which is not washed from their Filthiness Prov. 30.12 But God hath provided that they may be Partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12.10 last words The Gospel will cleanse thee of thy Spot which otherwise tho' thou wash thee with Nitre and take thee much Soap would remain a Spot still with thine Iniquity marked before me saith the Lord God Jer. 2.22 The Gospel brings thee a Laver full of Christ's Blood and this is the Blood that rinseth all clean 1 Joh. 1.7 last words And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Nitre and Soap either apart or mingled are searching Ingredients you would think to cleanse a Dirty Spot but alas tho' Man seeks out many Inventions Eccl. 7.29 to try to wash himself clean yet it will not do for a Garment spotted with the Flesh Jude v. 23. if God search this out nothing will fetch out Sin 'till we dip in Jordan 2 Kings 5.14 Psal 44.21 Isa 9.5 1 Joh. 5.6 nay not only wash in Water but with our Garments roll'd in Blood i. e. the Blood of Christ who came by Water and by Blood for our Spot to fetch it out clean Rev. 1.5 being said to have loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood The Gospel provideth suitably to our Pollution Heb. 9.13 for it sanctifieth to the Purifying of the Flesh 'till we are made meet for Communion with the God of the Spirits of all Flesh Numb 16.22 even sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.2 Eighthly The Gospel hath Rich Provisions for the Poor Saints tho' never so impoverisht lowly in Mind or Poor in Spirit The Gospel abounds with the Liberality of the Grace of God to supply the Poverty and Wants of all Men in Christ Tho' thy Transgressions have beset thee and the Iniquity of thy Heels have compass'd thee about that thou art now like the Man in his way to Jericho that fell among Thieves yea Luk. 10.30 thou may'st cry out with Micah of the Danitâ—'s Plunder Judg. 18.24 They have taken away tho' not my Gods to Complain just like him yet the Image of my God mine Original Perfection as I was made once like him my Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness and what have I more Well be it thus here is enough left thee still to be a poor broken Petitioner at the Throne of Grace crying out for a New Stock to set up with Christ in whom are hid all the Treasures that will make thee Rich agen Col. 2.3 Art thou Poor Luk. 22.21 thou may'st be Rich towards God When thou art got to the Gospel thou art got to God's Treasury which he unlocks to make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles Col. 1.27 Ninthly The Gospel hath Full Provisions suited to the Condition of empty Sinners There be Lengths and Breadths in the Love of God that will give thee full measure Luk. 6.38 pressed down and running over Thou art empty in thy self and till He refresh thee with his Loving-Kindness Prov. 7.18 thou canst not take thy Fill of Love Hast thou ever met with the Emptiers that have emptied thee out Nah. 2.2 The Gospel hath Provisions to come in and fill up all that empty space again Tho' at home thou art like her that is empty and void and wast Nah. 2.10 as Nineveh that was once full of Men Counsel Treasures yet afterwards emptyed out of all so thou hadst once the sensible Manifestations of one that lodg'd in thy House to fill thee but now at home empty and also tho' abroad like Naomi thou hast gone out upon some Oecasions full if thou hast gone to an Ordinance thou hast it may be sometimes carried much of the Presence of Jesus Christ with thee yet the Lord to try thee hath brought thee home again empty Ruth 1.21 yet still the Gospel hath Provisions suited to thee that when most sensible of thine Emptiness thou may'st receive thy measure and not like proud careless Boasters who presume on something when they have nothing * Luk. 1.53 Joh. 1.14 last words be sent empty away Thou hast to do with one that is full of Grace and Truth and with one besides of whose Fulness thou mayst receive Joh. 1.16 even one that will never leave thee empty because he filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 let it be as low with thee in thy Beginning as a sense of Want can make it yet thou shalt never take up the Complaint of Babylon in thy latter End Jer. 51.34 the Lord hath made me an empty Vessel Tenthly The Gospel hath satisfying Provisions suited to the Condition of Longing Souls Matth. 5.6 that hunger and thirst after Righteousness Be thou as Dainty in thy Palate Heaven-wards as possible yet in the Gospel thou hast a God who satisfyeth thy Mouth with good things Psal 103.5 He will not deny Dainties or withhold Mannah or keep back the Fruits that thy Soul lusteth after Rev. 18.14 Thou shalt not be estranged from thy Desire in the things of God Psal 78.30 thô thou wouldst eat his Lambs out of the Flock Amos 6.4 his Calves out of the midst of the Stall v. 6. and drink his Wine in Bowls If six Days common Provision at home hath made thee long for Dainties he hath appointed a Festival upon the Holy Sabbath when thy Flesh longeth for the Courts of the Lord. Psal 84.2 This Longing of the Soul may be reduc'd unto Two Heads Hungring and Thirsting and the Gospel hath suitable Things for Both. 1. It hath Satisfying Provisions suited to Hungry Ones Psal 107.9 For he satisfyeth the Longing Soul and filleth the Hungry Soul with Goodness There is many a Hungry Appetite hath been brought into his Presence and be hath filled the Hungry with good things Luk. 1.53 Perhaps thou art one that hast lost a Meal thro' a Providential Hand of God upon thee and where God sets out Food thou comest the more Hungering thither Some Black Providence may have put on Sackcloth upon thy Soul Nehem. 1.4 that thou hast mourned and fasted certain Dayes and lo a Restraint of the Bread of God whets thee further on Thou canst not forbear crying when thou art Hunger-bitten Prov. 30.15 like those Daughters of the Horse-leech Give Give I have been thus long from an Ordinance detain'd Psal 109.24 and my Flesh faileth of Fatness I must break out to the Supper now I can stay no longer in Well if it be thus the Feast is still meet for thee Christ that Invites thee to sit down 1 Sam. 30.12 will Feast thee with his Love 'till thy Spirit comes again 2. It hath satisfying Provisions suited to Thirsty Ones If thou long'st for some Pleasant Draught yet the Lord doth satisfie such a * Animam sitientem Moller Enarr in Psalmes Longing Soul as some do Expound it of Thirst Psal 107.9 form
and the Counsel which Jesus Christ gave unto his Disciples was this Therefore be ye also ready Matth. 24.44 And be ye therefore ready also Luke 12.40 But now it is sad when the Gospel is made ready Gal. 2.15 and Sinners of the Gentiles are yet unready for it Behold saith Christ I stand at the Door Rev. 3.20 and knock but how many obstinate resolved Sinners that are going on still in their Trespusses do keep a Hand upon the Latch Psal 68.21 while he knocks and they will not open to him Psal 24.7 9 10. They refuse to let in the King of Glory tho' he knocks to come in and bring them to a Banquet of Love prepar'd God is ready with his Son Christ is ready with himself yea the Holy Spirit and the Gospel with the Faithful Preachers of it These are all now ready and yet how many wretched Hearers that are yet in their Sins are not ready for them Oh! 't is sad that when God calls away to Supper Men should chuse rather to play than to come in Matth. 11.16 17. 1 Cor. 13.11 to be like Children playing in the Markets rather than put away Childish Things and come in to the Provisions that have been purchased at a Dear Market for them It is sad to be slothful in Business when we should be fervent in our Spirits Rom. 12.11 serving the Lord Ah! how unworthy is their Carriage that when all is now ready Supper served in Grace offered to pardon cleanse save them yet they will stand off and have neither Hearts nor Stomachs to it 't is a high piece of Ingratitude when Sinners are not ready to embrace the Gospel let the cause of their unreadiness be as plausible and specious as a negligent Hand or an unbelieving Heart can make it 't is sad when Men will keep their Hands too dirty to dip them in the Dish with Christ Mat. 26.23 Luke 10.40 Chap. 22.27 that they will be cumbred about much serving and will rather run up and down upon any thing among them that serve than sit down among them that sit at Meat 6. Again it is still worse 6 Ins when Men shall even now degenerate from what they have once been That Men by a slight and temporary Profession should once pretend to be Guests and yet quickly after it may be downright Apostates at least wretched Backsliders and Strangers to Grace and Holiness what a Horrible Revolt from an open countenancing of the ways of God to a visible Enmity or at least a secret Hatred of them Once Zealous in Profession now as hot if it lay in their Power to stir up Persecution Sometime outwardly reconcil'd now again alienated A sad reverse of the state of the Colossians and all true Believers Col. 1.21 Oh! how sad was the degenerate state of Jerusalem when the Prophet describes it Isa 1.21 How is the Faithful City become an Harlot It was full of Judgment Righteousness lodged in it but Now Murtherers And what is it thus with any of you that have read heard and professed the Doctrine of the Grace of God Are you now degenerate now worse than ever What Apprehensions have you of this Gospel now ready Could you once rise up in a Readiness for Communion with them that dare not forsake the Assembling of themselves together Heb. 10.25 to be join'd with such as do understand and seek God And can you now sit down in a contented slothfulness at home as if you were shut up in Plenty and had all things by you Could you once set upon the Practice of an outward Reformation and yet when sanctifying Grace is now ready for you are you fallen into your old course again Don't you need to be mourn'd over that you should return with the Dog to your Vomit and with the Sow that was washed to your wallowing in the Mire again 2 Pet. 2.22 Did you once pretend to hate and rebuke them that regard Lying And what Are you now upon every slight occasion accustomed to utter Lies tho' lying Lips are an Abomination to the Lord of Truth Prov. 12.22 Did you once pretend a Regard to the Commandment Swear not Jam. 5.12 And yet even now you can ordinarily Swear by the Greater Heb. 6.16 and perhaps mock at the Tenderness of a Neighbour that feareth an Oath Eccles 9.2 and will tell you that even for Swearing the Land mourns Jer. 23.10 Were you once convinced that you took up a Reproach against the Lord when you prophan'd his Ordinances despis'd his Sabbaths trampled upon his Gospel Blasphem'd his Reverend and Holy Name Psal 111.9 And are you now as loose and extravagant as openly wicked it may be Debaucht or Prophane and more than ever Did you not once tell Men by your Profession that the Lord was the Portion of your Cup Psal 16.5 and yet can you drink off the Cup of your Abominations Rev. 17.4 Deut. 29.19 to add Drunkenness to Thirst Oh! 't is sad that you should have professed Righteousness and Purity but return again to Uncleanness and remain filthy still Rev. 22.11 'T is sad that you should have sate under the Preaching of the Gospel which hath been made and brought in now ready and yet be hardened any of you by the Deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3.13 till you are now worse than ever 7. It will now make your next Sins the Greater 7 Inf. Present Acts of Grace will aggravate future Acts of Sin This Days Provision if refused will encrease your to Morrow's Provocation You will presently heap up wrath if you neglect the Treasures of Mercy longer If you are not led to Repentance by a Saviour now ready Rom. 2.4 you will be more greedy to fill up your Sins alway 1 Thes 2.16 If the Gospel be a Supper now ready if all the Blessings of the Kingdom of Grace are now prepared if Heaven it self be offered and Everlasting Glory promis'd and set before us and yet Sinners will not regard the offers of Salvation in the Day of Grace Rom. 8.31 what shall we then say to these things but as the Prophet doth Jer. 14.10 latter part That the Lord will now remember their Iniquity and that now also will he give Sentence against them Jer. 4.12 latter part The Sin is the greater because a rejection of Mercy and Grace in the very Season of it It is the sign of a more Rebellious and Revolting Heart if we do not now fear the Lord our God If Men will not reform nor now turn and live why then assuredly now shall they be found faulty Hos 10.2 middle clause i. e. Now God will look upon their Sin more than he hath been wont to do in time past You might once perhaps have had a covering to have wrapt up and conceal'd your neglects of God before but now you are made naked to your shame Exod. 32.25 and
a Work doth justifie for it is only the Hand to receive Christ who is our Righteousness But he gives it this Name speaking in their own Terms who doted on Works and so the Doctrine of Faith is called a Law Rom. 3 27. because the Jews boasted so much of the Law Hutcheson upon John pag. 102. Work It justifies no otherwise than as it apprehends a justifying Object and it is a saving Work no otherwise than as it fastens and relies upon a saving Worker Hence it cometh to pass that without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now Ignorance of this way to the Provisions in Christ makes them unto many so ineffectual If you think it an easie matter to thrust in to God any how without Christ as your Way his Word as your Rule and his Spirit as your Guide you will profit little by the Gospel so long as such a corrupt perswasion leads you Joh. 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life The Way No access or coming unto the Father but by me The Truth No Doctrine can be sound that leads off from me The Life You will never enter into Life Mat. 19.17 if you enter not in by me as the Door and unto me as the Provision Again The Word must be your Rule Psal 119.133 Order my Steps in thy Word (h) Si extra Legem tuam incedo non est Stabile solum sub Pedibus meis coeno demergor Rivet Via vitae seu medit in Psat 119. operûm vol. 2do p. 472 If I step besides thy Law saith the Learned Rivet I tread where the Ground will not bear my Feet and where I am over Head and Ears in Dirt. Tho' Christ is the Way yet we should never know what Steps to take to or in him 'till the Word lays Christ forth and discovers each of them to us So for the Spirit it 's Guidance is necessary The Spirit of God hath branded it as Foolishness in those that follow their own Spirit Ezek. 13.3 There is no Spirit fit to be our Guide but His. Thy Spirit is Good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Thy Spirit is good lead me or as (i) Tuo spiritu bono deduc me Junius some read it By thy Good Spirit lead me If we had Christ as the Way and his Word as the Rule too yet if we had not the Spirit as our Guide we should not by reason of the Darkness in us and upon us see the Straitness and Perfection of the Rule before us or know of our selves how at any Time to use it There is an absolute need of the Spirit 's Guidance after Conversion hence is that of the Apostle inculcated Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 25. and walk after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 and that Phrase if ye be led by the Spirit Gal. 5.18 all which do import a submitting to the Conduct of the Spirit as our Guide And if there be a need of the Spirit for Saints after they have received Christ be sure there is a necessity of the Spirit 's Guidance for Sinners to bring them in to Christ Well Ignorance of and Unacquaintedness with the way of the Lord must needs be an Hinderance to the Feast of the Lord that makes Sinners desire none of his Dainties That is the Third Hinderance Fourthly Obstinacy 4 Hindran or an obstinate Aversion to the Things of God The Parable gives this account of it Matth. 22.3 that when the King had sent to call them that were bidden to the Supper they would not come Alas if Men will become their own Hinderers no wonder that the Gospel proves ineffectual If they will choose rather to starve than eat how can a Feast preserve or relieve such as these and yet this is the wretched and deplorable Case of Sinners their Hearts do naturally stand off from God therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways Job 21.14 There is a mighty Stubbornness and Rebellion in the minds of Men that God takes Notice of this was expresly laid open in the Jews Isa 48.4 I knew that thou art obstinate and thy Neck is an Iron Sinew and thy Brow brass Sinners will choose Poverty and despise Riches run into Misery and forsake their own Mercy Jonah 2.8 The Gospel would pity relieve and save them but they are a stiff necked Generation that will not turn and live Ezek. 18.23 v. 32. It would feed them but they will rather dye of spiritual Hunger it would cloath them but they will rather to Hell naked than go with Christ's Robe to Heaven They will rot in their Chains before they will stoop to choose a Free Release and will venture to fall Blindfold into the Ditch Mat. 15 14 Rev. 3.18 Joh. 9.7 rather than anoint with Eye-salve or wash in the Pool of Siloam Fifthly Other Feasts besides 5 Hindran Tho' in the Gospel it is the Supper of the great God yet in eating Sinners have taken every one his own Supper before it 1 Cor. 11.21 as the Apostle speaketh of the Lord's Supper They will have Banquets to corrupt the Flesh but none of that Holy Diet which might save their Spirits in the Day of the Lord Jesus Sinners will snatch especially at these Three the Lust of the Flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 The World that reject a Feast provided by Father Son and Spirit yet will banquet with their own * Hec Tria pro trino numine mundus habet Trinity 1. The Lust of the Flesh is a Banquet with Sinners that obstructs the Gospel-Feast Lusts of the Flesh are such Pleasures says (k) Coton upon the 1 Epist of John one as Men find in Meat and Drink or Women either Intemperance or Incontinence And then again Pleasures whether we consider them as gross or vain the Pleasures of the Body or the Mind do hinder the Efficacy of Divine Provisions 1. Gross and Filthy Pleasures or Fleshly Lusts as the Apostle Peter calls them that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pleasure is a Net that entangles ungodly Men. Fleshly Concupiscences the Original reads it alluding to that inbred Appetite of the old Man which goes forth after Morsels roasted at the Fire of Lust and took off the Devil's Spit Abstain saith the Holy Ghost from these Rom. 1.26 The Lust of the Flesh is a bad Appetite a vile Affection that covers to be a Partaker with Devils and rejects Angels Food Psa 78.25 It will find out a Banquet that quite spoils the Feast I may say here of the whole Gospel as the Apostle doth of the Lord's Supper in a Part of it 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be Partakers of the Lords
to find no more Faith on the Earth in this Talking Zealot than in any other Pharisee or Lawyer of the Company The * Mr. Saâ—â— Cradock's Harmony of the Evangelists Scope of our Saviour's Parable argues that howsoever these Pharisees eo nomine might pretend to value the Kingdom of God yet the Love of the World the Profits Pleasures secular Employments and Avocations of this Life would prevail to keep them off from embracing the Calls of God and shut them out of Heaven Observe There may upon some Occasions be Discourses of the Things of God that drop from unsanctified Lips where the Speakers have no inward Savour or true undestanding of those Things The Language of Canaan may be got and us'd by rote where also men retain the speech of Ashdod under their Tongues Neh. 13.24 A Person like this Pharisee may discourse of the Kingdom of God and yet be a Child of Disobedience in whom the god of this World rules But let me open the 16th Verse where the Parable begins and also the former part of the 17th to bring in the Text. Then said he V. 16. Christ hereupon takes the Occasion and replyes Unto him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Singular Number q. d. Unto the Pharisee that spake at the 15th Vers before Christ observed the Saying and taking the word out of the mouth of this Pharisee instructs him by a Parable that taught the VVay of God more perfectly Acts 18.26 The other Guests at the Table were silent but this man spake and therefore the Son of Man hath somewhat to say unto Him to state the matters of the Kingdom and discover how the Pharisees would dislike it and then reject the King that should reign over them A centain man made a great Supper 〈◊〉 14.16 and bâ—de many A certain man This Evangelist Luke calls him indeterminately describing him by no Character or Degree but Matthew expresseth whom and declares how great a man he was rendring him by that certain Preheminence and Supreme Authority which met in him The Expression therefore is cloath'd with Royalty A certain King or Math. 22.2 as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Original reads it a man a King This was none other than the Great God giving his own Son Jesus Christ to be married to our Natures and made like unto us in assuming Flesh Joh. 1.14 when the VVord was made Flesh and dwelt among us As to the Reason why God is set forth in this Agency by a Man according to the Original of the Parable in Matthew and our own Translation in Luke I find Interpreters silent However I think it may satisfie to remember that the Language of the Holy Ghost is Sovereign he being at Liberty to use what Idiom or Terms he pleaseth and that he condescends and stoops in the Expression to our Weakness as he doth in all other Metaphorical Allusions of Scripture elsewhere The Eyes of the Lord his Face Arm Hands c. Made a great Supper That is says * Mr. Saâ— Clark Aâ— not on the N. T. one Appointed the Grace and Priviledges of the Gospel the Glory and Happiness of Heaven consequent thereupon He prepared Grace for the Benefit of our fallen Nature and Glory in the Second Adam when we were recovered out of the Ruines of the First * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 14.16 A Supper Yet †Matth. 22.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matthew varies in the Name and calls this Entertainment a Dinner Behold I have prepared my Dinner Both mean the Provisions of Grace made for Poor sinners and so agree in the Substance where they vary in the Circumstance It was Grace made ready whether we consider it as a Dinner at the Worlds Noon-Day when the Fulness of â—ime was come as soon as God sent forth his Son Gal. 4.4 or whether we consider it nearer the Evening of the World in those Ages that border upon the Second Coming of the Son of Man As to the Circumstance of a Supper 1. Luke might allude to the usual and ordinary time of Entertainments more commonly perhaps observed in that Age. We may gather some Evidence out of the Mouth of Two Witnesses to establish it Mark and John Herod on his Birth-Day made a Supper to his Lords High Captains and chief Estates of Galilee Mark 6.21 And when Jesus came to Bethany there they made him a Supper The Jews were not wont always to treat their Guests as Joseph did his Brethren when he told the Egyptians that these men should Dine with him at Noon And as the Name might be proper in reference to the Jewish Banquets so the aptitude of the Phrase seems to be further countenanc't in Scripture from the Practice of the Thing among some Gentiles also The Apostle leaves it upon record as his Observation among the Greeks that they that are drunken are drunken in the night 1 Thess 5.7 The Church at Thessalonica to whom he there writes was planted in Greece A Drunken soil that was often drown'd by Night for the Ancients as a * Mr. Joseph Mede Solebant veteres vespertino Tempore convivia agitare mero indulgentes ad multam noctem pâ—â—ducere Learned Man notes were wont to banquet late and falling afterwards into Intemperance by drinking Wine long after they had Supt were overcome and drunken with it in the Night Thô alas I may note it obiter by the way that now men will be drunk while it is yet day quickly after Dinner before the Night cometh 2. The Evangelist might allude to the Puschal Supper for the Paschal Lamb was to be slain in the Evening Exod. 12.6 and to be eaten the same Night The Paschal-Supper typified and shadowed forth our Lord 's own Supper instituted afterwards as a Commemoration to shew forth the Lord's Death untill he come 1 Cor. 11.26 and twice called the Lord's Supper Luk. 22.20 1 Cor. 11.20 Now as the Paschal Supper typified so this Supper of the Gospel might allude also to the Lord's Supper For indeed the Lord's Supper not intended directly in this Parable is yet comprehended under it virtually by a Synechdoche as the Part is contained in the whole The Great Supper of the Gospel designs the utmost extent of all Gospel-Grace and Priviledge it reacheth the full Mystery of Godliness and all spiritual Benefits that redound to any Soul by it Well a Supper because alluding to the Paschal and the Lords Supper 3. He might allude to the Future state of Blessedness in Heaven which is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Rev. 19.9.17 For indeed the present state of Grace is an Emblem or a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Foretaste of Heaven But I think chiefly in the last place that 4. It alludes very naturally to the last Dispensation which we are now under The Name seems to bear a Peculiar reference to the Gospel Season What fitter
Understanding of the Prudent Isa 29.14 God's People fare well by themselves 1 Cor. 1.19 while others are fatned for the Day of Slaughter and never come in to sup with them The Lord severs between the one and the other in reference to the true Goshen state as he did heretofore between the Cattel of Israel and the Cattel of Egypt Exod. 9.4 The Friends of the Bridegroom hear his Voice when a Stranger doth not intermeddle Prov. 14.10 I know the Foolishness of Preaching and Man 's corrupt Wisdom in this Point do no ways agree 1 Cor. 1.21 Corruption is more tender of its own Deformed Brow than of the Apple of God's Eye his Sovereignty Nature is too high to stoop tho' to the God of Nature here This is a Knee that will not how to Jesus * Ambrâ—sius Origenes Hieronymus censuerunt Deum suam Gratiam inter Hemiues dispensare prout tâ quznque benè usurrâ—â— praeviderit Calvin Instit Chr. Rel. p. 320.6.8 initie Calvin has noted it concerning some of the Ancient Fathers as Ambrose Origene and Hierome that they supposed God distributed his Grace no otherwise amongst men than as he foresaw the Improvement which men would make of it and the Good use they would put that Grace to And adds that Augustine too was some while of the same mind but afterwards when he grew into a better Acquaintance with the Scriptures he not only retracted that corrupt Opinion but confuted it with great Strength of Argument as his words declare in the * Adde Augustinum in eâ fuisse aliquando Sententiâ sed câ—m méliùs in Scriptura cognitione profecisset non retractavit modò ut evidentèr falsam sed fortitèr confutavit Ibid. mihi Octavo Margent Men may throw his Glory whither they list but God will never give it away himself The King will be Sovereign in his House and have none to sup but whom he sends for Thou wouldst not Oh man thy self and who art thou that replyest against God Is it fit for Thee and shall it not be Lawful for Him to do what he will with his own Rom. 9.20 Matth. 20.15 Sixthly 6 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Order of the Guests that are plac't to eat and drink in Gods Kingdom In Feasts it is usual for some to sit higher others lower at the same Entertainment This is intimated to have been observed among the Jews at Feasts Luk. 14.8 9 10. where Christ condemns not such a Civil Order but therein countenanceth the Degrees of respect that may be shewn among Men while he maketh an outward Difference between the Honourable and the Base It is thus at Our Tables some are nearer some are farther the upper end than others Some are plac't more advantageously by the very Man of the House where they have the opportunities of a Freer converse with him and a nearer intimacy than another that sitteth by Samuel took Saul and his Servant 1 Sam. 9.22 and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden where they were more Honourable than the Thirty So in the Gospel we may see how God spiritually makes a Difference while of his Soveraignty 1 Cor. 4.7 for the Beauty and Order of the Church he makes one to differ from another Indeed it is not our Business or ought-herein to be our care to mark out the chief Rooms Luk. 14.7 or the uppermost Seats in Synagogues like the Pharisees for Christ knows no man after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 that is he doth not respect the man for his Natural Precedency or Primogeniture who cometh to our Assembly with the Gold Ring Jam. 2.2 or in Goodly Apparel and much beyond the Poor man that cometh in in vile Rayment It is not therefore as to Civil Difference or External Order according to the Flesh which common Providence hath made among Professors that I here assume the Parallel but in a Spiritual Discrimination of Gifts and Graces or manifestations of the Divine Presence to some more than others The order lyes in that There are Diversities of Gifts 1 Cor. 12.4 v. 5. v. 6. differences of Administrations diversities of Operations God's People have neither equal Gifts nor equal Graces Mal. 4.2 As the Sun of Righteousness variously shines so one Star will always differ from another Star in Glory Some partake of more some taste of less when Christ putteth of his Spirit upon them that sit under his shadow Cant. 2.3 He gives more out of his * Col. 2.3 Treasures in wisdom to some in strength to others they receive not alike of his * Joh. 1.16 Fulness There be Differences in the Experiences of God's People a higher and a lower a Right hand and a Left at the King's Table Lo to one he saith Friend go up higher q. d. Luk. 14.10 Thou shalt behold me thou shalt by Faith apprehend me more and taste me sweeter than another that hath not thy Experience and yet he shall receive a Portion of me too Some have greater Communications of the Love of God than others Some are in the Dark others walk so much in the Light of Gods Countenance that like Moses they are got into the Mount and seem to converse with God Face to Face The Influences of the Spirit may shine upon one Believer with a comfortable Light and a Gracious clear Evidence while another lyes darkned under some Eclipse by the Cloud that cometh betwixt God's Children are all at Table but they cannot all look up at Supper and see their Father every one alike Peradventure God hath done more for thee than others thou art quickned with a larger sense and a more lively Hope thou art train'd up in thy Father's House under more intimate Acquaintance Gracious Discoveries more Ravishing Contemplations than another in the same Congregation that sits down sighing by thee It is thus under the Administrations of Grace among the Guests unto our God They are plac't in order there are thrô a manifold Dispensation Elder and Younger Brethren and God will have them to sit at meat accordingly Gen. 43.33 the First-born perhaps according to his Birth-right and the youngest according to his Youth However the King observes what order only an order he will have at this Marriage-Supper Mat. 11.26 even so Father because it seemeth good in thy sight All his by the Blood of Christ are nigh in their Relation but yet as to the manifestations of his Free Love many may seem to sit down at Table a great way off The Gospel is a long Table and there be many Degrees of Grace and Comfort where the Guests sit down Some may be cast down others advanc't as high as the upper end of Assurance Joh. 21.20 even to lean upon Christ's Breast at Supper The Church of God hath Fathers and strong men in Christ 1 Joh. 2.13 and the same hath
Babes and young Converts little Children newly brought forth There are Old Disciples Act. 21 16. 1 Cor. 15.8 and also such as are born on t of due time There are such as are in * Rom. 16.7 1 Cor. 6.4 Christ before and others that are less esteemed in the Church So that the Gospel may be likened unto an Entertainment on respect of Order Seventhly 7 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Ministerial Watters and Attenders on it The Queen of Sheba being enterbain'd in the Court of Solomon takes notice not only of the meat of his Table 1 King 10. v. 5. and the sitting of his Servants or Nobles and Courtiers of State whom he treated and brought up in Familiarity with him but also of the Attendance of his Ministers that is his waiting Servants and his Cup bearers Great Tables must have great Attendance on them Gen 40.21 The Chief Butler gave the Cup into Pharaoh's Hand and Nehemiah was the King's Cup bearer Neh. 1.11 So the Marriage-Feast in Cana of Galilee Joh. 2.1 2. where Jesus also was present had its waiters attending on it v. 5. for the Mother of Jesus saith unto the Servants and Jesus himself commands them Fill the water-pots with water and draw out now v. 7. and bear unto the Governour of the Feast v. 8. The Guests in the Marriage-House were not put to serve themselves Now the Feast of the Gospel resembles it and is alike in this having it's Officers and Ministerial Waiters serving at the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 these indeed in one sense are of them that sit at the Table with you but in another they are properly of them that serve and therefore your Servants for Jesus sake 2 Cor. 4.5 When Ministers have done one part of their work that is have called the Guests the Master appoints the other part to come in and wait at Table Hence it is that we are called Stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 no other Rulers over his Houshold than to give them their Portion of meat in due season Luk. 12.42 The Gospel is a Table at which Ministers must wait and work too to serve the Lords Guests They ought to have no place to stand or sit down in near the Table idle The Provisions made ready find work enough for Ministers to divide the Word aright 2 Tim. 2.15 last words and give unto every one a proper Portion We are but menial Servants of Jesus Christ to bring in the Dishes carve out the Food and in Applications hand it down to you The Gospel must be opened by such as we and its Provisions allowed you thro' our Ministry The Lord of the Feast hath appointed the Attendance of his Ministers and his Cup-bearers in a Resemblance to other Feasts Eighthly 8 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Cheerfulness of the Guests that feed upon it Feasts are not wont to be sad nor the Guests thereof melancholly So long as the Harp and the Viol the Tabret and Pipe and Wine are in their Feasts Isa 5.12 as the Jews used to have such Musical Instruments and Diversion mixed with them They are filled up with cheerfulness 1 Sam. 9.22 and make Samuel's Parlour differ from the House of Mourning Feasting and Gladness go by couples Esth 9.17 18. And Solomon who knew what it was to prove his Heart with mirth saith Eccl. 10.19 a Feast is made for Laughter and wine maketh merry For Laughter that is for it as the occasion * Vbi sese Laetitiâ—e obtulit occasio Mercer offers The innocent Design and Effect of Feasting may be a Refreshment of the Mind by the †Mr. Pools Engl. Annot Society of Friends as well as the Body by the use of Creatures Those publick Festivals Zech. 8.19 after the sorrow of the Captivity was turned into Joy are called Cheerful Feasts as if a sorrowful Feast had been a contradiction both to the Nature of the Thing and the Letter of a Command too Thou shalt rejoyce in thy Feast Deut. 16.14 So that neither in their common or Religious Feasts they were ever wont to afflict their Souls And in this respect of cheerfulness the Gospel retains the Similitude of a Feast God hath kept such an open House under the Gospel-State to enlarge our steps that we may rejoyce to run our Race There are indeed some Hannah's of a sorrowful Spirit that sit at Gods Table and this doth not proceed because they have eaten their meat with Him but thrô Fear they have drunk poyson by themselves Judg. 14.17 However thô Samson's Wife should weep before him the seven Days while their Feast lasted yet we do not read in that Marriage-Banquet that others besides her did eat the Bread of Mourners So as to the Gospel Hos 9.4 if some are dejected in the House of Feasting yet the Guests do mostly eat their Bread with joy and drink their wine with a merry Heart because God accepteth them Eccl. 9.7 It is a Musical * Lev. 23.24 Num. 29.1 Feast of Trumpets that sound glad Tydings Besides this Spiritual Pleasure in God's House is the Fruit of a Gracious Promise that was to be made good under the Gospel Isa 12.3 With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation yea he doubly fulfills the Promise while at the Marriage-Supper together with our water he makes our Conduits run wine Ibid. The House of Prayer was to be also made the House of Praise Them will I bring to my Holy Mountain and make them joyful in my House of Prayer Isa 56.7 The Children of Zion in coming to the Marriage of the King's Son were foretold should be joyful in their King Psal 149.2 The Gospel is a joyful Feast of which he that truly eateth shall one Day truly praise the Lord. Lastly 9 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the distribution of it's Broken meat among others that are not the called Guests We read in those Liberal Entertainments with which Christ sometimes treated the Multitudes when he multiplyed the Loaves and fed many thousands with them that they took up of the broken meat that was left seven Baskets full Matth. 15.37 and twelve Baskets full of the fragments and of the Fishes when he entertained them miraculously again Mar. 6.43 These Baskets of the Fragments or * Fragmenta à frangendo Broken meat as the word signifies that remained over and above unto them that had eaten might perhaps be distributed among others that had not partook of the Meal with them It is customary now a days with such as are given to Hospitality to distribute some of the Remainders of a Feast even to such for whom it is not prepared being neither invited with the Guests nor sitting in the same Room among them only come in upon their own account or as we say occasionally Indeed Nabal at the
never bestowed more than the Beggarly Elements of the Law on them not so much as a Kid nothing like this fatted Calf to rejoyce or be merry with But lo Gal. 4.9 however it pleaseth the Father Luk. 15.29 tho' it angers his Eldest Son He puts on Bowels and is a Father of mercies to a wandring disobedient Son he spares him thô he were not a Son that serv'd him Mal. 3.17 He doth not leave poor hungry and Thirsty Travellers to wander in the wilderness where there is no way Psa 107 40 Psal 103 1â— but like as a Father pitieth his Children he provideth a Gracious Heavenly Entertainment killeth the best to invite the worst to Supper the Fatted Calf the Furniture of Gospel Grace to feast us that we might have an Allowance at the King's Table 2 King 〈◊〉 30. The Woman at Endor killed a Fat Calf to entertain a di distressed Prince 1 Sam. 28.24 but the Father in the Parable killeth his to entertain a distressed Prodigal â—en 18. v. 2.7 Abraham killed his Calf for the sake of Three Angels but He in the Parable for any one Sinner that repenteth to cause a joy among Angels Luk. 5.10 9. The Marrow of rich Forgiveness The Forgiveness of Sins where the poor Soul hath been made sensible of Sin and Wrath both as guilty and condemned is such a Provision of the Grace of God as well resembles Marrow The Remission of sins that are past Rom. 3.25 is a Hearty supporting Diet for us being * Pro. 16.24 Health unto the Soul and a morsel that makes the Bones fat Prov. 15.30 When Christ speaks to the Paralytick Mat. 9.2 Son be of good cheer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take Heart Son thy Sins be forgiven thee Thô his condition might have sunk him to the Heart as we may gather from the word yet the News of Remission was enough to recover his Spirits and put him into Heart again We may take notice of many a Poor Soul that hath wanted the sense of Forgiveness or Pardoning Love to help it as Jonadab observed of Amnon one of the King's Sons that tho' he stood in so near a Relation to David 2 Sam. 13.4 yet he was lean from Day to Day But Forgiveness has holpen a poor Servant of the Lord's thô lean-fleshed that he hath been satisfied like David himself as with Marrow and Fatness Psa 63.5 The Forgiveness of our sins is Health but the Apprehension of our Guilt dryeth the bones It breeds Marrow in us when it hath been brought first as Marrow to us Pro. 17.22 The Lord shall satisfie thy Soul in drought and make fat thy Bones Isa 58.11 As there is a Present Refreshment so it yields an after-Improvement of our Souls when we are feasted or fed with the Gracious Sense of Pardon A Malefactor condemned to die would find a Feast unsavoury and a Banquet made only to feed him against the day of Slaughter Jam. 5.5 but the news of a Pardon would make it sweet and Dainty Now at the Table of the Gospel there is this Dish of Marrow set Christ hath such a Plenty in himself as affords of this sort also in whom we have the Forgiveness of Sins Col. 1.14 So Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Bretheen that thrô this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins We must come indeed in Repentance and 't is fit we should to our Father with the Ropes about our Necks 1 Kings 20.31 but he meets us as he did the Prodigal and gives Remission to us as he makes a Feast so he pardons our Fault that we may partake of all acquitted 10. The Food of Knowledge I call it so as warranted from that expression Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors according to my Heart that shall feed you with Knowledge and understanding Knowledge is Provision your Souls are fed by Knowledge as your Bodies are by Food This is a sort of Spiritual Repast that may cause the Eater in some measure to express it like that of Solomon Yea my Heart had great experience of wisdom Eccl. 1.16 It is a Dish that the more we take of the clearer we find our * He was refreshed and recovered his lost spirits whereof part went into his optick nerves and so clear'd his sight which was much darkned by Famine as is usual Mr. Pool Eye-sight Jonathan when he put forth the end of the Red that was in his hand and dipt it in an honey-comb and put his hand to his mouth his Eyes were enlightned 1 Sam. 14.27 He was almost Blind with Famine that is †Being enfeebled with extreme Labour and Emptiness his Eyes waxed dimm which now by this little refreshing were enlightened again Arthur Jackson his Spirits were so weak for want of Food that he could not discern as at other Times but a little refreshment reviv'd him fetcht his Spirits again and made his Sight clearer so when Wisdom entreth into thine Heart and Knowledge is Pleasant unto thy Soul Prov. 2.10 it is a Provision that giveth Vnderstanding to the Simple This makes the Eyes of the Spouse like the Fish-pools of Heshbon Cantic 7.4 * Fuller Pisgab Sight pt 1st p 66. of a clear and perspicuous vision in the mysteries of Christ Now in the Gospel-Entertainment there is this Food of Knowledge ready Our Great Provider when he maketh a Feast doth not starve our Judgments He makes ready enough to suffice the Faculties of a Man or the Graces of a Christian This of Knowledge is a Portion of his Feast he sends our Understandings He provides Good Doctrine to rectifie and inform a Bad Judgment The Lord appoints us his Truth that hereby we may know and avoid the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4.6 The Gospel is the Treasury of Wisdom that however we may be * 1 Cor. 4.10 Fools for Christ yet we may not appear Fools and of no Understanding in him We have lost our Knowledge which we had in Adam at our first Table in Paradice and therefore have Food again at our second Table in Christ that * Col. 3.10 renews us in Knowledge We had gone so long Fasting that we were empty of the things of God but now have a Gospel that we may be †chap. 1.9 filled with the knowledge of his Will The Knowledge of the Gospel indeed still encreaseth our Appetite whets our Mind provokes us into more Enquiries and follows Vs Hos 6.3 until we follow on to know the Lord but withall affords so large a measure that our utmost Capacities may run over tho' the Hand that fills us doth also press our Measure down The Gospel is a Feast that contains the utmost encrease of Knowledge 1 Cor. 13.2 pt it hath all Mysteries and all Knowledge and he that partakes of the Entertainment shall know of the things what they are and find how they are all given
that will reach to some few Individuals as suppose a Portion to Me and to Thee but a supply for the whole Israel of God And we may now under the Gospel expect a more plentifull Effusion of the Spirit to come than hath been seen yet in Drops and wait for the full Shower until the Spirit be poured from on high Isa 32.15 And in a word then if you were never so greedy after this New Wine you might still be filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 18. The Morsel of Hope for them that fail not to sit with the King at Meat We are saved by Hope Rom. 8.24 We are sometimes tost in a Storm at Sea we are ready to be drown'd with our own Tumultuous Waves but Hope steps in as an Anchor of the Soul and saves our Ship from splitting that we make no Wrack upon the Fair Havens side The Sea is safe tho' it it be not smooth thou sailest on to Heaven Thy Ship may reel thy Table shake thy Banquet for a little moment lose its relish thy Fears may cause thee to apprehend the Storm will surely make thee lose thy Meal but so long as thou keepst thy seat and holdst by Christ that sits at Table with thee thy Fears will shortly vanish and thou shalt find a Hand to pick thy Morsel up Tho' long at Sea yet thou wilt quickly get a View of that Cape of Good Hope thro' Grace 2 Thes 2.16 Job 8.13 Prov. The Hope of the Hipocrite may even dash him out out of Countenance but the Hope and Expectation of the Righteous is found at this Banquet to be a Hope that maketh not ashamed He that feedeth at home Rom. 5.5 that is hopes God will be mercifull because he is temperate in all things or wrongs and defraudeth none hath not one solid Morsel that will yield saving Nourishment but he that sets his Hope on Jehovah apprehending none but a God in Christ to save him has obtained the Better hope and got a true Portion of the Feast This Entertainment hath all in every kind we need and our Days would be spent without Hope if our Help did not ly here but as the Prophet speaks the Lord will be the Hope of his People and the Strength of the Children of Israel Joel 3.16 latter part And again The Eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him upon them that hope in his mercy Psa 33.18 If thou hast yet obtained help of God in no other kinds thou mayst however so long as thou art found at Gods Feast Psa 71.14 find hope continually If thou art not plentifully rich in Faith thou mayst be poor and yet meet with Hope Job 5.16 So the Poor hath hope low in thy Spirits and yet lifted upwards that thou dost not sink into Despondency or stick when thou art sunk in the miry Clay 19. The full meal of Contentment When thou hast eaten and art full thou shalt surely feel quietness in thy Belly Thou shalt obtain so much to make up a Spiritual Interest that thy Portion in God will quiet thee thô thou hast not thy Part in many other Things I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 Thô carnal desires will be discomposed yet a Gracious mind will be settled when the will of the Flesh is contradicted The whole World will be a common Ordinary and too light when this Feast of the Lord in the Ballance is weighed against it If the World leaves thee poor and the Gospel makes thee rich thou wilt not repine at the loss of their Skins and Dung when the Fatlings themselves are ready Thou shalt see so much in Christ at this Plenteous Table Job 31 24 that thou wilt not regard to make Gold thy confidence or fine Gold thy trust Silver will be unto thee as Dross that is thou wilt take the World as it is Heb. 13.5 and be content with such things as thou hast having Food and Raiment I mean spiritually Food and Raiment out of the King's Stores thou wilt be therewith content far more delighted with thy Treasure 1 Tim. 6.8 than if another King should open thee his rich Exchequer If thou hast thy Father's Inheritance thou wilt leave other Children Rattles Psa 4.6 Hos 2.8 Others may cry out for Corn and Wine and Oyl and think they can never have enough of this World tho they had never so much of the Gospel with it but a Barrel of meal and a Cruse of Oyl a little of this World shall suffice a poor Woman in Sarepta when God sends an Elijah to her A Generation of Murmurers and Complainers may use their Language which came out of the Wilderness Jude v. 16. Would God we had been content Josh 7.7 last words and dwelt on the other side Jordan But an Israelite indeed a Soul in Christ Joh. 1.47 is content thô he hath some * Num. 33 55. Pricks in his Eyes and Thorns in his side because the Lines are fallen on this side of it The Increase of God contents him having gain'd an Interest in his Son Christ Jesus who is all in all to him 20. The Refreshments of the Peace of Conscience A good Conscience seems to be a Table spread in the very Soul where we may sup by our selves in an inner Chamber for as Solomon says He that is of a merry Heart hath a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 Peace in thy Soul is a little private Banquet the King sets by Job 31.17 where thou mayst eat of thy Morsel alone When the Blood of Sprinkling we spake of under the sixth Particular is drank down it fetcheth out all the Evil Spots of Conscience having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience Heb. 10.22 Conscience would quickly cry against us if God had not provided at this Feast enough to stop its mouth yea the Soul would die if the Conscience had not the Food of God to live on as the Child would be starv'd if the Nurse were not fed But lo Psa 72.7 the Gospel hath a Table that hath abundance of Peace upon it Peace to feed on publickly when at an Ordinance there be others that are dipping their hands with us in the Dish Mat. 26 23 and Peace to feed in our Solitudes while no Eye beholds us Lnk. 2.14 The Invitation unto the Feast is Peace on Earth the Ministerial Waiters at the Table are a Act. 10.36 preaching Peace by Jesus Christ the things ready are the things that do b Luk. 19. belong unto our Peace the Apostle wrote not one Epistle when he sent Messes unto the Churches but it came still to them with these Refreshments * Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.3 2 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.3 Eph. 1.2 Phil. 1.2 Col. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.2 Exod. 32.17 Nahum 2.4 Isa 19.2 Exod. 2 1◠Grace and Peace to you The Gospel serves it in most excellently Rom. 5.1
that we may follow the Banquet into our great High-Priest's Palace The Grace of the Gospel takes off our Restraints as well as takes up a Holy Repast for us It easeth us of a Yoke as well as spreads our Table Grace enables us to walk at Liberty Psa 119.45 before we can leave work to earn the Wages of Death and sit down to Meat We read of a Feast Matth. 27.15 at which the Governour was wont to release a Prisoner The Jews having †Credebile est a Romanis hoc ess◠Polt Synop. Crit. probably learnt it from the Roman Custom However this as * Dickson upon Matthew some account it might be an unwarrantable Practice yet it is a gracious Priviledge at this Feast of the Gospel to release a Prisoner ay and a Notable Prisoner too Mat. 27.16 Mankind as notable in the Species as ever Barabbas the Individual was The Gospel which Preacheth up a Feast proclaims a Free Liberty to Captives Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach good Tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Christ came to free the Servant of Corruption and a Slave of the Devil that being loosned out of Bondage Gal. 5.1 the poor Soul might afterwards stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free For a Plain Text asserts the Security of such a Freedom Joh. 8.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed 'T is called expresly a Redemption Col. 1.14 it being the Release of Prisoners and Captives by the Payment of a Price at such a Rate as the Son of God paid for the Redemption of them through his Blood Now suppose thou art yet in Bondage to Sin Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7. v. 17 20. the sin that doth so easily beset thee the sin that dwelleth in thee yet the Gospel provideth against the intanglement that thou may'st be made free from sin Rom. 6.18 i. e. Free from the Lordly Dominion of sin by the Spirit of Christ and free from the severe Condemnation of sin by the Blood of Christ according to the Atonement Suppose a Slave that thou art ty'd to Satan's Galleys and one whom Satan hath bound lo these eighteen or twenty or perhaps forty Years yet the same Gospel that provideth to turn thee from Darkness to Light is ready also to turn thee from the Power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 Art thou bound with a Chain that cuts thee and imprints its ragged Indentures on thee whilst thou art sensibly feeling of thy self to be staked down as if something had fastened thee with Bands to Unbelief yet the Gospel is made ready to come in with Faith and more Evidences of Might in the Day of Christ's Power when unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ to believe on him Phil. 1.29 Tho' thou canst not believe except it be given thee from above and thine Impotence makes thy Bondage yet the Gospel provides to release thee from the Bondage of Corruption Rom. 8.21 and translate thee into the Liberty of the Children of God Now therefore if Bound what can suit thee more than the Loosning Power of the Gospel If thou lack'st to be called unto Liberty Gal. 5.13 nothing can be fitter for thy Case than the Gospel that proclaims it and a God that procures it for thee No Power under Heaven can reach thy Case so fitly while of a truth thou art Bound as the Son of God that can make thee Free indeed The Gospel is suited to thy Condition tho' thou art shut up in Prison thou may'st be a Prisoner of Hope Zech. 9.12 tho' thou feelest the weight of thy Chain Psal 107.10 and art laid in Affliction and Iron The Day of the Gospel is a Year of Jubilee a great Year of Release Isa 61.2 and called the Acceptable Year of the Lord in which he accepts of a Ransom for thee Tho' thou hast been barbarously us'd in Egypt he hath set open a Door of Hope Hos 2.15 thro' which thou may'st see and a Door of Entrance thro' which he will bring thee in Free to Canaan The Gospel hath Grace ready to set thee at Liberty and then to keep thee for ever Free from the Tyranny and Dominion of thine old Jailors that thou may'st always dwell in safety Psal 4.8 This is provided suitably to thy Case among the All things ready Sixthly The Gospel hath Apparelling Provisions suited to array the Naked and adorn Nasty Souls 1. It hath Provisions suited to our spiritual Nakedness to cloath and cover it The Gospel hath a Wardrobe of the richest Wear as well as a Table of the choicest Viands Song 3.11 Christ in the Day of his Espousals cloaths the Naked as well as feeds the Hungry We read of the Marriage-Feast of Samson that when he had put forth a Riddle unto the Phlistines he promised to give them thirty Sheets and thirty Change of Garments Judg. 14.12 if they could certainly declare it to him within the seven dayes of the Feast which Samson afterwards upon their telling it gave them in full Tale as He had agreed punctually Now the Gospel-Feast at the Marriage of the King's Son affords to us Changes of Raiment likewise thô not upon such hard Conditions as Samson made with the Philistines for when we have Food and Raiment in the Gospel 1 Tim. 6.8 he frankly gives us Both. Tho' we are stript in the First Adam yet we may be cloathed with the Second Hence it is the Scripture speaks of putting on Christ Rom. 13.14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Tho' we want Cloaths in a Righteousness of our own yet we may put on the Lord Jesus Rev. 3.18 that the shame of our Nakedness do not appear God hath provided Christ therefore accordingly to suit us as * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jer. 23.6 Iehovah or the Lord our Righteousness if common Providence hath provided a Suit which the very Grass of the Field and the Flowers of it wear Special Grace would not come behind but provide the Righteousness of God in the Garments of Salvation to Cloath you Mat. 6 30. Oh ye of little Faith Job 1.21 tho' you come Naked into the World yet He hath provided that you may carry this Cloathing out 2. It hath Provisions suited to our spiritual Nastiness to adorn us and put the Garments of Praise upon us This Raiment indeed is for Sinners that come Nasty but not for such as are resolved to continue so Alas we come in to the Feast of our selves Jam. 2.2 like the Poor Man in vile Ratment but the Bounty of the Feast-maker provides us with a better Suit to appear at his Table and before his Presence in Mat. 22.10 Luk. 14.21 23.
not buy a Sacrifice much less could it mix with the Price of Blood to sanctify Mat. 27.6 It would not avail to procure a Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 how could it joyn then in purchasing a Satisfaction Mic. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a Year old Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression The Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul Our largest Offers had been infinitely too little for one of the least of God's All things to have come at our Price Mat. 25.40 5. All These Things must surely put a Dignity upon all True Gnests 5 Inf. What an Honour have all his Saints while the Palace of the King sends to treat the Cottage Psal 45.15 What a Preferment is it that God should stoop down to maintain a Communion with us That our Lord should prepare so great a Feast and then gird himself to come forth and serve us Luk. 12.37 These mighty Things will make Believers great tho otherwise they are little both in their own and other men's Eyes The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Mat. 10.42 Prov. 12.16 If we state all Accounts truly little ones God's Little ones are greatest The All Things do put an Honour upon the Brother of Low Degree whom others make the Footstool Jam. 1.9 Such as are highly favoured of God shall not be found Ignoble Luke 1.28 Tho' he sends out into the High-ways and takes up Beggars Mat. 22.9 yet here 's a Feast that makes them Kings and Priests unto our God Rev. 1.6 6. It informs also of the Happiness as well as the Dignity of True Guests that have got the Gospel-Feast Theirs 6 Inf. They are not only by an Advancement set up but are a People saved by the Lord. Oh! Deut. 33.29 we may break out into Admiration when we think deeply of the Blessedness of the People of God who may come freely and partake of all these Things as their own The Gospel is not to feed thy Phancy and please a meer Imagination as if there were no richer or more satisfying Good to the owners thereof Eccl. 5.11 saving the beholding of it with their Eyes as Solomon speaks of the Increase of the best Earthly Things But 't is a Feast made ready to be Thine to fill thee brim-full with thy own share of Christ Oh! blessed are they that have believed and obeyed God who requires the Obedience of Faith as that Work of God which will give them a Right unto the Tree of Life Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life God doth not require his People to look up as Strangers Eph. 2.19 but as Citizens belonging unto Sion and as Servants that have * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orders from their Lord to meddle with it Authority to appropriate the Tree of Life to ' em A Right to the Tree of Life says (k) Durham on the Revelation one is a Right to Jesus Christ and Glory in Heaven with him Now how rich and happy are they that have an Interest by Faith in the Riches of the King's Son Oh! 1 Sam. 17.25 he endows them with great Riches and Honour they can never want Portion and he gives them this Entertainment that they may be Happy in all things and never want Provision An Interest in the Son of God doth not only make the best the most but all things thy own Matth. 4.9 Luk. 4.7 If thou wilt fall down and worship him all shall be thine He hath purchas'd that thou mayst get Possession Oh! blessed View of Faith that can appropriate Gospel-Grace tho' it be a Self-emptying Grace that will lye at Christ's Foot 'till the Soul cry out I am a vile Wretch Isa 6.5 I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips yet is a Grace that exalts a Saviour and will not leave the Soul hanging off from Christ but clinging fast and crying out with Thomas My Lord and My God! Joh. 20.28 God's Children that have his Spirit witnessing see the Gospel for themselves and not another exclusively Job 19.27 The Saints of the most High have a Priviledge beyond all other Men. We have an Altar whereof they have no Right says the Apostle to eat that serve the Tabernacle Heb. 13.10 The Apostle there means that the Faithful in Christ Jesus had such Priviledges by Christ as others had no Right to who adhered to Jewish Customs and Superstitions So there is a Spiritual Divine Participation which natural unsanctified Men have nothing to do with Oh! blessed therefore are the Houshold Gal. 6.10 Eph. 2.12 13. the Houshold of Faith that be not aliens and strangers afar off and having nothing to do with these Things Blessed are the Family that come in to the Feast because God hath given them Meat and 't is now their own Food They have Children's Bread Mat. 15.26 Luk. 6.20 and Blessed be ye Children for yours is this Bread 7. An outward Liberty and a safe Protection of the Guests at God's Table is a great Mercy If all Things be ready 7 Inf. it is an Excellent Security that affords a Protection under the Roof of God's House to enjoy them None indeed shall be able to keep God's Children out of their Fathers House that come nigh the Door with their Father's Name written in their Foreheads Rev. 14.1 The Lord of the Feast doth also plant a special Providence that guards the Table while his Guests are plac'd about it Heb. 1.14 He hath Ministring Spirits that are set for the Defence of the Gospel Phil. 1.17 they stand as watchful Centinels for the Good of his Chosen Psa 106.5 because he maketh a House of Defence to save them Psa 31.2 He hath given his Angels a charge over them Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 that his Guests may partake of the Feast in Quietness and when He giveth outward Quietness in a Day of Liberty Job 34.29 as well as internal Peace and Calmness who then can make Trouble and Disturbance while he entertains us The Lord hath made a Hedge and a Wall so high about his People Job 1.10 that none shall climb over or break thro' to destroy the Gospel-Banquet and spoil that Holy Festival Vpon all the Glory shall be a Defence Isa 4.5 The Holy Mountain is safely fenced round The Guest may trust to a Protection where he tasteth God's Provision For He that hath said Bread shall be given him his Waters shall be sure hath said also that his Place of Defence shall be the Munitions of Rocks Isa 33.6 2 Cor. 6.7 There is the Armour of Righteousness
on the Right Hand and on the Left to guard both the Guests and Provision too And 't is with no less than the Mighty Power of God that ye are kept through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kept Kept as a Thing or Person is when there be Souldiers set upon the Guard to look well to them kept as the Two Centurions with their two hundred Souldiers and Horsemen threescore and ten and Spear-men two hundred at the third Hour of the Night were to guard Paul to Cesarea to bring him safe unto Felix the Governour Acts 23.23 24. The Table of the Gospel is defended with a Flaming Sword Gen. 3.24 a Divine Presence that * Psa 97.3 burneth up his Enemies round about him and will no ways suffer them to rush in and spoil the Banquet or Spill the Blood of his Guests that sit in Peace about it 8. These All Things do inform us that they are worthy of all Acceptation 8 Inf. 1 Tim. 1.15 Oh! with how much chearful Readiness doth it become us to accept the Lord's Kindness nay it becomes us to take it of the Lord with all sorts of Acceptation Our Hearts should be humble our Hands active our Feet nimble and our whole Lives thankful With Acceptation Shall we dare reject the Grace of God if the Alms be so Bountiful shall not the Beggar be so wise to take it if God stretch out his Hand Prov. 1.24 shall we pull our Hand back and refuse what he offers 9. All these things do argue it a Dishonour for the Guests 9 Inf. who are Partakers of them to have any Fellowship with the Works of Darkness Their Company and Conversation ought to be suitable to their Table If any of the Professors that sit at Meat with them become loose and scandalous it is their Duty to abstain from Communion with such and in order to Purity in the Fellowship of the Gospel to cast them out Joh. 9.34 Nay there must be a Forbearance of all unnecessary Communion or Fellowship and Converse with them not only at the Lord's Table but at our own Common Tables besides 1 Cor. 5.11 But now I have written unto you not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such a one no not to eat It is a Dishonour for Christ's Servants to go and sit with the wicked that wear the Devil's Livery Psa 26.5 Our Master indeed when he came from Heaven came to eat with Publicans and Sinners which the Pharisees did upbraid him with not knowing the End of Christ's coming into the World and therefore When the Pharisees saw it Mat. 9.11 they said unto his Disciples Why eateth your Master with Publicans and Sinners And in another place the Pharisees and Scribes murmured Luk. 15.2 saying This Man receiveth Sinners and eateth with them But Christ's Presence with Sinners was like a Physician 's Presence with the sick Mat. 9.12 that came to take away the Disease but ours with them would be like those of young Blood to partake of the Infection When Christ comes to Sinners v. 13. it is to call them out of their sins I came to call sinners to Repentance but if we go to them needlessly Prov. 1.14 it must be to cast in our Lot among them God comes to Vs in our sins to make us good but if we go among others in their sins it tends to make us bad and in the conclusion may leave us stark naught Rom. 4.5 He that justifyeth the ungodly that is cometh to change their State covers them with a Robe of Righteousness Isa 61.10 which makes it a Dishonour ever after to have any Fellowship with Iniquity The Honour that God bestows at this Marriage-Supper should be a Perpetual Bill of Divorce to all our old Lovers Deut. 24.1 Grace makes Men too high to return again to Nature The New Diet with the King makes it a Dishonour to Covet or eat of the old Store agen A Saint cannot sin without double Dishonour because he is one that hath received Double Honour the Honour that cometh from God and the Repute he hath had with good Men. So a Professor debaseth himself every time he walks not worthy of or according to the Honour and Credit of the Gospel Alas their Table raiseth them to so high a Dignity that 't is a shame for the Lord's Guests to keep Company with them of an ill Blood What shall the King's Favourites run out of his Presence-Chamber or leave the Guest-Ceamber for his Stables and Kitchin to go mix with Grooms and Scullions Wicked Men are no others but such as the Great Lord employs in his Kitchen and Stables below in this World Now is it not a shame when we have been with Christ to sit again with Belial The Jews held it as one of our (l) Dr. Lightfoot Harmony of the New Testament Vol. 1. pag. 23. â—ol See also 〈◊〉 p. 2â—1 Edit â—â—bl 〈◊〉 Learned Countrey-men expresseth it That a Scholar of the Wise by their Canons might not eat with one of the vulgar much less with Publicans and Sinners the worst sort of all the vulgar that were If the Jews held this when they ate Bread among themselves much more should Christians that hold a Feast unto the Lord. Exâ— 10.9 10. If there be such a Plenty in the Gospel made ready 10 Inf. then it is very sad where there is a Famine of the Word of God and nothing of these All things enjoy'd How sad is it to consider dark Places of the Earth where the Light of this Gospel never shined Psa 74.20 and the wast places of the Earth where they wander up and down for lack of Meat Job 38.41 how sad is it to think upon those Children of our Heavenly Father that thro' the Fury of their Persecutors are deprived of all Ordinances and ready to be starv'd for want of Bread how solitary and uncomfortable is their state while they are Hungry and Thirsty Psa 107.5 and their Souls are fainting in them It is a Terrible Dispensation to have the Word of the Kingdom taken away Mat. 13 19 and spiritual Feasts turned into Soul-Fasts this is so represented in the Prophet as is enough to make the Ears of them that hear it tingle 1 Sam. 3.11 Amos 8.11 12. Behold the Days come saith the Lord God that I will send a Famine in the Land not a Famine of Bread or a Thirst for Water as much as to say I have a more grievous Judgment for you I will not deal so gently as to inflict a Famine of Bread or a Thirst for Water but of hearing the Words of the Lord and they shall wander from Sea to Sea and from the North even to the East they shall run to and
of yours should have been filled with the sweetness of the Honey and the Honey-comb are there not some of you have thrown aside the Cup of Salvation and taken up the Cup of the Drunkards have you not changed the Glory of all that Holy Bill of Fare to shame yea into such a shame thro' your own beastly Intemperance as the Prophet expresseth by a shameful Spewing Hab. 2.14 Oh! how sad is it with you while you come and look upon the Provisions here and as soon as you have turn'd your Backs and are gone Week after Week should be found in the Devil's Company or about the Devil's Work again eating and drinking your own Damnation dare any of you thus to prophane the Table of the Lord And you that are Scoffers ridicule the Provisions make his Meat contemptible Again How do you think after this Plenty that God takes it at your Hands you that break the Third Command and customarily take his Name in vain Exo. 20.7 irreverently wickedly and prophanely in your mouths upon every slight Occasion blaspheming and dishonouring that worthy Name which should only have been praised for his Bounty and Goodness to us Would you thank that Guest who should go away reproaching and ungratefully vilify your own Names after you had either kindly entertain'd him or offered courteously to treat him I trow not And what Luk. 17.9 shall the Great God of Heaven and Earth be dishonoured in his Name after he hath created preserved and provided all and spread so large a Table with Blessings of Heaven above Gen. 49.25 and Blessings of the Deep that lieth under Further dare any of you be Disobedient to Parents and tho' you have heard of so much at God's Table yet continue as cursed Slips instead of Olive-Plants round about Their Table Psa 128.3 Surely miserable is the Congregation of the Wicked and sad is your state that have the Opportunities of Gospel-Grace and yet do but see it with your Eyes and never eat thereof and that hear of Heaven but must never if you be not changed enter in there Rev. 21.27 for there shall in no wise enter into it any Thing that desileth Let those words 1 Cor. 6.9 10. dwell much upon you Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicaters nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Remember all these Things must pass away and there must be nothing of them remain but only to testifie of the Grace of God that such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 12 Inf. 12. Continuance in Vnbelief and a Refusal of these All Things is Dreadful The State of Unbelievers must be miserable that hath no Portion in these Things and the Sin of Unbelievers must needs become provoking that keeps them from laying hold upon them Did you believe Rom. 6.1 you dare not trifle or continue in sin when Grace thus abounds You dare not grow loose if you did believe or joyn with this Grace that was made to knit our Hearts to Christ Oh! your Unbelief which carries all your other sins in the Belly of it is a Monster big with Aggravation Let me represent the Dreadfulness of your Sin in two or three Instances 1. You refuse the only Remedy You sin against Grace and Works cannot save you These all things are for the reconciling you unto God Col. 1.21 and yet you prefer to be Enemies in your Minds and in your ways by wicked Works They are for sanctifying and renewing your Abominable polluted Natures and yet you choose to remain Filthy still Rev. 22.11 They are for healing you and yet you will die of your Wounds before They are for feeding and cloathing you and yet you will be starv'd and then turn'd out naked to the Judgment Seat of God! In one Word they are for saving you and yet you will die and be damn'd for ever Prov. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul all they that hate me love Death 2. You rebell against the Light You have heard you have seen enough to cast you if you do not quickly cry for Mercy and if Jesus the Son of God have not mercy on you Mark 10.47 48. Oh! where will you flee to hide when Christ lays this Sin at your Door that you had been inform'd of the Provisions made for Sinners and the more you knew the more you hated God's Offers made to you See John 15.24 If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did they had not had sin i. e. nothing in comparison of what they now have but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father You have heard of what Importance this Feast is and therefore it is a Rebelling against the Light to make light of it 3. You trample upon Distinguishing Grace that comes with outward Peace to you God might have kept a Market with the Enemy Psal 44.11 and given you as Sheep appointed for meat Asaph enditeth a sad Complaint of this nature Psal 79.1 2. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy Holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps the Dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth And v. 3. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem Consider others have been fain to break thro' the Hosts of the Mighty to come at Bread or fetch a supply of Living Water but you are offer'd Both in a Day of Gracious Liberty when you need not get your Bread with the Peril of your Lives Lam. 5.9 Oh! come and see the Works of the Lord abroad Psa 46.8 what Desolations he maketh in the Earth while he provides a Sanctuary for You that is not desolate for the Lord's sake Dan. 9.17 How do Wars ruine and eat up the Countries round you while you have Peace in your Borders Ps 147.14 and meat to eat which they know not of Oh! the Distinguishing Grace of God that he should on you be raining Mannah when on so many Thousands in the World he has been seen raining Blood Ah! Could you have lookt into Neighbouring Countries and seeen the Frights the Perplexities the Distress of Nations Luk. 21.25 the Groans of Dying wounded Men the Revenge of Armies boiling in their Blood the Thunder of the Captains and the shouting Could you see that Supper which God hath been making beyond the Seas for the Fowls upon slain Carkases as the Holy Ghost signifieth when he speaks of an Eagle flying in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. and crying with a loud voice saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves together
He took a large Meal and then he held a very long Journey So I would perswade you to partake plentifully of the Gospel believe with all thine Heart eat and drink with all thy might and take of what Dish thou wilt Here is no need of putting the Knife to thy Throat Prov. 23.2 tho' thou be a man given to Appetite as Solomon directs the Epicure (o) Summum tibi Damnum Ignominiam acâ—erses nisi Gulam cohibeas Idem Other Dainty Meats may undo thee if thou hast not more Grace than Appetite Take plentifully therefore of the Dainties wherein is no excess Fifthly Return Thanks 5 Dir. As it comes in Love return it to Love agen Jenkyn upon Jude 2d pt pag. 118. mihi Fol. Wicked Men as one observes of their common Mercies drink of the Stream and forget the Fountain and assoon as ever they have filled their Bucket turn their Backs upon the Well But God's People are to shew more holy Ingenuity and God's Mercies that draw out their Hearts make them they dare not shut their Lips What shall I render saith David unto the Lord for all his Benefits Psal 116.12 All God's Benefits do require all and more than we can ask or think to pay him When David had been studying what Thanks to render he takes the Grace-Cup v. 13. I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the Name of the Lord. (p) Cùm videat nihil habere se quod rependat confugit ad Gratiarum Actionem Mollerus in locum Thanks is all God requires and all that Man hath to pay The Sacrifice of Thanskgiving is the greatest Offering we can bring to God's Altar Praise is as much of the Lord's Tribute as we can pay in the Glory due unto his Name and we must not pay less We ought neither to eat of our own common or of his hallowed Bread without giving Thanks The Dove as (q) Pag. 109. Dr. Spurstow observes in his Treatise of the Promises picks not up a Grain without casting up its Eye to Heaven and shall not the Soul of this Turtle that hath Dove's Eyes cast them upwards Psa 74.19 Song 4.1 while she is picking up his Mercies As we must be Beggars for Mercy we ought to be Thank-offerers those Sweet Singers of Israel upon our receiving of it especially for the Gospel in which we are prevented with his Blessings that are granted before we ask them Be ready to shew forth the Praises of him that hath called you 1 Pet. 2.9 Even the Praises of Providing Love that hath fetcht out such wondrous Stores for you and brought in all to treat you Yea bless him for Sabbath-Festivals that he treats you upon every such Solemn Feast Day Psal 81.3 I had gone with the Multitude I went with them to the House of God with the Voice of Joy and Praise with a multitude that kept Holi-day Psal 42.4 Sixthly 6 Dir. Work the Works of God Be not found a Spiritual Sluggard in God's Kingdom that sitteth to eat the Bread of Idleness Take Pains Christians with your own Hearts and don 't carry it at Sion as those did at the Foot of Sinai that sate down to eat and to drink Exo. 32.6 and then rose up to play The more Grace and the more we are justified without Works the more we should delight to work the Works of God Ezek. 16.49 This Fulness of Bread should not be joyn'd with any much less with Abundance of Idleness in us ibid. Don't think you can do too much for God that hath provided and done so much for you Advance his Glory as you may be most serviceable and useful in the Places God hath set you In a Word new Obedience unto Him who hath provided all Things new and old for you Seventhly 7 Dir. Pray Affectionately for more Appetite for Growth and the continuance of Plenty to you You may rise from this Feast tho' the greatest Banquet in the World and assoon as you are up be fit to fall down and pray 1. Pray for more Appetite to this Plenty Be desirous of his Dainties for they are Not deceitful Meat nor like those which the Wise-Man cautions the Man of Appetite to forbear Prov. 23.3 Cry unto the King least Desire fail Eccl. 12.5 when thou shouldst eat of his Son's Venison Indeed in other Things as a (r) Dr. 〈◊〉 Bates Final Happiness of Man p. 59. great Author observes we may sigh thro' Desire and when they are obtain'd we often sigh for Grief 2 Cor. 7.11 But our Vehement Desire or the utmost Languishment of our Souls that God would * 2 Cor. 9.10 minister this Bread for our Food is a Desire not to be repented of Pray then that the Holy Spirit would set an Edge upon your Appetite that your Food when carved for you may not be found lying useless by you One Meal at thy Table one Day in thy Courts is beter than a Thousand elsewhere Psal 84.10 2. Pray for Growth by it Beg that God may never deal with Thee as he did with the Israelites when they tempted him by asking meat for their Lust Psa 78.18 while he gave them their Request Ps 106.15 but sent Leanness into their Soul Cry therefore and make this Intercession Oh Lord I beseech thee send now Prosperity Psal 118.25 As it is given you to sit at meat pray that you may thrive by a Plenteous Feast That you may not live upon God's Ordinances and yet it cannot be known either by your Health or Growth what your Diet is like those lean and ill-favoured Kine in the Dream of Pharaoh that did eat up the first seven fat Kine and when they had eaten them up it could not be known that they had eaten them Gen. 41.20 21. Ask Improvements many Cubits in your Spiritual Stature that while you live upon the Gift you may grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 Much growth should be desired from much Plenty and Variety This will be a means to adorn the Gospel and recommend the Provisions of it 3. Pray for the continuance of Gospel-Plenty to you You can never more aptly apply that Petition in the Lord's Prayer Give us this Day our Daily Bread Mat. 6.11 Jam. 4.3 than here Ask not any Meat for your lust but ask in Faith all other Things and have Entreat the Lord that he would not deal with you as your Persecutors more than once have done to make empty the Soul of the Hungry or cause the drink of the Thirsty to fail Isa 32.6 last words Pray that the Good Shepherd would still provide and the Sheep of Christ be yet suffered to go in and out and find pasture John 10.9 Pray that God would Not cast thee off or throw thy Meat quite away from thee Psal 51.11 Cast me not away from thy Presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me Beg that
with Joh. 7.37 7. It is a large and comprehensive Invitation 7 Propert. A Come that shall reach Jew and Gentile both the Arms of Love shall make a wider Circle Many are called Matth. 22.14 and all Israel shall be gathered People Nations and Languages will be invited to come and hear the Gospel Mark 16.15 Go into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature i. e. (x) Cuivis hominum ordini Poli Synops omni Generi singulorum non omnibus singulis Generum to Men of every Rank and Order to men indifferently of any Quality Character or Degree to all the Kinds be they Barbarian Scythian Bond or Free tho' not to every Individual neither appertaining to those Kinds Again to every Creature i. e. as the word Creature is restrained to Mankind Thus Eve is called the Mother of all Living Gen. 3.26 i. e. of all Mankind Living be they Male or Female but not to be understood of Living Creatures produced of any other kind Well the Call of the Gospel shall be a wider a more extensive Call than now The Hour is coming in the which there shall be no Speech nor Language where their Voice Psa 19.3 the Voice of them that will be Called to Preach Glad Tidings shall not come But however it is a large Come an extended Call at present God speaks it in the Ears of many Nations Come fill your selves with Fatness Kings are exhorted to accept of it to be wise and Kiss the Son Psa 2.12 i.e. be subject to him alluding to the Kiss of Homage which was used by the Jews Cities Towns and Villages are spoken to Families and single Persons have a Message of Grace sent them and the Voice still cryeth Come You particularly of this Congregation in Cambridge are invited to come near and hearken to incline your Ear to near and your Souls shall live Isa 55.3 it is large and comprehensive the Voice Cryes to many 8. It is a Pressing 8 Property Earnest Invitation It gives no rest but solliciteth and thro' the forbearance and long-suffering and goodness of God follows thee Day after Day Rom. 2.4 The Call refused hath become a Call repeated Isa 62.11 Once hast thou heard it yea twice that Grace and Mercy as well as Power belongeth unto God If thou art slow that shouldst be swift to hear upon one Week or Sabbath-Day that 's past thee Godâ— hath followed thee with another and try'd thee by his Goodness once again if Instruction may but enter and thine Ear be bor'd at last Thou hast now a Call if thou wilt but come in and embrace it with this Day 's Mercies The Apostle expresseth this Earnestness with an as tho' God did beseech you by us 2 Cor. 5.20 The Call is urgent with Thee as the Angel was with Lot to hasten him While he lingred Gen. 19.16 the Men laid hold upon his Hand the Lord being merciful unto him Mercy was earnest Mercy press'd him it would not leave him to be consum'd with a Sodom burning round about him Why thus Mercy pleads with thee Why wilt thou dye Ezek. 18.31 Mercy is urgent it lays hold upon thee Sinner and would pluck thee as a Brand out of Everlasting Fire Zech. 3.2 Mercy is loth to give thee up for ever It comes with a sweet and gracious Importunity it cryes continually in thine Ears Judg. 16.16 presseth thee with words and would draw thee with Bands of Love to Jesus 9. It is a seasonable Invitation 9 Propert. It is Mercy that is not come too late He calls thee while it is yet Day Joh. 9.4 that thou mayst see thy way before the Night cometh He sends out to invite thee with a Summons of Love before the Sun be down and therefore let not this Day 's Sun go down upon his Wrath Eph. 4.26 before thou art willing to come and Sup with him If you lose him now you may lose him ever if you dye in your sins Joh. 8.24 you drop without Recovery when thy Mouth shall be stopt with Dirt thou wilt not eat of this Bread that strengtheneth Man's Heart Psa 104 15 Death like a Thief is stealing in upon thee and may rob thee of thy Table before thou take thy Food it may come with a rough Hand apace to overthrow thy Table and snatch away Cloth and Thee and All for ever but of this more under the next Doctrine 10. Lastly 10 Property It is an effectual saving Call to all the Elect of God If God's Power be accompanyed with his Voice we may add that of Paul to the Invitation who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 when the opening of God's Mouth is joyn'd with the out-stretching of his Arm then calling and saving us do both go together Now God doth this to make the Call effectual he puts forth his Hand and the Sinner comes to God's Foot immediately Eph. 3.7 The Gift of Grace and the Effectual Working of his Power do meet and make the Invitation saving When God saith Come to those he intends to bring in he wakeneth their Ear to hear Isa 50.4 and gives them Feet to walk He removes all Obstructions and will make the very mountainous way to Zion become a Plain Zech. 4.7 when he intends to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7.25 Isa 30.21 and saith this is the way walk ye in it Every Lost Sheep shall be found and brought home before the Shepherd hath done crying after it The Second Thing is to open the Nature of Man's Coming II. when God's Call prevails Coming in the General implyes a coming off from some Things and a coming on to others For in all Motion suppose it Natural there be two opposite and contrary Terms Terminis a Quo and Terminus ad Quem one from which we pass the other to which we arrive 'T is the same Thing in spirituals in the Motion of the Soul towards God We must come from many Hinderances before we come to Him There is much within us to be forsaken and much to be left without us before we break thro' all our way to Him First I shall rank the Terms From which we must begin our motion in the Lord and place them under these four General Heads Sin Satan our Selves and this present evil World When we come when we run after Him that calls us we must start from every one of These We must come off from these four Terms like those four Points in the Compass if we begin a new distinct motion that is if we are Spiritual and do not walk as Men for it is not Northwards or Southwards towards the East or towards the West but a sursum corda our Hearts only upwards 1. Sin is a Term we must be sure to come from The Invitation of the Gospel is a Holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 and
Tim. 2.26 if in the Snare of the Devil we are taken Captive by him at his Will You will never come to the Banquet of the Gospel so long as you relish His Baits You must not have Fellowship with Devils 1 Cor. 10.20 if you partake of God's Dainties You will never be drawn in the Bands of Love to Christ if you listen to the Subtilty of the Serpent to be snar'd by his Enticements His Voice is as full of the old Poisonous Flattery now as it was unto Eve of old 2 Cor. 11.3 when the Serpent beg uiled her and she did eat Gen. 3.13 lat pt You must come off therefore from all his Allurements tho' he points to a Tree of Knowledge Gen. 3.6 and a Tree to be desired to make one wise or a Tree thou wouldst fain be at if it bears forbidden Fruit upon it 3. Our Selves is a Term from which we must come likewise off Sinners must be taught to go out of themselves before they comply with Gospel Grace that calls them We are all so naturally ty'd to Self that it will be one of the last Things we leave for Jesus Christ And yet if God's Call prevails we must come off from our selves in these Five Things following viz. Our own Bottom Ease Interest where it contradicteth the Interest of Christ as also from our Unwillingness to come at Christ's Call and all our Carnal Fears that discourage us from Christ and suggest Evil Things to us 1. In coming off from Self we must come off from our own Bottom We must depart from a Sandy Foundation before we can come to dig one in the Rock that is higher than we Mat. 7.24 Our own Hearts our own Strength our own Counsels and our own Righteousness are all such a Bottom of our own that we must remove our Tabernacle from before we can pitch in Christ to have our Foundation in the Holy Mountains Psa 87.1 1. In coming off from our own Bottom we must come off from trusting our own Deceitful Hearts We are lying Children if we say our Hearts are good while we think them not so bad as others It is but next akin to that other Boast of the Perfectionist to say we have no sin in us 1 Joh. 1.8 Thine Heart is the Dungeon where all thy Vermine breed Matth. 15.19 Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts and that is enough to pronounce it bad tho' the rest of the Vipers be not reckon'd in Murders Adulteries Fornication Theft False Witness Blasphemies Men are naturally prone to think it is enough that their meaning is good and intend hurt to none They have good Hearts tho' they have not such Heads and Tongues to speak as others But you must come off from this piece of Blind Self for he that trusteth in his own Heart is a Fool Prov. 28.26 Your Heart is desperately evil and the worse because you are not Good enough to know it There be Depths of Wickedness in this hidden man which you that have Grace have too short a Line to fathom and can you then that have nothing but Nature search it out unto Perfection that have not one Thread of Grace to help you The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 2. In coming off from our own Bottom we must come off from all our own Strength All our's did I say alas our strength is dryed up like a Potsheard Psa 22.15 since our Springs were cut off in Adam and if we would come by a Right Hand we must have Union with Jesus Christ our Head We may talk and boast of something but Christ hath told us (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bîc non est simpliciter fine sed majus aliquid quasi dicat Christus seorsum a me nam to loco Christus agit de unione nostri cum ipso quam tà m ait esse neceslarium quà m sit unio Palmitum cum vite Camer Myroth pag. 163 164. Without me ye can do nothing Joh. 15.5 Vain Man thinks he hath strength enough to catch but we can trust our Hands no more than trust our own Hearts The Flesh is weak until his Spirit from on high be sent to work upon us And we must let go all confidence in this Flesh Phil. 3.4 before the Spirit can be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5.5 3. In coming off from our own Bottom we must come off from all our own Wisdom Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not to thy own understanding In all thy Ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy Paths If we lean to our own understandings we have found out a Poor Reed instead of the Pillar of Truth to lean on 1 Tim. 3.15 Acknowledge Him In Him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Christ is a Full Treasury of every Thing we need (b) In humanâ Christi Naturâ inest omnis plenitudo infusae creatae scientiâ—e seu omniscientia absoluta Davenant in Coloss in loc There is a Created Fulness infused into his Humane Nature and an Uncreated Fulness absolutely Possessing his Divine If we are not therefore Fools for Christ's sake we shall never be wise 1 Cor. 4.10 as we ought to be truly wise in Him If Christ be not our Wisdom the best of our Wisdom will become our own Folly Nay were we Ahitophel's and Men like Oracles should consult us yet if we took not Counsel from above 2 Sam. 15.31 all our Wisdom would be turned into Foolishness Jesus Christ calls us and if we do not learn to choose our way of Him we shall drop into Hell tho' to a Foolish mind that 's darkned Heaven may seem but just before us We must become as Little Children Mat. 18.3 i. e. as ready to take Direction in our way to Christ as a Little Child might be taught in the Way how to come to Vs If we think our own ways the wisest in the Matters of our Souls we make the Wisdom of God a Cipher and I am sure our selves a great Figure for Destruction You must pluck out your own Eyes with those Galathians in another sense Gal. 4.15 I mean renounce all Fleshly Wisdom that you may see none but Jesus Christ to guide you on and help you If the Father bids us to a Feast no man can come unto the Father to be welcome unto his House but by the Son alone Joh. 14.6 lat pt No Man cometh unto the Father but by me You must despise your own Wisdom in competition with Christ and not carry it as if you knew of your selves what and how to do without him 4. In coming off from our own Bottom we must come off from our own Righteousness I do not mean to put off Morality or the Works of Piety and Charity and become loose Ungodly and Licentious but I mean that
Bed will the offers of Christ neglected now become an Advantage when we are gone hereafter if Death should clinch our Hands could we open them in the Grave or the Belly of Hell Jonah 2.2 to close with Jesus Christ 't is Sup now Close now with Christ and Welcome God now accepteth thy Works but there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 There will be no feeding for Sinners upon Dainties Psa 49.14 when Death shall feed on Them In a word no rising from their Beds when they lye down and sleep in the Dust of the Earth Dan. 12.2 to come in again to Supper The Third and last Thing will be to Apply it III. and the uses will be only Two 1. Of Information to instruct and 2. Of Exhortation to perswade The First Use is of Information in these Thirteen following Points I. If the Gospel is a Feast in which all its Provisions are now ready Then 1. We may learn of the Times and Seasons that the Father hath put them in his own Power 1 Ins This is evidently cleared in those words of Christ wherewith he checkt his Disciple's Curiosity Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the Times and the Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power The Present Readiness of this Supper argues that the fixing and ordering of Times and Seasons for the Dispensing of Grace to Sinners is solely in the Hands of God and at his Soveraign Disposal It was an Act of Soveraignty to prepare the Gospel and make it ready in the Time that now is As our Times are in Goa's Hand Psal 31.15 so are all our Mercies It was decreed in his Soveraign Purpose and fore-ordained according to the Good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 Prov. 16.33 Eccles 3.1 what Blessings of Grace should be the Lot to be cast into our Lap in the latter Ages As there is a Time to every Purpose and to every Thing a Season so God is the Judge to dispose of it and order every Thing in it If the Master of the Feast had order'd it his Supper had been ready before such a Time of Day and he could have gotten courser Fare at Night He that spreadeth the Morning upon the Mountains could have gotten up the Provisions early even at the First break of Day and at that Breakfast of the Promise made in the Garden of Eden to our First Parents before he drove out the Man Gen. 3.15.24 But he was Soveraign and would stay to bring in this till Supper 2. We may learn from this now 2 Inf. in the Text that God finds out some special Season for the Things of our Peace when he deals in Mercy with us There is a Peculiar Day of Grace nay sometimes a Particular Hour of that Day more than ordinary being a season more highly valuable than any time that we have besides in General Our Gain or Loss of the Season proves the Gain or Loss of all for ever Thus it is hinted of Jerusalem to the same purpose by our Blessed Lord Luke 19.42 Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Thou Jerusalem in time to come maist remember that thou hadst once a Day of Grace offer'd Once thou mighst have sound Mercy but now thou hast lost thy Season There was a Particular time an express Day of Grace in which Christ Preacht up the Provisions of a Gospel Entertainment a Day in which they were brought even to Jerusalem now ready Christ tells them the Happy Minute which the Men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem might once have closed with Isa 5.3 He had a special Season of shewing Mercy and offering the Terms of Salvation among the Jews a season-Season-day a Day of a choicer opportunity than any of their Time had been before or was likely in that Generation to prove again The Lord was pleased also thus to pitch upon a Particular special Season under the Old Testament to bring Glad-tydings of Good Things to Judah and Jerusalem by the Prophet Rom. 10.15 Isa 1.18 Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord tho' your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow tho' they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll As much as to say I am now willing for your good if you can but hit the Season and let us now argue the Thing together And likewise afterwards in the same Prophesie Isa 40.2 when God speaketh comfortably to Jerusalem he takes notice of it as a special Season and expresseth it as an extraordinary particular time of his Dealing thus with her Isa 44.1 Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant and Ifrael whom I have chosen Altho' God had been otherwise dealing with them for their Sins as may be gathered from sundry passages in the former Chapter yet he Records it as a special time in which he would change his Dealings with them Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant When God hath shewn Mercy either to Saints or Sinners to bring in one or eminently build up the other he has taken a Peculiar Time that may be styled their Day of special opportunity And as we have heard of it in old Time even so it is now God is wont to come in still with the Provisions of this Gospel Supper Peace Pardon Reconciliation to himself in the Blood of Christ and lay the Foundation of a Saving Work of Grace upon the Heart of a Sinner in some special Season not indifferently upon any common Time He does it when the Particulars of the Feast in the Provisions of Gospel-grace may be said to be even now upon a Feast-day ready The Gospel must in some present Day affect and work a change in Men. The Provisions that have now of a long time been ready to relieve one and wrought also effectually according to the working of his mighty Power even to Salvation upon some of you Eph. 1.19 may not be accompanied with the Arm of the Lord till now upon others found among you Isa 53.1 One may have met with it as a special Season formerly and have been provoked by the Love of God to be ready for a close with the Gospel a year ago 2 Cor. 9.2 or it may be many years since whereas another may not have found it to be a Time of Love till lately or a Time of Love till now God meets with some of his Elect under one subject of Grace and brings them in sooner to Jesus Christ then he sends out under another subject or another Sermon or another Preacher with the Invitations and Proposals of Grace again and makes new ones come in as Guests that his House may be filled with them He 'll run over the Olive and turn up the Branches of his
lighting up his (z) Dr. Lightfoot's Works Harmony of the New Testament Fol. vol. 1. p. 18. Sabbath-candle that we may now see to end Supper by a little Light he lends us before he turns all into the shadow of Death and make it gross Darknesi Jer. 13.16 We must by all means keep this Feast as the Apostle said of his keeping the Passeover in Jerusalem Acts 18.21 and we can never keep it but in this our Day while the Offers and Provision of the Gospel are now tendred to us A Feast that is now ready may be quickly dispos'd of out of our Reach Mal. 4.2 The Sun of Righteousness hath not stood still throughout all our Day of Grace no more than that other Sun in the Firmament is used to stay and lengthen out the common Days of Nature tho' yet we read upon Two extraordinary occasions of a miraculous prolonging the Day between the rising of the Sun and the going down of the same One instance is Psal 50.1.113.3 Josh 10.13 when the Sun stood still in the days of Joshua and the other is Isa 38.8 when the Sun returned ten Degrees backward upon the Dial of Ahaz by which Degrees it had gone down in the days of Hezekiah But the day of Grace like our stated common days is wearing off continually that nothing can slacken the motions of it or bring it one Degree backwards to keep it a moment longer from the Period to which it hastens The Day of Grace wastes tho' the offers of Grace abound And as the day of Salvation spends so it lays a greater necessity and duty on us to look after the work of Salvation before the offers of the Thing come to a perpetual End Psal 9.6 He that is now present to entertain us is not afar off to judge us if we refuse to be fed before our Supper 's over for behold the Judge standeth before the door Jam. 5.9 latter part He is ready to step in and examine it whether we have Grace and eaten of the Bread of God or no. Consider the Table shall not be always furnisht or the Cloth continue after Supper for any succeeding Entertainment to treat one Sinner here God hath set the Provisions of Grace forth that to day we might come and take our Fill of Love Prov. 7.18 but if we will not obey while the Lord shall command his Loving Kindness Psal 42.8 in the Remnant of the Day-time in the Evening-Time for us he will not offer us Kindness a Moment beyond the Limits of the day he sets us If there be not an Improvement of this present passing Season there will be no prolonging it to endure beyond our Supper-Time Time must be observ'd and will not wait on us and the Dews of Grace are like the Showers upon the Grass that tarry not for Man nor waiteth for the Sons of Men Mic. 5.7 That is it is their inseparable Property to attend the Appointments of God and not our own Pleasure And these Dews are sliding off in the very Moments while they are distilling from Heaven on us they are flying from us faster than it may be they are now filling of us We may say of the Good Day of our Entertainment as the Prophet doth of the Great Day of the Lord Zeph. 1.14 It is near even the end of it is near and hasteth greatly Much of your Day is spent already and under every Offer and Sermon of the Grace of God you have still less of your day to come Alas it slides so fast and hath been sliding off so long that you have but a little while more to partake of Grace in and tho' you may yet see to eat while the shadows of the Evening are stretched out yet Jer. 6.4 as to your own Being in this World God will not after so long a Summer's Day light up a Candle in the Grave Nemo finitis nundinis exercet mercaturam to lengthen out your opportunity when Day light 's shut in 2. What if it should be now the Last Day of the Feast as it was when Jesus stood and cryed The Feast of Tabernacles among the Jews did not expire sooner nor endure longer than the space of Seven Days according to the Commandment Lev. 23.24 And on this last Day of the Feast Jesus stood and cryed saying If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink John 7.37 i. e. If any Man wants special Rich Grace to supply all his need if he desires to be entertain'd with Righteousness Counsel Pardon Strength Comfort or the like let him come in quickly now and I will bestow it at the shuting up of House in the close of the Feast before the Guests are risen It is the last opportunity This is a Day of Entertainment but no Feast to Morrow So under the Gospel we are yet within the Compass of a Spiritual Feasting-Time but we have no Assurance how long Psal 74.9 Our Festival may expire with this Sabbath and this Sermon prove our last Meal God can say to a Graceless Sinner that loyters away his Season as he did to the Rich Man that laid up Earthly Substance Thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee Luke 12.20 Your Great Possessions would be a very unprofitable heap of Lumber Mat. 19.22 and all your Barns or Bags full of Encrease a hoard of poor Stuff if your Souls be empty and you are sent Supperless to Bed at the close of the Gospel-Entertainment Lay it Sinner unto thine Heart what if God should now shut up his Tender Mercies Psal 77.9 and in wrath open his Mouth against thee Prov. 27.1 Boast not thy self of to Morrow Dan. 5.30 lest with Belshazzer thou be slain that night or with a King of Israel in the Morning be utterly cut off Hos 10.15 3. If it were now already with thee after Supper in that Black Night in Hell the offers of this Grace would be never tendred more Now you may drink Song 5.1 and drink abundantly at the Feast but not a drop of this Living Water will be then obtained to cool your Tongue See Luke 16.23 24. In Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his Bosom and he cryed and said Father Abraham have Mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the Tip of his Finger in Water and cool my Tongue for I am tormented in this Flame Father Abraham have mercy on me but in Hell if Grace doth not prevent our coming thither Abraham will be ignorant of us Isa 63.16 and Israel acknowledge us not There is not one Drop or little Crumb of Mercy to be had when the Furniture of the Gospel-Table Table is over There is neither Provision nor so much as a Candle to Sup by in outer Darkness And besides all this there is a Great Gulf fixed Luke 16.26 A Gulf i. e.