go to Christ behold he looks for thee arise he calleth thee Say I come Christ I come Lo I come give power to do what thou commandest and command what thou wilt comprehend me O Christ that I may apprehend thee Resolve never to give over thou shalt have at last For he that asketh receiveth How can it be otherwise He stands at the door and knocks and if thou have a heart to open it is a sign he is gotten into thy heart Flesh and blood hath not done it So farr of the circumstances of the sentence It remaineth that I should speak of the substance of it But the time is run out The Tenth Sermon Matth. 22.13.14 Then said the King unto his Servants Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth For many are called but few are chosen THese verses now read unto you as hath been formerly shewed do contain in them the Commission given by the King for the execution of that unworthy professor that was gotten in among Gods People and had no Grace in his heart which is the third particular first noted to be in this last head viz. The proceeding of the Lord against the unworthy Guest
your fitting your tickets and libells of contentioâ—… and strife to be read on Lords days and usually on such of them as the Church use to receive the Lords supper upon that you may fill up the measure of your sin and God pour on you and yours the Vials of his wrath which most certainly he will do if repentance prevent not Vse 2 Here is in the next place a comfort to Gospel-Preachers God who is able to right them takes notice of their wrongs And this should keep up their Spirits in the middest of all their barbarous usages Vse 3 O take heed all of you that hear me this day and this shall be my last use of this point take heed I say of this sin be not injurious to the Ministers of the Gospel God takes notice of it and will severely punish it which is the second thing in the vers and comes next to be handled The 2. particular He was wroth And without any more ado it affords us this Doctrine Doct. That base usage of the Messengers of God c. is a sin that greatly provokes Gods wrath Read the chap. before this the one and twentieth ver 35. to the 42. You have their sin in all the verses except the last which is the one and fortieth and in that the miserable effects of Gods wrath are foretold He will miserably destroy those wicked men Which came to pass sure enough not long after Reason Now the Reason hereof is because God favours no sin All sin is contrary to his holy nature and righteous Laws and tends to the destruction of his creature but this above any other sin whatsoever is displeasing to God for First It is a crushing of Gods grace so far as a man can It is a God-killing sin And if it be a sin to kill a man what is it to go about to kill God The grace of God is the most glorious thing in the world Was there ever such love heard of That God should not spare his own son but give him to death for us admirable love And here is unparalleld justice too the Son though the Son must die that justice may be satisfied And wisdom able to make all the wise men of the World quite mad so much as once to look upon it And much might be said of the glory of the Gospel the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And therefore to go about to hinder this design of God for his glory is a provoking sin and brings down great wrath And then Secondly Opposing Gospel-Preachers tends to the destruction of thousands eternally If we call them bloody men which spoyl and kill and have no mercy which cast into Prison as many of our poor neighbours were by cursed Cavaliers into Lidford Castle and the Town hall here where they starved divers of them I say how much more are they bloody butchers among you that go about to hinder your Salvation and to keep you in such a condition as will be for the everlasting destruction both of body and soul Friends I fear the blood of those that starv'd in this Town in the late troubles will be laid to the charge of some of you that did not pitty them nor relieve them but rather rejoyced in their misery as many of you did and helped to make it greater O do not add to body-killing soul-killing do not add to man-killing God-killing Christ-killing Vse 1 But be informed that though a few vain men among you are such Grace-enemies and are countenanced by such of you as should have more wit and should improve your eminencies to better purpose and will when ye have tasted the Lord is gracious yet the righteous God likes it not Vse 2 And secondly wo to the guilty It were better to provoke all the men in the World then God to wrath as all abusers of Ministers do Vse 3 And that I may end this point also let me perswade you do so no more good people you provoke the heavenly King to wrath and this will turn to the shame and confusion of your own faces yea to your utter destruction if you go on O if God should once say and swear forasmuch as I have been stifled and strangled by you so long and my rich offer so trampled on in the dirt of your pride and prophaness passion and worldliness you shall be troubled no more it would be sad news And so I come to the severe punishment of this sin and therein first of the instrument which God makes use of and the means whereby he punisheth ungodly men He sent forth his Armies The nature and quality of the offence and the severity of the punishment it self shall be spoken of God willing afterward But first I say of the Instrument or means I am almost out of doubt that thâ— holy-Ghost here hath an eye to the Roman Armies which came and besieged Jerusalem by Gods appointment and sending even to the utter destruction of that City but yet I will enlarge somewhat upon this Doctrine Doct. That God hath armies to execute vengeance upon his ungodly adversaries that set themselves against his Ordinances and the Ministers and observers of them I add that the observers of them because usually wicked men joyn them together in their opposing them as Saul made havock of the Church Acts 8.2 and haled not only Preachers but other men yea and women to Prison I confess through the mighty power of God Curst Kine have short horns among us but yet what may be done and what the times will permit to be done is extended to the very utmost even against all that are of this way both old and young Now seeing it is â—o let us muster up the Lords Forces that they may be terrible to you that by repentance the coming of them may be prevented Reason That God hath many Armies we may easily demonstrate from the variety of his creatures which are many hosts and from whence it cometh to pass that he is sometimes called the Lord of hosts as Psal 84.1 8 â—2 In all which verses he is so called The several sorts of Hosts or Armies we will shew you First Angels some whereof are good some are bad 2 Sam. 24.16 An Angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it to wit by the plague 2 Kings 19.35 An Angel of the Lord smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand These are called a heavenly host Luke 2.13 And suddenly there was with the or that Angel that brought to the shepherds the news of Christs birth a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying c. Acts 12.23 And immediatly the Angel of the Lord smote him that is King Herod because he gave not God the Glory and he was eaten of worms and gave up the Ghost 2. Sometimes the Lord makes use of the Sun Moon and Stars and this is another sort of Army the Lord makes use