fro to seek the Word of the Lord and shall not find it Oh! dreadful is the Dispensation when the multitude have been assembled Mat. 15.32 having nothing to eat when God hath suffered the Enemy to break up the solemn Meeting to disperse the Assembly ibid. and send them away Fasting tho' divers have come from far Mark 8.3 'T is sad when the Things of our Peace are hid tho' it be but under a Bushel and there is no open Vision Luk 19.42 1 Sam. 3.1 when the Wilderness is dry and the Rain from Heaven that should have filled the Pools thereof Psa 84.6 restrained if the Gospel hath All Things ready Psa 120.5 Wo unto such as Sojourn in Meshech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar in places where there is nothing of the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ found 't is very sad with those poor starved Souls if in Famine he doth not redeem them from Death and in Hunger from the Power of Want Alas who can express the Judgment the Desolation of a Forsaken People do we know what it is to see the Table of the Gospel like those Tables of the Money-Changers in the Temple Joh. 2.14 15. overthrown it was the misery of the old World and it will be the greatest Judgment and Calamity can befall our selves if God should say of us as he did of them My Spirit shall not always strive Gen. 6.3 It is Terrible to have the Vials of Wrath unstopt and the Cup of Salvation put or took away from us to be in a Kingdom that is full of Darkness Job 3.16 among poor Pagans and Idolaters that never saw Light to lose the Plentiful Provision of all things Deut. 28.48 and be made to serve our Enemies in Hunger and Thirst in Cold and Nakedness and in the Want of all things this is Dreadful and yet there are many Desolate Places of the Earth that were once fed to the Full Jer. 5.7 yet now do not know where they can go to an Ordinance 1 Sam. 2.36 Rev. 1.4 to eat a Peice of Bread The Seven Churches are in the Dark and have their Lights wholly put out The Nation of the Jews that did once eat of the same spiritual Meat 1 Cor. 10.4 and drank the same spiritual Drink are now turned out of their Inheritance Dan. 4.32 33. like Nebuchadnezzar when he did eat Grass as Oxen. The Glory of the Lord is departed from the Threshold of their House 1 Sam. 4.22 and now when God is gone Jerusalem her self is without a Priest and without a Sacrifice Hos 3 4. their Temple is destroyed their Provision gone and they have none to keep House for them And alas how equally sad and dismal would our own Case be Gen 41.54 if the Meat were cut off before our Eyes Joel 1.16 and the Famine begun in the Land q. d. if the Gospel that hath been spread in so large a Table were taken quite from us if he should cause to cease out of this Place and out of this Pleasant Land of ours the Plentiful Field Amos. 4.6 and send a Cleanness of Teeth in the Want of Gospel-Bread among us Oh! how black might our Souls be by reason of the Terrible Famine Lam. 5.10 it is the Plenty of the Gospel thro' our Lord Jesus Christ that is able to save much People alive Gen. 50.20 as at this Day This Bread shall do it Matth. 4.4 by every word of Blessing that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Well if the Provisions of the Feast have all and abound Eccl. 5.13 it is a very fore Evil hath been seen under the Sun when there is a Famine of the Word of God and none of these All Things enjoy'd 11. They are in a miserable Condition likewise 11 Inf. who are in the Presence of this Plenty and see it with their Fyes but do not eat thereof what a Wretch was that Lord upon whose Hand the King leaned 2 Kings 7.2 he sits crowded in the Gate saw the Victuals come tumbling in out of the Syrian Camp he beheld the Windows of Heaven opened and a shower of Provision fell apace about him but the Poor Wretch had no Vessel to put any of it in he must only see it with his Eyes but not eat thereof he had not the Priviledge of a Dog to take the Crumbs but was trod to Death under the Table his Carkass was spread like Dung after God had provided and spread before him Dainties v. 20. so it fell out unto him for the People trod upon him in the Gate and he dyed So likewise as to Gospel-Grace is it not a very sore Judgment to sit under Plenty of Means and yet in a spiritual Sence not partake thereof to have the Table of the Gospel spread among us and a large Feast prepared when so many of those that are bidden perhaps touch not a Morsel of it Luk. 14.24 Joh. 8.21 but dye in their sins and go to Hell at last 'T is one thing to hear of Grace and another thing to have it Oh! how many natural carnal ones meer Vnbelievers while they hear of the Means of Faith and the Provisions of Grace to work Faith in them that have not one Dram of true Faith or Grace to lay hold of the Gospel offer they have heard many a Sermon about the Feast and yet go away Fasting q. d. as natural and Carnal as empty and unhumbled as they came hither miserable Wretches what have these to live upon but the Bread of Idleness or the Bread that perisheth but no Portion of that which endureth to Life Eternal as hath been shewn God is opening of his Hand and yet many of you are shutting your Mouths against him God is raining down Mannah and you will not stoop to take Mannah up he drops Fatness but you look on and your Souls are lean still he prepareth Plenty but you have such other Plenty besides in your divers Lusts and Pleasures that you care for none of it He giveth Meat in abundance but how ill a use do you make of it that come to see it a little upon the Lord's Days but go away and do not meddle with or perhaps so much as think upon the Provisions all the Week after how miserable are You Again what will become of others that are Prophane Filthy Abominable Disobedient and to every good Work reprobate Are there not some who have been instructed in the Particulars of this Feast and yet can feed upon Oaths if a slight Provocation move them do not Prophane Dogs lick up the Devil's Scraps and tho' they look upon God's Table yet return to their Vomit again Now is not your Case miserable Sinners whose mouth it may be is full of Cursing Rom. 3.10 tho' out of the Mouth of the Lord you have heard so many Gospel Blessings and full of Biiterness tho' that Mouth
will not allow it that you should live upon your own Purse in Egypt So likewise in the Gospel Sinners are prone by Nature to bring something of their own and make exchange with Christs Money the Work of their Hands to purchase Grace and buy a little Food of him But if our Joseph nourish us he will take our Sacks empty we must bring them to Jesus without Money in them his House is Free we may Dine or Sup with Him for nothing it is Eat Cant. 5.1 O Friends and drink abundantly O Beloved but still without Money and without Price Isa 55.1 The Lord draws out his Soul unto the Hangry tho' the Hungry cannot draw their Purse The Gospel yields no such Bread as we must not eat till we work and earn it Tho' a Poor Soul should cry out in another sense with Peter Silver and Gold have I none Act. 3.6 yet wherein dos this Poverty exclude from his Table at a Feast where Christ hath paid for all Thou hast all given in for nothing and shalt never hear of a Bill of Charges to be brought and laid to thine account Isa 55.1 thô Christ bids thee buy Wine and Milk it doth not suppose thou canst drop a Farthing for it for it is He that hath no Money yet encouraged to buy and eat The Holy Ghost seems to use that Language which men are first prone to take up themselves Come buy whereas it is only meant they should take what is bought already for them Christ as †Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick Fountain Opened p. 214. one says never sells dear to the Poor Free Grace will have no Pay but Thanks Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift 2 Cor. 9.15 We have no self worthiness in our best Estate we could never move or oblige the King to feast such as we at supper The Lord's Bounty in feasting us was to make us Good not as any Reward because he found us so Tho' in our Flesh there dwelleth no Good Thing yet when his Spirit furnisheth our House he doth not ask or will ever take a Farthing tho' his Supper cost him more than millions we need not lay out one mite upon it Fourthly 4 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in regard of the Place of Entertainment Feasts are not made abroad sub Dio in the open Air or got ready in the Markets Things are sold but they are not eaten in the Shambles Luk. 22.11 The Master saith Where is the Guest-Chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my Disciples The Provisions are at home i. e. where the Master dwelleth and to be had in his Presence at his House alone The Guests must not be found in other Houses but where the Master of the Entertainment dwells So in Things pertaining to the Gospel the Provisions of the Grace of God do not ly in Shops and in Shambles among our selves but look unto Me and be ye saved Isa 45.22 In buying and selling we go only to our own Place but in receiving the Gospel we are come to his Dwelling-place in Sion Psal 76.2 The Things of this Life are without-Doors but if we taste of his Supper we must eat it within his Holy Place that is we must be brought at least into the Church Universal If we remain off from the Family we shall come at no Food in it it is under Their Roof that we partake of Their Repast Grace is not to be found out of its own Circle and Nature finds out nothing but Destruction on the other side if we are fed it must not be with the Wild Beasts of the Forrest but the Sheep in Christ's Fold If we have meat we must not wander abroad but walk within the Pale of the * Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus Church There is no favour to be shewn us from the King if we keep away from Court no Priviledge of God's Subjects but in the Kingdom of Grace which is not of this World As Paul said unto the Centurion and the Mariners Acts 27.31 Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved so unless you be with the Master of the Feast 1 Cor. 11.20 this is not to eat the Supper of the Parable It is necessary that we be of the Body to obtain a Relation to the Head and that we be Members to possess our Place among them Provision is not to be every where had but as we must have our Place at a man 's own Habitation if we taste of the Bounty and Generosity he shews in his House so we must be set in the True Church with Christ to receive our Bread and drink of our Cup at his Hand Fifthly 5 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in limiting its provisions Feasts are not common unexcepted Entertainments to make all men Guests Such as are treated themselves at the Master's House do not there meet with every one they know A man may be at a Feast where some of his own House are Strangers whom he never finds there One that hath lain in his own Bosom one that hath sprung from his own Bowels may Sup in another place It is not strange then if a man finds not the whole Neighbourhood or all that dwell near him at the Gospel supping by him Latter part I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion Jer. 3.14 Nay the wonder will abundantly lessen still that the multitude should be excluded Feasting at the Master's House 'T is no strange Thing that a Greater company than the Guests are walking thrô the the Streets or riding thro' the Town and all passing by the Door whom the Good man of the House takes no notice of His Dinner or his Supper is ready for them alone that are bidden whom he hath sent to call in Tit. 2.11 The Grace of God in like manner that bringeth Salvation is manifested and declared by himself that it doth not extend to all Multitudes go by that are neither called nor yet come in Some have not the Knowledge of God 1 Cor. 15.34 some again know him and yet in works deny him Tit. 1.16 They are called i. e. the Preaching of the Gospel calls upon them and they profess to go unto the Marriage Matth. 21.28 but are like the Son that was sent into the Vineyard who said I go Sir and went not V. 30. Others may accidentally be mingled with the Holy Seed but eat and drink not in God's Kingdom who yet may be Strangers and no Guests Men and not Christians for many are called but Few are chosen Matth. 20.16 Chap. 22.14 As God winks when he pleaseth at the Times of Ignorance looks over them Act. 17.30 as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word signifies so he may look on the Times when more enlightned and destroy as he pleaseth the Wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the
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
against me Psa 35.1 If the Lord delivers not the Soul of his Turtle Dove from the multitude of the wicked Psa 74.19 the Hawks will intercept and seize it before it can fly as the Doves to their windows Isa 60.8 Deliver the Poor and needy rid them out of the Hand of the wicked Psa 82.4 * Psa 102.8 when those that are mad are sworn against them he must keep them who hath called them and preserve them from this Generation for ever Psa 12.7 Such as set their Faces toward Zion Jer. 50.5 do stand at last with their * Psa 122.2 Feet within Jerusalem because thou Lord defendest them Psa 5.11 He compasseth them with favour as with a * Ps 5.12 Job 41.28 Shield and therefore the Arrow cannot make them flee The Devil would gather up Instruments enough to stop us in our way if we had not a Convoy to bring us safely on He would make a Prey of us before we could otherwise come nigh our own Provision We should be in jeopardy of perishing Num. 20.17 if while we did go by the King's High-way we had not his Protection Fourthly There must be Appetite for to the Hungry every bitter thing is sweet Prov. 27.7 latter part God requires an opening of the mouth when he comes with a Hand of Grace to fill it Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psa 81.10 We are not * Dickson somewhat changed straitned in God but many a Blessing goes beside because of our own narrowness to receive it A keen Appetite suits with a Great Entertainment The sharper our Hunger the sweeter God's Provision A man of an Evil Eye may invite his Neighbours and when they are come to his Banquet Prov. 237. may not look well upon them now the wise man tells us that such a Man's Delicacies are not worth a Desire Prov. 23.6 Eat thou not the Bread of him that hath an evil eye neither desire thou his Dainty meats He steels his Victuals into Knives that may stab thee more than Hunger but we may bring our Appetite safe to swallow down morsels that we need not * V. 8â— vomit up again We cannot hunger and thirst too much upon the Road to Heaven Gen. 45.21 when God gives us Provision for the way When the Israelites fell a lusting in the Wilderness Num. 11.33 they digged their Graves with their Appetite while God gave them their own Desires Psa 78.29 but Spiritual Desires can do us no harm thô we have such choice Longings in our Souls that our Ardency is singular and there is none upon the Earth that we desire besides Psa 73.25 In a word we shall disparage the full Table of the Gospel if we bring not an empty Stomach thither Lastly The Entertainment of the Gospel requires a Palate to distinguish it Doth not the ear try words Job 12.11 and the mouth taste his meat As it is true naturally so spiritually it is no lye chap. 34.3 for the Ear tryeth words as the mouth tasteth meat the sanctified Ear tries Gods Words as well as the Natural Ear the common things of Man A man that hath the Spirit of God savoureth the things that be of God he can distinguish between Husks that the Swine do eat Gen. 27.9 and savoury meat such as he loveth His Taste can discern between a Fish and a Scorpion he will tell you the one satisfies the other only stings him David had a Holy Palate and could relish an holy Entertainment Psa 119.103 Oh! how sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter than Honey to my mouth The Language of the New Testament speaketh of Senses exercised Heb. 5.14 or as the Original renders it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Senses made naked that the Object may not be intercepted or the influence of the thing kept off as suppose by a Garment upon the Flesh to obsturct feeling or a covering hung before the Eyes to hinder seeing Jâ—â— 6 30. so a Palate made naked that hath no perverse thing as a medium to intervene between a Spiritual morsel and its own sensing it Spiritual Senses are not like natural to decay in Old Age an old Disciple need not complain of God's Table as Barzillai at fourscore did of the King 's Can thy Servant taste what I eat 2 Sam. 19.35 or what I drink he wanted a Palate at that Age to distinguish and savour the Dainty Morsels of a Prince and therefore David's Table at Court would be fitted better by a young Chimham than an old Barzillai v. 37 38. Now it is not so with the Servants of the Lord as with that old Servant of David but thô they have been of a long standing yet their Taste still remains and their Palate can discern between Good and Evil. God's Children tho' you blind-folded them that their Eyes could not behold their Teachers yet would tell you when their heavenly Father feedeth them Mat. 6.26 Job 6.6 They can distinguish between that which is unsavoury and Food convenient A Spiritual Prov. 30.8 judicious Palate will discern Gen. 43 34 tho' it be of a Benjamin's Mess whether it be always with Grace seasoned with salt Col. 4.6 And this is the Palate which we have need of against the Feast If we come to God's Provision without our Taste we shall roll nothing under our Tongue thô we eat of the fat and drink the sweet Neh. 8.10 but the most delicious Fare of the Gospel will afford us Morsels of which we shall say without a sanctified Eccl. 12.1 Gracious Palate we have no pleasure in them IV. The Fourth Thing is to bring in the Bill of Fare and open the Provisions of this Gospel-store more distinctly It will appear that the Gospel is a mighty Table enough to maintain the Guests beyond our weak Faith Isa 59.1 seeing the Lord's Hand is not shortned that hath made all things ready Moses indeed thought when the People were six hundred thousand footmen that it was impossible to give them a sufficient Meal in that kind they askt and still more impossible to feed them with such a continued plenty that they might eat of it a whole month together Num. 11.21 22. Shall the Flocks and the Herds be slain for them to suffice them or shall all the Fish of the Sea be gathered together to suffice them which deserved that check from the Lord for his Unbelief in the verse following v. 23. Is the Lord's Hand waxed short Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass to thee or not Now as the Lord rain'd down victuals in so great a measure to satisfie the Longing of that mixed multitude in the Wilderness Num. 11.4 so he hath provided Plenty and Store enough in the Gospel for all the hundred forty and four thousand which are redeemed from the Earth Rev. 14.3 latter
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
of God to encrease our understanding It is the Meat and Drink of a Christian to know as it was of Christ to do his Father's Will The Feast is a Feast of Knowledge and while you are feeding you may be adding still to what you have not only to Virtue Knowledge as 2 Pet. 1.5 that is one kind of Grace to another but even to Knowledge it self a larger measure and Degree of Understanding 11. The Nourishment of Faith As in the Gospel you may be fed with Knowledge so also nourished up in the words of Faith and of Good Doctrine The Apostle doth very expresly in that place 1 Tim. 4.6 compare our Faith or reception of the saving Truths of the Gospel to Nourishment You may eat but you will not thrive without it We may have the Word for our Food but it will not Nourish us if it be not mingled with Faith to make it nutrimental Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Not being mixed or as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word may import not incorporated by mixing The Food must unite incorporate be turn'd into †In succum sanguinem an Alimentary Juice mingle it self with our Blood and Spirits to make it nourishing Thus Faith must unite and incorporate mix the Provisions with the New Creature before we are by the Word of the Gospel nourished up in our Father's House Faith is so nourishing a Provision to the New Nature that the just are said to live by it Hab. 2.4 Heb. 10.38 The Doctrine of Faith in the Gospel and the Grace of Faith in the Soul do make a blessed Nourishment in the New Man when Both meet together Faith is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and the Fruit of Christ's meritorious Purchase it is given in the behalf of Christ Phil. 1.29 Faith as * Mr. Anthony Burgess Spiritual Refinings Fol. 1st pt p. 62 and p. 169. one expresseth hath several Acts Knowledge Assent Fiducial Application and the Scripture doth by a Synechdoche express the whole Nature of Faith by one Act of it Now the Gospel-Provision affords and maintains such a Principle in the Soul as exerts Faith in the Complex and produceth it in all its various Acts. Heb. 8.2 There is not a Guest of the True Table which the Lord hath pitched and not Man but he hath Ordained among other Provisions for him like precious Faith with Vs 2 Pet. 1.1 There 's not a Saint but shall find it in the All things ready Luk. 14.17 it is one of the Parts and not the least of the Entertainment and it is a Dish to be had at this Feast only A Man full of Faith like Stephen Acts 6.8 is one whom the Entertainment nourisheth and cherisheth Eph. 5.29 Psal 17.14 and hath had his Belly filled with hid Treasure Rom. 10.8.17 The Word of Faith which we preach and your Faith that comes by hearing is some of the Royal Provision of the King's Meat Dan. 1.5 to be found at God's Table only 12. The Feast of Holiness inward Sanctification of the Heart by a cleanly purifying Bunch of Hyssop better than a Dinner of any other Herbs This clean Hyssop may be said for the Virtue of it as was of the grown Mustard-seed for its Dimensions Mat. 13.32 to be the greatest among Herbs Nay indeed we are not here speaking of such a poor low statur'd Hyssop as with us runs upon the ground but of that which runs up in the Man whose Name is the * Some indeed affirm litterally that haec Planta in Judae◠arborescet Grotius in Joh. 19.29 Branch Zech. 6.12 into a Tree as high as Heaven It is from hence that this purifying Branch or Holy Bunch is gathered Christ is He who of God is made unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 I ground the Comparison on the Ceremonial Cleansing of the Leaper as was instituted under the Law Lev. 14.4 where among other purifying Ingredients this of the Hyssop is one to which David alludes as it Typed out the righteous Branch to be rais'd to David Jer. 23.5 when he cries out in the Bitterness of his Soul for this sweet Herb in the Garden of God Ezek. 28.13 c. to dress his other Meat see Psal 51.7 Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean as if he had broken out into this Self-abhorrency I am a filthy Leaper Joh. 13.10 and I need to eat of the Dish that is most fit to cleanse me let me be therefore every whit clean thro' this sanctified Provision made ready 1 Pet. 1.16 Rev. 22.11 being neither * Act. 11.8 common nor unclean it self I would be Holy as God is Holy and tho' by Nature and Practice I am now otherwise yet I would not remain filthy still Now in the Gospel our Feast-maker hath also provided this blessed Dish ready God hath prepared his Table of hallowed Bread Holy as well as Evangelical Furniture Holiness it self to Feast you with a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 As this is the Will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 so it is the Work of God to form it Ezek. 36.25 26 27. As the Precept of the Gospel requires Holiness Heb. 12.14 without which no Man shall see the Lord so the Promise doth encourage it and the Spirit by an Almighty Operation works it He creates a Principle within that yields it and a Life without that acts it for 'till Grace be infused into the Heart it cannot in the Conversation be diffused or shed abroad There is Sanctification enough provided to supply our utmost wants thereof a Stock of it prepared to serve for Spirit Soul and Body as the Apostle Prayeth for his Thessalonians to be throughly Feasted with it 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ God would not have a Feast to be made under the Gospel without a universal Holiness to run thro' all the Parts of it Provision that sanctifieth and Provision sanctified Holy it self and to make Vs Holy too Indeed as he saith * Isa 3◠24 if the very Oxen and the young Asses that ear the ground should eat clean Provender which had been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan much more would he assign holy Diet for his Table in these dayes of our Purification Corrupt †Mal. 1.7 Priests may but our Great High-Priest will never set any Polluted Bread upon his Altar 13. The Hidden Mannah of Election This is one of the glorious Dishes of our Feast and was garnished from Eternity to be serv'd up before our Face in Time Mat. 13.35 Tho' it hath been a secret kept hid Psal 25 14.
a Heavenly Nectar is this Cup of Consolation you may drink it at Ordinances in the Golden Vessels of the Temple Dan. 5.2 Esth 5.6 where there needs at this Banquet of wine to be no * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspectores vini Weemse Christian Synagogue pag. 209. Inspectours or Overseers set to mind you least you prove Spiritual wine-bibbers at these Vessels filled up to the Brim no †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godwins Hebrew-Rites pag. 45. Song 5 1. Eyes of the Feast to see you do not drink too much as is reported to have been customary at the Oriental Feasts among the Jews and Persians But you may drink abundantly of the Love of Christ and yet not be drunk with Wine This Cup of Consolation is most excellently represented in the Cup of Blessing 1 Cor. 10.16 Mat. 26.27 where at the Communion of the Blood of Christ he saith unto his Friends Drink ye all of it Lo Prov. 23.31 1 Cor. 11 26. there it is seen how it giveth its colour in the Cup and moveth it self aright by shewing forth the Lord's Death until he come even a second time to Judgment The Gospel is like those water-pots that stood in Cana at the Marriage-Feast Joh. 2.7.9 they yielded water at the beginning but afforded wine unto the Guests before they rose up So as Christ was represented first by water his Love is now shed abroad like VVine Oh! Blessed is the Benjamin in whose Sack this Silver Cup is found Gen. 44.12 These Consolations of our God abound Psa 23.5 my Cup runneth over Oh! the Depth of these Streams of Love when we swim in the Rivers of his Pleasure how incomparable is the Wine of the Kingdom Dent. 32.14 beyond any other Blood of the Grape 23. The continual Diet of Perseverance 'T is said of Jehoiachim that he was so provided for by the King of Babylon that he did continually eat Bread before him all the Days of his Life and for his Diet there was a continual Diet given him of the King of Babylon every Day a Portion untill the Day of his Death all the Days of his Life Dan. 1.5 Jer. 52.33 34. So in the Gospel there is a Daily Provision of the King's meat Grace to feed thee every Day for new work fresh He will persevere to relieve thee on thy way that thou mayst persevere to come thy Journeys-End home He will continue thy Meat because he will not have thee to break thy Work off before thou hast made a Full end of it He will feed thee because Grace will finish what Grace hath once begun He that hath begun a good work in you shall also confirm you unto the end Phil. 1.6 1 Cor. 1.8 Thou shalt not be kept upon the Corn of Heaven for one Day only or ten Dayes or Twenty Days Num. â—â— 19 or a whole Month as they did eat of the Quails in the Israelitish Camp but thou shalt have Grace to stablish strengthen settle thee to thy Live's end and keep thee on thro' Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Pet. 1.5 24. Lastly Rev. 2.7 The Fruit of the Tree of Life Fruit is wont at Entertainments to be last served in and so I place it last for Glory which is the Fruit of the Tree of Life shall begin where Grace here ends There may be indeed some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 19.9 some Foretasts of the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb and it is enough for an Israelite so long as in the Body Num. 13.23 to have a Cluster or some few at most from the Edge of Canaan he must be caught up into Paradise before he can gather the Full Vintage 2 Cor. 12.4 he must take possession of that better Countrey before he can eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Rev. 2.7 It is fit my Brethren that both you and I should be now content with Grace tho' I have been enabled to lay before you the Meat and Drink which will enable us to do the Will of God Joh. 4.34 yet I cannot climb the Tree of Life for you Rev. 3.12 Rev. 22.2 to bring down out of the New Jerusalem any one of those Twelve manner of Fruits which grow in Plenty upon this Tree of Life above It will be the work of Eternity when our Days are as the Days of Heaven Psa 89.29 to behold these Precious Things that are put forth by the Sun Deut. 33.14 Mal. 4.2 1 Cor. 2.9 the Sun of Righteousness in Heaven for Eye hath not seen them here save the Eye of Faith only And therefore so much may suffice us at the Threshold of our Father's House Joh. 7.37 on this Great Day of the Feast The Fifth General Thing propounded was to shew what Excellent Properties there are in the Provisions of this Great Supper 1. Transforming 1 Property There is a marvellous Efficacy put into these Provisions that begets a Divine Likeness Ye shall be like God not in that bad lying sence the Devil intended it when he deceived our first Parents with a Deceitful Godlikeness Gen. 3.5 Ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil whenas it only transformed them and their Posterity into the Black and Filthy Image of the Devil We are by Nature Partners with that which entred into the VVorld Rom. 5.12 and defileth but by Grace are made Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 When it is said of the Poor they have the Gospel preached to them Mat. 11.5 last words the Original expresseth it in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Passive are Gospellized transformed into the Image of the Truths they hear made other sort of Creatures Thus the Provisions of the Gospel Feast have an efficacious converting influence thrô the Operations of the Holy Ghost that by our Participation 2 Cor. 3.18 we are changed into the same Image of God we see 2. VVholsom Other Diet 2 Property if we eat it we may prove the worse after in killing hunger it may create Diseases but this is for your health Acts 27.34 The Gospel is wholsom in every part of it The Guests at this Entertainment may safely feed of any Dish that God hath set before them Psa 68.21 Indeed wicked men that are resolv'd to go on still in their Trespasses may cry out like those Sons of the Prophets 2 Kings 4.40 Oh thou man of God! there is Death in the pot But if God throws in Meal or mixeth his Loving Kindness and mercies with it let others throw in their Lap full of wild Gourds there is still no harm in the Pot. 2 Kings 4.39 40. Every Guest may adventure safely it is Food that will need no Physick unless we abuse our Morsel and play the wanton with it It is wholsom and never hurts any but such as provoke the wrath of
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
is prepared to shew forth his Salvation from Day to Day Psa 96.2 Tho' you think the Pit is ready to receive you in Psa 69.15 and shut her mouth upon you even Hell Job 17.1 while the Graves are ready for you yet the Gospel opens the Everlasting Gates Psa 24.7 9. that you may look thro' a Door of Hope Hos 2.15 Tho' you Mourn in your Complaints and make a Noise Psal 55.2 yet he can still the Voice of your crying Psal 5.2 when he stops the Voice of his Justice and prepare you to sing of Mercy Psa 101.1 Tho' you count it that for your Parts Ezek. 37.11 Psal 1.3 your Hope is gone and your Branch is withered yet he that planted it by the Rivers of Water Isa 55.10 will cause it to bud and spring forth again In a word tho' you cry out with those Frighted Mariners in Paul's Ship Act. 27.20 that all Hopes of being saved is taken away yet the Gospel still suits your Case for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost Matth. 18.11 He finds you out tho' you are got where you lose your selves tho' you are muffled up in shades 1 Sam. 10.22 or hid behind the Stuff or covered over with Dust or disguis'd with Tears or wrapt in a Mantle of Confusion Psal 109.29 you throw in a Fright about you Nineteenthly The Gospel hath All-sufficient Provisions suited to the Condition of wretched Creatures sunk below the Recovery of any Men or Angels God can do for thee what Men Neighbours thine Acquaintance Companions Brethren nay thy own Flesh and Blood cannot The very Called and Chosen of God that are made nigh to Christ Eph. 2.13 can but stand round about thee weeping but the Lord can break in with Tender Mercies Luk. 1.78 Psal 136.23 and in thy Low Estate recover thee I was brought low and he helped me Psal 116.6 last words It is the work of God and beyond the sufficiency of Men God's Friends may pity thee but 't is God himself must favour thee thou may'st lye in thy Pit while their Eye trickleth down with Tears Lam. 3.49 but the Arm of the Lord can quickly draw thee out Isa 53.1 They may lament thee fallen but he can lift thee up I looked and there was none to help therefore my own Arm brought Salvation Isa 63.5 * Arthur Jackson upon Isai 4th Vol. somewhat changed from the Author 's When God sought but a little Help of Man to do his People Justice he found not one appear'd much more then doth it note an Insufficiency for any Helper besides Him that hath the All-sufficiency of Free Grace and Power to save Men tho' sunk in Misery thro' an Original Apostacy If God should look out for Help thro' the whole Creation round he would never find any but what himself brings And He can speak a word which neither Heaven nor Earth Angels or Men ever dare pronounce My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Lastly The Gospel hath Eternal Provisions suited to the continuance of Man's Immortal Spirit As the Soul must endure for ever the Gospel hath Provisions to make it Happy thro' the same endless Parallel Jam. 2.5 Do you hope as Heirs of the Kingdom for a Kingdom that cannot be shaken why the Gospel hath such a Kingdom prepared for you Matth. 25.34 Heb. 12.28 Do you hope for Glory when you see a Full End of Grace why Heb. 6.18 Heaven is the Hope that is set before you Do you expect more than to be ransomed for a little moment here the Gospel suits with your Expectation for the ransomed of the Lord shal return and come to Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads Isa 35.10 It is an Eternal Inheritance that is prepared for the Heirs of the Grace of Life Heb. 9.10 an Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 In one word you can never see a Full End of these All Things tho' you look towards the utmost Bounds of the Everlasting Hills Gen. 49.26 And thus I have shewn that as the Feast of the Gospel is full and plenteous so it is a Banquet of suitable Provisions that do fit all the Guests of it And Oh! that now as Man hath try'd to suit them and Apply them to your Case so God would by the Application of his Spirit press these Clusters for you into a Cup of Saving Health VII The Seventh thing is to give some Account Why it is a Feast with all Things in it 1. It is so in regard of the Great Founder Reas 1 who is a God that had All Things to give It is not the Provisions of a mortal Man but the Supper of the great King and no wonder when a King Feasts his Subjects if he hold a Feast in his House like the Feast of a King 1 Sam. 25.36 The Lord is a Great God and a Great King above all gods Psal 95.3 And therefore the Entertainment he makes must be a Feast that hath Provisions above all Feasts whatever a Feast with All Things in it Song 1.12 The King sitteth at his Table and the Feast of a King proclaims a Full Table and the Royal Founder of Divine Grace makes this Heavenly Fare the greater If this Great Provider were not God Joh. 9.33 he could do nothing Nihil dat quod in se non habet None can supply another with what he hath not himself antecedently but now All Things are eminenter in Deo that is they are dwelling by a Transcendent Fulness in him he is the God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5.10 first words and therefore he gives us all this Plenty We may say of every Dish made ready for God's Table as David spoke of the Materials he had made ready for the Temple 1 Chron. 29.16 All this Store cometh of thine Hand and is all thy own In himself is the Abundance of All Things and therefore the abundant Grace redounds 2 Cor. 4.15 There is a Full Treasure in God and therefore a Full Table he hath disht and garnisht forth for us This is the Lords Doing Psal 118.23 and therefore nothing Defective in it The Lord had so many Things to give that he made bare his Holy Arm Isa 52.10 that nothing might hang in his way to obstruct the Communication of a Full Gift to us In a word he is All and therefore he hath all ready 2. The Gospel is a large Feast Reas 2 with All Things ready because wheresoever God bestows that one Gift the Lord Jesus Christ he gives in all other Things with him Every Child of God hath a Richer Portion than he thinks of meerly for his Elder Brother's sake For He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us * Gave him up to Death for the Salvation of all the Elect.
the god of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not least the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine into them If the Devil did not keep his Prison windows as well as his Prison Doors fast his Prisoners would not lye contented or be so quiet in their Place to see by Christ's Light this Black Gaoler buckle on their Chain Now this Blinding Power which he hath over them follows upon their Captivity they are in under him for when God leaves them in his Hand Satan uses them at his own Pleasure He is a Tyrant where-ever he is a Conquerour and deals with his Slaves as Nebuchadnezzar with Zedikiah when he carries them Captive he binds them in Fetters Jer. 39.7 and puts out their Eyes And tho' they cannot see they shall be still made to work for he deals with them too as the Philistines did with Samson they must grind in his Prison-house Judg. 16.21 to allude to those words literally tho' in Samson we may understand them as (b) See Dr. Smith's Pourtraicture of Old Age. p. 116. some do Metaphorically to represent how he did perform the Offices of Nature as eating drinking and being nourished there c. Oh! there 's many an old Slave of the Devil 's kept so hard under a Spiritual Chain that they can't stir a Foot to partake of this Feast Poor Sinners that have been (c) Charnock's Discourses The First Volume p. 68. as it were the Electors of him to the Government and by their sin made him the god of this World have chosen a mighty Tyrant over them that now it may be they are so taken Captive by him at his Will 2 Tim. 2.26 that he will not let them go their Chain 's length to any means of Grace This is another mighty Hinderance which makes Gospel-Grace oftentimes very ineffectual to Men. Thirdly 3 Hindran Ignorance and Carnal Apprehensions of the Things of God Men do naturally want Illumination and mistake the very Notions of the Grace of God sometimes but if they hit upon right Notions they may still fall short of an Experimental Acquaintance with those Things having their Vnderstanding darkned Eph. 4.18 or †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. darkned in their Intellectuals obscur'd and bemisted in their Reasoning Faculty they are brought into corrupt and deceitful Argumentations The Natural Man hath little other Logick besides what those Two corrupt Tutors the Devil and his own Heart read him that is made all up of Fallacy and makes him conclude he is safe because he sees no hurt The Apostle hath given a very Faithful and clear account of it 1 Cor. 2.14 The Natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God for they are Foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The Natural Man It is not the Carnal Man as some would strenuously try to render it but the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one that hath all that is or can be derived from the first Adam one endowed with a Rational Soul and who hath the use and exercise of all its Rational Faculties Dr. Owen of the Spirit p. 217. Animal or Souly Man as the word imports i. e. it is rather the Man that hath a Principle of Fleshly Wisdom to guide him than the Man that hath only Carnal Affections to over-ballast him but tho' he be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Man of never so great a Soul one of a piercing insight to reach and perceive other Things a clear-ey'd Observer in all humane Speculations yet 't is otherwise when he hath the Things of God before him for without a Spiritual Apprehension superadded to his most sublimated Reason and exquisite Knowledge in Philosophy and Politer Learning he receives them not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth not take or apprehend them you may reach them out to him but he cannot take them with one of his Fingers For the words not receiveth do imply as a (d) Charnock's Discourses 2d Vol. pag. 497. Learned Man observes an offer of those Things Men's Intellectuals are blind Sinners naturally argue wrong and from thence in their Actions run to Crooked ways (e) Mr. Matth. Mead Good of Early Obedience p. 319. A Dark Mind is ever accompanyed with a Disobedient Heart where there is no sharing in the Light of Christ there can be no subjection to the Law of Christ Now this Hinderance may be opened under a Fourfold Division in reference to the Gospel-Feast 1. Ignorance of the Invitation that calls is a Hinderance Poor Sinners discern not what Grace utters when it tells them how Bowels of Mercy yearn over them They mistake God's Voice for a Poor mortal Man's like Samuel while a young Stripling that took God's Voice for Eli's 1 Sam. 3.6 Here am I for thou didst call me The Lord had called him in the 4th Verse Samuel and Samuel misunderstands the Lord calls him again in the 6th Verse and still Samuel mistakes the Voice for Samuel did not yet know the Lord neither was the Word of the Lord yet revealed to him Thus under the Gospel if Men have an outward without an inward Call they may hear a Sound but know not the meaning of the Voice if there be not a Divine Light shining 1 Cor. 14.11 the Messenger may be as a Barbarian speaking Sinners understand not an Ambassadour of God 'till the Spirit interpret that Language in which he speaks to them Who then is the better for a Feast that utterly misunderstands and mistakes the Invitation what signifies Spiritual Provision when Men have Carnal Thoughts about and are meer Strangers to a saving Call to take it no wonder if it hinders the Banquet when you are any of you held back for want of knowing that sweet and inviting Call that bids you 2. Ignorance of the Master of the Feast that provides is a Hinderance thereunto Sinners do not know the great God that makes it When the World have thought themselves wisest yet still the World by Wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1.21 They are meer Strangers to the Action of God the Father in sending Christ into the World with these Provisions The King sends his Servant or this Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 to treat with Poor Sinners and because his Deity was vail'd with Flesh Flesh and Blood did not know him (f) Dr. Owen Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ pag. 79. A very Learned and. Holy Man hath thus remarkt it The World was so far from looking on him as the True God that it believ'd him not to be a Good Man Nay the Father and the Son were both unknown alike Joh. 8.19 middle pt Jesus answered ye neither know me nor my Father Alas what was a Spiritual Feast to a Poor Ignorant and Carnal Generation that neither knew God who provided it nor Jesus Christ that came from
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
the Golden Pipes of Ordinances as they are Typed out in the Prophet's Vision of the Golden Candlestick and the two Golden Olive-Branches may also empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4.12 That Ordinances may neither be broken as the Pipes sometimes that convey the Water are nor yet their Fatness or Moisture fail as a means of conveying all Things ready Eighthly 8 Dir. Look beyond the Instrument any meer Servant of the King 's sent to call you or bid to wait at Table on you Look off from Instruments and behold the First Cause Holy Mr. Rutherford has an excellent Passage to this purpose in his Letters (s) Pt. 3d. p. 37. Such as are Hungry look more to the Meat than the Carver Oh! look off as hungry Feeders from the Attendance of his Ministers to view the great Provider and taste the Vertue of all his great Provision Why look ye so earnestly on us as tho' by our own Power or Holiness we had made this man to walk the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Acts 3.12 13. It is the Glorifying of his Son Jesus and not the Abilities of Paul or Apollos or any Ministers by whom ye believed We are but poor Lacqueys that run after our Lord to be with him where he is upon any great Day of the Feast Ninthly 9 Dir. Learn to be weaned from Temporals when you have such Provisions made in Spirituals Take what you have in Christ and be Content the meek shall eat and be satisfyed Psal 22.26 tho' God blesseth your other Basket and your Store Deut. 28. ◠yet live above the World upon Him who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heavenly Things in Christ Eph. 1.3 When he calls you to dwell in his House regard not your Tents nor lodge among your own Stuff Take off your Hearts from many Things and lay them up with your Treasure here in All Col. 3.2 Set your Affections upon Things above not on Things on the Earth Pant not after the Dust Amos 2.7 when God pours Waters out of his Buckets Num. 24.7 Be more Crucifyed to the World Gal. 6.14 since he that hung upon the Cross hath prepar'd enough by getting all without it If God hath drawn some Earthly Breasts dry yet let these Breasts of Consolation in the Gospel wean you from the Paps that you have sucked Let that World to come provided put the World that now is under you In one word be contented to wash off your Thick Clay which sticks upon your Fingers 1 Joh. 1.1 and handle the Word of Life Tenthly 10 Dir. Pity others that want your Plenty The less they have let your Bowels grow the larger to them Be not of a Narrow Spirit that shuts out the sense of other Men's Necessity when you feed in large Pastures Be grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Amos 6.6 and don 't carry it like his unnatural Brethren that when they had cast him into a Pit Gen. 37.24 25. sat down to eat their Bread Think of God's Prisoners tho' the chief Butler may forget them when he is pressing the Cup into Pharaoh's Hand Tho' you have got a Pleasant South-Land and the Streams in the South to make it fruitful yet think of your Brethren in France that are driven out of their South-Land and have their Springs of Water dry Put on Bowels when you behold your Table and are about to fill your Belly Eleventhly 11 Dir. Tho' you have Plenty waste none Make no Orts of Crumbs When your Table is full turn it not into wantonness least God overturn it Tho' you have found so much do not lose any Beware of every Morsel let none fall under the Table to be trod on Gen. 32.10 Make much of the least of all God's mercies thou mayst yet be low in thy State tho' thou art high-fed at present and tho' such a Feast be now set before thee Luk. 16.21 thou mayst desire again hereafter to be fed with the Crumbs that fall from the Rich man's Table Twelfthly Abound in Love 12 Dir. both to the Maker of this Feast and to all our Fellow-Guests with us Professors of the Gospel should love and such as eat together cleave to one another Love is a special Duty we owe at such a Love-Feast 1. Abound in Love to God The Words of the Commandment that were written in Stone should be transcrib'd upon the Fleshy Tables of our Heart 2 Cor. 3.3 see Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Might Oh! how should we send Love streaming out of our Souls when Love pricks the Vein tho' we bleed to Death with Love 2. Abound in Love to all your Fellow-Guests 1 Joh. 4.21 And this Commandment have we from Him that he who loveth God love his Brother also Shall there be Contentions among Brethren at the same Gospel-Table when (t) Jenkyn upon Jude 2d pt pag. 118. the eating at one Rack hath bread Peace between the very savage Beasts It is the Note of an Egyptian Gen. 43.32 to have an Hebrew in Abomination and refuse to Bread with him Let those quarrel who sit at the Devil's Banquets but let us agree who have our Table prepar'd of God Let the Dogs fall out that fight for Bones but let the Children that eat of Children's Bread unite Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity Psal 133.1 It is comely to sit together in our Profession at the Gospel-Table Eph. 1.3 as we hope to sit together in the Heavenly Places and not like Foolish Children wrangle and contend about our Meat to provoke our Heavenly Father to take the Dishes off or send Vs to Bed to our Graves without a Supper II. Doct. That God makes an Invitation to Sinners in the Preaching of the Gospel to come in to this Feast The Method in which I shall endeavour to prosecute and handle this Truth will lye in Four things 1. To open the Properties of the Invitation and shew you the perswasive Force or Strength and sweet import of this Blessed Word Come 2. To explain also the Nature of Man's coming when God's Call prevails 3. The Reasons or Necessity of this coming urg'd upon us Why it must be And 4. The Vse The First Thing is to open the Properties of the Invitation I. and explain the Nature of God's Call to Sinners when he Invites them by the Preaching of the Gospel to partake of His Feast Take them in these Ten Particulars 1. It is a Gracious Invitation 1 Property a Come that is full of Grace and Love an Invitation that springs not from common Tenderness Luk. 1.78 but the tender Mercies of our God He is styled the Father of Mercies
2 Cor. 1.3 and therefore sends out to the Children of Wrath to shew Mercy on them Eph. 2.3 He is a Gracious and a compassionate Father even to Children that have wasted the substance and run out the Portion he gave once unto them He is full of Pity to such as have run away in the original Revolt from him and therefore sends out to such Prodigals as we a Come Return to fetch us home again Isa 21.12 He seeks he sends he calls and 't is nothing but Grace in every Act in every Voice in every Line of Pity to you as Paul was wont to Preface his Epistles admiring Gospel-Grace Oh! 't is with a mighty Emphasis in the Language of the Gospel that by Grace ye are saved Eph. 2.5 And again by Grace are ye saved v. 8. it is by a special extraordinary Favour that is let out of the Heart of God to you (u) Nempe Dilectio Misericordia Gratia atque Benignitas Bodius in Eph. pag. 259. col 1 Grace indeed is diversified in the Scriptures and comprehends various Terms of a Divine Affection to save but they all agree in the Temple-Language without any uncertain sound 1 Cor. 14.8 that we may utter our Acknowledgments and break out with Shoutings Zech. 4.7 crying Grace Grace unto it When God looks down from Heaven and beholds from the Habitation of his Holiness and of his Glory it is with the Sounding of his Bowels Isa 63.15 and of his Mercies towards us They are Compassions towards Vs that afford us a Call towards Him The Church indeed seems there to complain of an Abatement of the Divine Care to her as appears by the manner of her expressing it Where is thy zeal ibid. and thy strength the sounding of thy Bowels and of thy Mercies towards me are they restrained As if she had said Why are thine Affections stopt from flowing out unto me but alas if God had forgotten to be Gracious Psa 77.9 as good Asaph too was ready to complain there had never been an Invitation to any such as Me O taste and see that the Lord is good Psal 34.8 This Come in the Text had been blotted out of his Remembrance Isa 49.19 if thro' Grace he had not engraven it upon the Tables of his Heart continually He is a God that hath done every thing Graciously Hos 14.2 he receiveth Graciously after he invited graciously at first Psa 103.8 The Lord is Merciful and Gracious in dispensing such a Call to us Psa 145.8 Gracious and full of Compassion in the Gospel-Message Lam. 3.22 his Compassions fail not while he sends to fill us with good things That is the First Property of his Call to Sinners it is a Gracious Invitation 2. It is a Free Invitation 2 Property Nothing mov'd nothing compell'd the King in ary possible Deserts or Obligation to send for such a one as Thee He consdered thee as Poor and therefore would invite thee according to the Free Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 He comes freely in his Visit and calls thee as thou art a Sinner as a Great Sinner as the Chief of Sinners in thy own Apprehension When he maketh a Dinner or a Supper Luk. 14.12 he calls not the Rich that can make a Recompense not the Righteous such as are Self-Righteous but he calls Sinners to Repentance Matth. 9.13 The Lord does not look for some Great Thing in you to make you worthy of a Look or a Call of his after you but when he comes to save you he finds you as you are and yet knocks at your Door to take up his Abode with you Tho' you have not a Good Word in your Tongues or a Good Work yet begun in your Hearts yet the Lord invites you to begin and carry both on 3. It is a Sovereign Invitation 3 Property As nothing in us could move him to it so nothing he saw in us or by us should divert or put him off from such an Invitation God will Call thee tho' Satan casts in many Things against thee The Law of God condemns thee but yet however he will bring his Gospe and have it offered to thee Conscience may accuse thee but he will not always hear the Plea against thee nay Thou also in Self-abhorrency mayst say even to the Almighty Lord bid me not do not look upon such a Dead Dog as I 2 Sam. 9.8 yet he will not be ty'd he will not let thee stop him Hos 2.6 thou shalt not hedge up his way with Thorns but he will invite thee to his Son take it how thou wilt of him Exod. 33.19 And he said I will make all my Goodness pass before thee and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee and I will be Gracious to whom I will be gracious and will shew Mercy on whom I will shew Mercy He breaths in Sovereignty when he opens his Lips and brings Grace Grace forth He will invite he will entertain he will exercise a Prerogative while he offers to while he bestows the Gift upon whomsoever it seemeth meet unto him His own shall be bestowed where the Owner pleaseth He invites not only where he foresees a Heart void of Towardly Dispositions and moral Inclinations to receive his offer but where there is a perfect Aversation a natural Hatred and Reluctancy thereunto Even so Father because it seemeth good in thy sight Matth. 11.26 4. It is a clear Invitation 4 Properâ— There is nothing in the Gospel but lays his Heart open nothing in his Calls but doth make our way to Him clear We may apply the Testimony of his Disciples to confirm this Joh. 16.29 His Disciples said unto him Lo now speakest thou plainly and speakest no Proverb He had before declared to them Joh. 16.28 he came forth from the Father and was come into the World as if he had told them I came down from God to seek to call to treat with Sinners and bring them up to Him Again I leave the World and go to the Father i. e. I must go back to the Place from whence I came and give an account how my Message sped The Invitation was therefore clear his Disciples understood the Call lo now speakest thou plainly What can be clearer than Prov. 9.5 Come eat of my Bread and drink of the Wine which I have mingled Tho' these Things are Parables unto Men by Nature yet when the Spirit of God hath formed a seeing Eye within us to discern and perceive Spiritual Things we may then answer as the Disciples did to Christ when he made an enquiry about their Understandings Matth. 13.51 Have ye understood all these Things and they say unto him Yea Lord. 5. It is a Commanding Invitation 5 Propert. Ministers have received a Command to Call you and you have receiv'd a Command to Come When Orders are given from the Lord Joh. 1.13 you
are not left to the Will of the Flesh to put off the Invitation which from the Will of God you hear press'd upon you The Servants indeed intreat you and beseech you to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 but the Master of the Feast doth require this of you He is a Great King and where the Word of a King is there is Power Eccles 8.4 to employ his Agents and Commission such as he makes the Officers of his Trust to deal with you It is affirmed of the King in the Parable Matth. 22.3 that he sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden 2 Cor. 8.23 The Messengers of the Churches must speak the mind of God and Christ to you Matth. 8.9 Ministers are under one having Authority and 't is their Duty to declare unto you what they have received from the Lord. 1 Cor. 11.23 The Servants that call you can shew their Lord 's express Warrant to you and a Commandment both to Them and You to tell you by what Authority they do these things Mat. 21.23 Christ hath all Power in Heaven and in Earth to speak Cha. 28.18 and his Messengers have an Authority by Delegation from him to speak also Isa 48.16 Come ye near unto me hear ye this I have not spoken in secret from the Beginning from the Time that it was there am I and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me So likewise that Commission for Christ's Messengers to invite you will stand so long as the World stands it self Matth. 28.19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the World Amen There is the Divine Commission at large which warrants the Messengers to Invite you with a Come and See Rev. 6. sparsim Psal 34.8 with a Come and Taste the things that God hath prepared for you Now if the Commission lays an Obligation upon Them to call you is it not a Command or an Authoritative Invitation from the God that sends them for you to come in If they must Preach the Gospel must not you receive it and embrace it David lookt upon it as an Argument of weight thou hast given Commandment to save me Psal 71.3 and when God hath Charg'd us to believe and obey the Gospel may we be at Liberty as we will to accept or refuse the Invitation Prov. 1.23 either to turn at his Reproof 2 Pet. 2.21 or turn aside from the Holy Commandment delivered to us 6. It is an Open Invitation 6 Propert. The Gospel is said to proclaim Isa 61.2 and not to whisper the Grace of God to you These Gracious Calls are Publick Psa 40.9 10. 1 Kings 19.12 you may hear Inviting Mercy in the Great Congregation as well as the small still Voice at home When the Gospel is spoken of by Christ Mark 13.10 he tells us it must be Published among all Nations it was not enough that these things were done in a Corner Act. 26.26 So when the Servants in the Parable are sent forth to call them that were bidden Luk. 14.17 they are Commanded to go out quickly but not any whither here or there at random into by-corners of the City where their Message would want a Conveniency to divulge and noise forth abroad Go out quickly therefore into the Streets and Lanes of the City Luk. 14.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into wide Places as the word may signifie where you shall meet with Room enough for the Company the many Sinners in Jerusalem Luk. 13.4 to gather thick about you and hear your Message which I have sent by you and v. 23. Go out into the High-wayes and Hedges Go proclaim your Errand where you are most likely to find Company be it in City or Countrey Jerusalem or in Judea throughout all the Region round or in the Kingdoms of the Gentiles beyond Judea For it is thought by Interpreters that by Streets and Lanes of the City Christ meant the Jews that were then nigh at Hand and to whom by reason of that nearness the Servants or Preachers of the Gospel could go out quickly for These were to have the Gospel first Preached beginning at Jerusalem Luk. 24 47 and 't is thought that by the High-ways and Hedges he intended the Gentiles a great way off from Judea and Jerusalem to whom also the Word should come and be Preacht afar off in Places remote and distant from their Countrey and Metropolis Well now the Servants and their Message are come forth as openly into your High-ways and Hedges i. e unto and among such Inhabitants as dwell afar off from Jerusalem whom the Parable seems to intend and set forth metaphorically under these Terms yet as openly Preached unto you now in these High-ways and Hedges as it was in Christ's time in the Streets and Lanes of the City among the Jews themselves The Invitation was Open then Luk. 12.3 the Invitation is not in Private now The Word that descended from the House-Tops is not whisper'd and confin'd to Closets Joh. 18.20 I spake openly to the World I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jews always resort and in secret have I said nothing Why so The Proclamation of Gospel-Grace is now open the Silver Trumpet comes sounding close by you there 's no Restraint upon a Message from God to you nothing to arrest it before it reach your Ears When Wisdom crieth she cryeth without she uttereth her Voice in the Streets she cryeth in the (w) Loco ubi variae semitae concurrunt ubi sibi invicem quam plurimi hominum occurrunt Mercer in loc chief Place of concourse in the openings of the Gates Prov. 1.20 21. so chap. 8.2 3. She standeth in the Top of High Places by the way in the Places of the Paths she cryeth at the Gates at the Entry of the City at the coming in at the Doors These are Phrases that express the openness of a Thing done in the Face or the Ears of much People as if Wisdom's Message had been delivered not so much in the Street whether of this side of the way or that where the Passengers half are lost in passing by on the other but in the openings of the Gates and at the coming in at the Doors where the way of all sides doth meet and every one is pressing to crowd in or out thro' The Word of the Lord that invites you is intimated to be in its own Nature an open Vision 1 Sam. 3.1 tho' it was then so precious and scarce in those dayes that there was no open Vision actually 'T is no less than a Ho! if any Man Thirst let him come unto me and drink Isa 55.1 compar'd
have no cloak for your Sin and therefore now is the Judgment of this World Joh. 15.22 8 Inf. John 12.31 8. It is a mistake of corrupt Flesh and Blood to look back upon the Days of Ignorance Vanity and Sin and yet say the former Days were better than these Alas What were those Days in which we all had our Conversations in Times past the Apostle makes our Births which we brought forth in such a Day Monsters Eph. 2.3 fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh and of the Mind Was it better in our Carnal Security to have Fellowship with Devils than now at a Table to sit in Communion with God Was our Morality better when we only made clean the outside of the Cup and Platter than since we have been at a Feast which must have Vessels clean within Shall there be any that dippeth his Hand in the Dish count it better to run back from Christ and be such a Judas to betray him Are the Days of Darkness better than those when the Sun shines from Heaven and better than the shine of God's Face at Supper Dare any Soul that hath sate in the King's Hall look back into the Devil's Kitchen and say then it was better with me than now Corruption would fain break loose it loves not to sit so long as Grace delights to be at Supper It is a Torment to the Flesh so far as unmortify'd to keep in God's Presence Flesh and Blood savours not the Dainties that came down from Heaven and it would fain return back to be as in Days of Vanity and as in Months past again But surely if we should hearken to these complainings in our Streets Psal 144.14 and say Wherefore are the former Days better than these we should in the worst sense not wisely enquire concerning this Eccles 7.10 The Flesh will be ready to object we were not once put so hard as now to it we need not once have gone so far or took so much Pains to hear and then have had our Faults or every Miscarriage dealt so hardly with We were once as Merry in our Carriage as Light at Heart and free from the Burdens Religion lays upon us as our Neighbours that do but reproach us for being Righteous overmuch Eccl. 7.16 How is it that we are grown Melancholly and Heavy and the Case now alter'd with us Come let us return Num. 14.4 let us make a Captain and go back let us resolve to lay aside our Profession and it will go as well of our side yet again as ever This is exactly such a kind of Revolting Spirit as fell among the Jews when they cast off God and embrac't Idols and when instead of worshipping the Sun of Righteousness they adored the Image of the Moon Jer. 44.16 17. As for the Word that thou hast spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee but we will certainly do whatsoever Thing goeth forth out of our own Mouth to Burn Incense unto the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-offerings unto her as we have done we and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Judah and in the Streets of Jerusalem For then had we plenty of Victuals and were well and saw no evil They would rather make Cakes to worship the Devil than eat of the Bread of Life v. 19. Sirs if you meet with any thing that is grievous to be born and think the way to mend it will be now to turn from the Holy Commandment 2 Pet. 2.21 yet know for a certainty Numb 32.23 that your Sin will find you out It will be a base encrease of your Victuals if you either rob by your own withdrawing or pollute by unhallowed Approaches the Table of the Lord Mal. 1.12 in Hopes it may fare the better with you It will be a sad mending the Case to chuse your own ways for the Inconveniences which you think you find in God's 9. If this Feast be now ready 9 Inf. then now God makes amends for all the Discouragements and Inconveniences you ever did or do meet with to enjoy the Means of Grace Peradventure thou hast sometimes found much ado with Men to break thro' all thy way to God Thou hast met with Family-Discouragements Reproaches at home or Scoffs abroad thou hast been in Journeyings often in Fastings Watchings 2 Cor. 11.26 Temptations to enjoy Christ at Supper any thing Psal 66.12 we went thro' Fire and thro' Water if it might but conduce to come any ways at Bread Well you shall now find the Gospel will become a Double Portion to you You that have come to the Provisions of the Feast in weakness 1 Cor. 2.3 Neh. 8.10 the Joy of the Lord shall be your strength The Bread of God shall be now the sweeter as you have eaten the Bread of Affliction Deut. 16.3 Cant. 7.9 Psal 102.9 and the taste of his Love like the best Wine since you have mingled your Drink with weeping So that a Man shall say Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous Psal 58.11 A Man perhaps a Carnal Man that sees how God doth bear thee out or the Man thine Enemy shall be forc't to acknowledge that surely John 4.32 if thou hadst not Meat to eat which others know not of thou couldst never break thro' such Discouragement or get out to a Meal prepar'd so far from home And blessed be God which hath not turned away my Prayer nor his Mercy from me Psal 66.20 It is a great Encouragement to wait upon God when he will give it in to your own Experience that in keeping his Commandments there is great Reward Psal 19.11 You come it may be divers of you from far Mark 8.3 to come in and Sup with Him but nevertheless you have your Reward Matth. 6.5 if you find that God who invited you hath been nigh and not afar off You are wet it may be sometimes or cold or chid some of you when you are got home Perhaps some in the Family will rebuke you for coming hither Mark 10.13 as the Disciples in another Case did the People when they brought in Children to Jesus Christ well no matter there is enough in the Entertainment to make amends for all If God Rains down Mannah upon your Souls he makes amends tho' he does not command the Clouds in your return to rain no Rain upon you Isa 5.6 1 Pet. 1.2 Job 14.8 The sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus will recompense your being wet with the showers of the Mountains ay the sprinkling it upon your Souls will make amends tho' your Bodies may a little like Nebuchadnezzar's Dan. 4.15 be wet with the Dews of Heaven The Love of Christ when he hath brought you into his Banquetting House will warm you Song 2.4 and make amends while you return cold home Weather shall not chill your Affections if they are strongly
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Great gaping or parting asunder of the Two Countreys by such a wide Division you can never step over There is no passing from the Regions of the shadow of Death Mat. 4.16 even of the second Death to the Better Countrey Heb. 11.16 Luk. 16.26 so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence The state will be fixt and the offers of Grace ended God will feed nothing in Hell but the Worm that dieth not Mar. 9.44 46 48. and the Fire that is not quenched Conscience indeed will have a stinging Remembrance to gnaw upon but the Sinner will have no Refreshment with such a Guest for ever God will drink to you no more Sinners in a Lake of Fire Rev. 19.20 c. unless it be in the Wine of his wrath which will be poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation Rev. 14.10 There can be no rising to Supper if he should cast you out to lodge in a Bed of Flames These are the Motives and Oh! that God would fasten them upon your Minds by his Spirit Isa 22.23 as a Nail in a sure place Secondly As to Counsel I would leave these following Directions with you and close up the whole Subject 1. Now consider this ye that forget God Psal 50.22 Consider it that Grace is now offered and the Statute of Refusal will next be executed God is now calling but remember if you will not hearken you will be then crying Mercy doth now invite you but Fury will then Fall upon you Know therefore this Day and consider it in thine Heart as Moses in that Solemn Advice to Israel Deut. 4.39 Let Sinners that are desperate and hard hearted or careless and unregardful of themselves consider this What will ye do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come from far to whom will ye flee for Help and where will ye leave your Glory Isa 10.3 What Provision canst thou have if thou hast none of this Supper Canst thou bear it to Sup with Devils and reject Angel's Food What will become of all that airy Glory thy Mind is now Feasting on what will it avail thee that thou hast Supt on Vanity if thou must be fed with Torments when thy Day of Grace is ended Remember thou art going as swift as Time can post thee into the Land of Forgetfulness Oh! thou busie distracted Worldling that hast forgotten to eat thy Bread Psal 102.4 Men indeed will forget thee Jam. 1.24 Psal 95.11 what manner of man thou wast but God will swear in his wrath if thou wilt not meddle 〈◊〉 the Grace he offers Amos 8.7 that surely he will neâ—er forget any of thy Works but will remember thy Faults that Day 2. Acquaint now thy self with God Job 22.21 Be not a Stranger now to the God who will one Day take such knowledge of thee as either infallibly to save or else in Hell destroy thee Look to it Oh thou young Man and remember now thy Creator in the days of thy Youth Eccles 12.1 Look to it thou ignorant Man and lay up sound Knowledge that thou maist say with the Blind Man when Christ had opened his Eyes John 9.25 One Thing I know that whereas I was Blind now I see If the Provisions are now ready let them be no longer as a strange Thing unto thee Be acquainted that this is Life Eternal under the Gospel for poor condemned Malefactors already dead in Law to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 Thou wilt never taste and see Psal 34.8 till thou art acquainting thine Heart with Wisdom 3. Get now into Friendship with a Lover of Hospitality Tit. 1.8 Be not an Enemy in thy Heart or in thy ways to this Feast-Maker under one call more Be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Throw down your Arms and beg for Quâ—rter if you would find mercy with thâ—â—ord in that Day for he spares none with their Weapons of War about them You spoil your Banquet so long as you run upon the thick Bâ—sses of his Buckler Be reconciled and made Friends to God presently for he will have none but Friends to come in and Sup with him Enemies must fall but shall not be Feasted Luke 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not have me to reign over them bring hither and stay them before me Provoke not God by Delays when his Supper is now ready if his wrath be kindled Spiritual Mannah will melt away from you as Corporal Mannah did from the Israelites when the Sun waxed hot Exod. 16.21 See that the Master of this Feast and you are made one or at least if Two yet you may either walk together Amos 3 3. or sit together at Meat when by Grace ye are so agreed Be reconcil'd and go make your Friend sure Do this now my Son and deliver thy Self when thou art come into the Hand of thy Friend go humble thy self and make sure thy Friend Prov. 6.3 As thou art now once again invited into the Banqueting-House of Love come prostrate in the Dust and lye at Christ's Feet the lower you chuse to sink the higher you shall rise when you sit at Christ's Hand Friend go up higher theâ— shalt thou have worship in the Presence of them that sit at Meat Luke 14.10 4. Now accept of Grace Put forth thy Hand now and lay hold upon Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 Tho' you have staid out from this Feast long yet make the more haste and be not afraid or asham'd Now to come at last Take Encouragement and knock at the Gate of Mercy for tho' the Sun be low yet if you are in earnest for admission 't is not too late to be let in 5. Be now more Holy if you partake of what is now ready Serve the Lord better and Act for the Interest of Christ to keep up the Reputation and Honour of this Feast more than ever Omit nothing which may advance the Gospel and do nothing that may tend to make the Provisions of it sink More especially Now yield your Members Servants of Righteousness unto Holiness Rom. 6.19 Let your Eyes be more stedfastly fixed where you have seen his Salvation let your Ears be more attentive that even the Ear may now try words and the Mouth taste his Meat Job 12.11 Let the string of your Tongue be loosed and speak of these All Things now ready in the Language of Canaan plainly Stretch out your Hands unto God that he may not stretch out his to you in vain Refrain your Feet from every evil way Let your Loins be girt about with Truth Keep your Hearts with all Diligence Take Wisdom as an Ornament to bind about your Heads and set your Faces in reality towards Sion This is to be Holy Rom.