be called Rom. 11.26 Use 3. Let us improve those examples which set forth unto us God's vengeance on sinners and in special on unbelievers Examples are two-fold either for imitation or admonition the latter is here meant 1 Cor. 10.11 and unbelievers are two-fold either of pure negation living without the profession and means of faith as Heathens or of an evil disposition walking contrary to the Doctrine of the Gospel as loose Christians God's judgments on both these sorts of unbelievers must be improved by us and especially the latter 1. Yield a firm assent not only to the mattter of fact in sad examples but to the cause of them set down in sacred Scripture sin deserving and procuring these judgments 1 Cor. 10.6 2. Bring home those sad examples by a particular application to your selves so Christ would have us Luke 13.3 making anothers case our own On continue not to refuse the Gospel for this end let the wicked forsake his way and return unto the Lord whether should men go but unto God from whom they fell let him that is returned take heed that he back-slide not from the Lord through unbelief Look well to the exercise of faith labour to apprehend those promises which God hath given you in his word and appropriate them that are proper for your present condition Heb. 13.5 The vertue of a plaister appeareth in the application of it to the sore CHAP. VI. Shall tast of my Supper HEre is the matter predicated or declared concerning the subject fore-mentioned Shall tast of my Supper Tasting is taken 1. Properly to touch with the lips Ravanel and pass judgment upon the diversity of savoury things There is a dispute among Philosophers what is the proper sensorium or instrument of tasting Some say the mouth others the Tongue others the palate others the throat others the nerves which diffuse themselves through those parts I suppose there is a concurrence of all these to a perfect taste 2. Figuratively and that 1. Intermitatur Deus summum malum Experimento cognoscent quantum malum sit jacturam fecisse c. Salmer Metonymically for eating Act. 20.11 a metonymie of the effect because we therefore tast that we may eat 2. Metaphorically to make tryal or know by experience and that either in a way of sorrow as to tast death Matth. 16.28 for to suffer death or in a way of delight Tasting is put for perceiving in a comfortable manner Prov. 31.18 this last acception is the meaning of it in our Text They shall not tast that is they shall not by experience know to their comfort they shall not partake of my Supper Gospel provision for the good of their souls but shall know by sad experience what it is to contemn such mercy they shall for ever despair of the enjoyment of any good Hence observe Observ That there is not any true experimental any sanctifying and saving good belongs to them that refuse the Gospel Such as these are excluded from the communion and fruition both of the grace and glory of God in Christ I. They are excluded from the fruition of the grace of God in this life They have not a tast of it as is thus evident 1. They have no sound knowledge or spiritual discerning of divine truth They call evil good and good evil put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5.20 no taste and relish of the spiritual nature of things Truth is the meat of the mind the nourishment of the understanding but divine truth suiteth not with a carnal mind the palats of many are out of taste in a spiritual sense it is too apparent by the multitude of unsound opinions that go down without disrelish 2. They have no firm faith upon God in Christ They believe not the record that God gave of his Son 1 John 5.10 God hath put eternal life in his sons keeping and men will not come to him that they may have life John 5.40 thereby it appeareth they are void of faith in God now faith is the souls taster to suck the sweetness of the promises 3. They have no content or satisfaction in any thing that good is Tasting is receiving that which is edible or potable with some kind of pleasure or liking Thus wicked men do not taste of Gospel-provision they have no love or liking of it The carnal heart is not affected or pleased with spiritual good He receiveth not the things of the spirit into him so as to receive any satisfaction to his mind in them 1 Cor. 2.14 they are foolishness to him insipid stuff albeit the wisdom of God This shews their mouths to be out of taste 4. They have no meditation on God and his word They chew not the promises nor turn them into fatness they feed not upon such dainties There is a taste in words the Heathens had this notion they saw some could not taste of words as others could Natural men taste not God's word by any delightful meditation in it 5. They have no hungring and thirsting after righteousness carnal hearts look upon themselves so full as wanting nothing Rev. 3.17 Such hearts are like those stomachs that are full of wind and not of meat swell'd and puft up They do not faint for God nor are they troubled for the want of the spiritual food They have no spiritual desires nor endeavours after grace II. They are excluded from the fruition of the glory of God in the life to come That is the second course of this Gospel-feast and there also they shall not have so much as a taste The rich Epicure in the Parable Luke 16. could not have one drop to quench his thirst or cool his heat ver 24. no refreshment among the damned The day of judgment which is called the times of refreshment to all true penitents Act. 3.19 will be a day of the encrease of torment to all impenitent creatures CHAP. VII Vse 1. THis informs us of the Righteousness of God in the judgment he inflicts on men What more righteous than this that those should have nothing but the terrour and torment of the Law who would have none of the grace nor duty of the Gospel Here also ye may see the vast difference between the godly and the wicked the wicked shall receive no good but the godly shall want no good Psal 84.11 They having an interest in God himself must needs possess all in possessing him Vse 2. Yet there be some natural men that seem to partake of spiritual good in a large measure Heb. 6.4 5 6 7. a great deal for cast-aways to partake of 1. They may be illightened with some divine understanding divine light may shine into their heads though not into their hearts they may have much of the gifts but nothing of the grace of spiritual knowledge 2. They may taste of the heavenly gift the common gifts and influence of the spirit given to profit others withall in the way to heaven with which
Pascâ—al Lamb yea he was fitted with a spirit answerable most desirous to give himself a sacrifice for sin Lo I come lo I come Heb. 10.7.9 he was straitned with desire till the baptism of his sufferings was accomplished 3. In respect of the expectation of God's dear children who in the days of Christ's coming were earnestly waiting for the consolation of Israel through the coming of the Messias Witness Simeon Luke 2.25 and Anna. ver 36.37 This was the sugar by which they sweetned all their crosses in those dark times when a friend cometh that hath been long lookt for how seasonable and welcome is his coming especially when we suffer much by his absence and enjoy much by his presence 4. In respect of the conversion of the Gentiles to be added to the believing Jews or to come in the room of the obstinate Jews who would have none of this Gospel-provision The fields were white unto harvest when Christ came John 4.35 The several nations of the world were ready to receive the Gospel upon the tender of it to them Cuncta atque continua tolius generis humani aut pax fuit aut pactio Flor. hist lib. 4. they being as it were at leisure or ready to hear for 't is observable when Christ the Prince of peace came to preach the Gospel of peace there was in that age generally either a peace or truce throughout the nations of the earth So Florus observeth that writeth the History of that time How seasonably did Christ come in this time of publick quietness to reason with men in a calm manner about their souls 5. In respect of Christ's herauld or immediate fore-runner John Baptist coming in the spirit of Elias Luke 1.17 6. In respect of the institution of Gospel-ordinances in the room of the legal When the ceremonial service appeared an intolerable yoke Act. 15.10 then Christ cometh who instituted baptism instead of circumcision and the Lord's Supper instead of the Passeover Matth. 26.26 Quest But here it may be demanded why a supper Resp. It fitly answers to the word Supper in the Text which expresseth the grace of God in the Gospel 1. The Supper-meal is the sweet meal in regard of the work of the fore-going day which is past and the rest of the succeeding night which is to come This may refer to the hard service of the ceremonial law past and to the sweet powrings forth of the spirit to come at this supper time 2. 'T is the last meal the last mess of the Gospel serv'd in not another Christ to come Now God would have us methodical in the use of means first to close by faith with Gospel-provision in the word preached Rom. 1.16 and when the word preached hath had its due work then to partake of the Lord's supper CHAP. II. Use 1. HEre see the manifold wisdom of God in the dispensation of Gospel-provision Eph. 3.10 how seasonable was the time of the Gospel's discovery in the clearness or brightness of it when the day-star appeareth the Sun is at hand so before Christ's nativity a star appeared whence the wise men concluded that the Sun of Righteousness was rising Here also observe that we have one priviledge above them who lived before Christ came in the flesh they had the dawning of the morning but we the light at noon-day Col. 1.26 They had the Parable we the interpretation of it The Gospel was once confined to one Country the Land of Judea but now the Commission is to preach it in every Country to every creature Mark 16.15 And generally believers in the new Testament have a greater measure of grace than those in the old Testament There have been more plentiful effusions of the spirit since Christ came in the flesh Joh. 7.39 Use 2. For caution This doth not make but that many before Christ came in the flesh did partake of this Gospel-provision and went to heaven in the strength of this food Witness those many worthies Heb. 11. in all ages of the world who lived and died in the faith of Jesus Christ the true Messias So 1 Cor. 10.3 Rom. 4.11 Use 3. Be exhorted to answer the time of Christ's seasonable coming by knowing the time or season of our salvation Rom. 13.11 The Apostle calls upon us as men upon their servants to go about their work because the Sun is up Now is the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 Christ counselleth you to improve this time now ye may be accepted John 12.35.36 'T is very sad if you do not Luke 19.42 CHAP. III. To say to them that were bidden c. THese words contain the manner or way how or wherein the Gospel-errand is to be delivered and that 's by word of mouth The servant sent was Praedicator to say is Praedicare The servant here sent is not as an ordinary messenger to carry a Letter but as an extraordinary officer of state appointed an Embassadour commissionated to treat with others such is the dispensation of the Gospel in the ministry thereof Hence I observe Obser That the word spoken by the ministry of men appointed thereunto is the way which God useth to save men This is the usual way of propounding Gospel-invitations the real acceptance whereof tends to salvation 1 Pet. 1.23 25. Sect. 1. Quest 1. What is meant by the word which is to be spoken or said unto people for their souls good Resp. 'T is the revealed will of God fully made known in the holy Scriptures for man's eternal good those writings being inspired of God for matter and words the perfect distribution of which is set forth by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.16 profitable 1. For doctrine containing all things needful to be known or believed in reference to our salvation as the Doctrine of our innocence of our fall of our recovery There is not a syllable of this in any of the Volums of the Heathens Psal 147.20 These things are revealed only by the Scripture 2. For reproof to confute all those false Doctrines which oppose the true Truth discovereth and consoundeth errour Isa 8.20 3. For correction to reprehend the vices and ill manners of those that walk contrary to this word 4. For instruction to direct us to lead our lives according to this word And all this must be as is added in righteousness and it must be so seeing this word is the truth 1 Pet. 1.22 which cannot justily be contradicted Sect. 2. Quest 2. How must this word be spoken Resp. I. If we look at God from whom 't is spoken it must be spoken 1. Exactly according to his mind what we deliver to others must be received from him 1 Cor. 11.23 Ministers must learn as well as teach hear before they speak Ezek. 3.17 what the Prophets and Apostles had immediatly Ministers now have mediately 2. Reverently as in his sight 2 Cor. 5.11 before whose dreadful tribunal born speakers and hearers must one day appear 3. Authoritatively as in his stead 2 Cor. 5.20 as Writs
which belongs to God not to us 1 Pet. 5.7 this choaks the word Matth. 13.22 such cares in the mind are like thorns in the flesh they prick and wound the conscience CHAP. V. THe reasons why men are so careful to prove what they have are these 1. That they may know what they have men care not to be at uncertainties about these worldly vanities they love to know what is their own though the things themselves be but of an uncertain and perishing nature yet men love to be at some certainty about them 2. That they may use what they have Wherefore is any thing but for some use or other therefore money is said to answer all things Quò mihi divitia si non conceditur uti because with it men may have wherewithall to supply any of their outward wants Eccl. 10.19 money may be turn'd into any thing 3. That they may delight in what they have rejoyce and be merry in what they do enjoy Eccl. 3.12 it is well when good Husbandry and good content can dwell together 4. That they may hold what they have Men are apt to gripe hard and clasp close the things of this world and that they may have the faster hold they make the surer tryal 5. That they may the better dispose of what they have when men can hold their goods no longer in their own hands yet then they would have it in no other hands but by their appointment Their substance they leave to their Relations Psal 17.14 and their will stands in force when they are gone and their heirs are careful to prove the will to make all therein contained more sure unto themselves CHAP. VI. Use 1. HEre you may see how worldlings practice will rise up in judgment against them who are so careful in proving their worldly estate but take no care at all to prove whether they be in a spiritual estate They are careful to prove the Oxen they plow with but are careless in proving the faith they profess with They will look that the Gold they take be not too light but take no course that themselves be not too light and so when God comes to weigh them in the balance of the sanctuary they are found too light Dan. 5.27 Here the Saints practice is justified in spiritual things from the worldlings practice in earthly things If the Farmer in the Text be so diligent to go and prove the Oxen which he bought may not the Bereans be as diligent to prove the word they have heard Act. 17.11 shall worldly heirs presently go and prove the will of those that have left them an Estate and shall not the heirs of heaven go and prove the will of theâ—r heavenly father surely it concerns God's children to prove that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12.2 Use 2. For Caution though some may be too careful yet others may be too careless in proving what they have of the things of this world The field of the slothful is overgrown with thorns Prov. 24.30 and so his poverty comes swiftly and irresistibly Seneca called sloth the Nurse of beggary and the Mother of misery And Solâ—mon calleth the sluggard brother to the prodigal Prov. 18.9 Secondly though worldlings are so careful to prove what they have yet they shall not long hold what they have of the things of this world Riches make to themselves wings Prov. 23.5 they were never true saith one to those that trusted them Use 3. Spiritualize this point be careful to prove all things in reference to the good of your souls 1 Thes 5.21 1. Prove Doctrines as Lapidaries do their stones as Gold-smiths do their metals Add to your diligence in hearing prudence in discerning 2. Prove Persons try the spirits 1 John 4.1 1. Prove Others especially those that bring Doctrines contrary to the Doctrine of Christ The Scripture tells us we are not to receive them into our houses nor bid them God-speed 2 Ep. John 10. let us also prove all private persons that would have any intimacy of acquaintaâ—ce and communion with us 2. Prove Your selves examine and prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13.5 1. Prove your heart be â—â—re that ye be upright in the main see that you regard not iniquity in your heart Psal 66.18 2. Prove the graces that are seated in your heart try the truth of them 1. Try the truth of your faith by the effectualness of it 1 Thes 2.13 That is effectual which attains its end Now the end of saving saith is to receive Christ as he is offered in the Gospel That is also effectual faith which worketh by love 2. Prove the truth of your repentance by the spiritualness of its sorrow a sorrow according to God 2 Cor. 7.10 3. Prove the truth of your obedience by the universality of it Psal 119.6 look at commands as they come from God and not as they suit with your interest CHAP. VII I pray thee have me excused HEre we meet with the same words we had before Before we considered the words more generally now we shall consider them more particularly as to Thee and Me in the words Si inimici fuissent non rogassent ut excusarentur sed temerè respondissent Marlor in loc with the manner of the excuse I pray Thee the messenger sent who is as well the peoples mouth to God as well as God's mouth to the people Have Me excused Me that am no wilful opposer of what you say that do not disswade others from receiving what I refuse and that do give you a reason for my refusal Have me excused Give in some reason to the Master of the feast that I may suffer no damage by my refusal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui ex parte in causa est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui causam assignat propter quam So Plutarch useth the word or manage the reason well for me that I have alledged So much the Greek word for Excused importeth Sect. 1. Observ There be those who are no wilful opposers nor yet true receivers of the Gospel-message that presume they shall fare the better for Gospel-messengers And they be such as these 1. Such as do not condemn the Doctrine of the Gospel as Gallio who was not like those wicked Jews who haled St. Paul to the judgment-seat to have his person condemned for that Doctrine which they had condemned Act. 18.12 13. 2. Such as do not abide insensible under the preaching of the Gospel but come to convictions and semi-perswasions convinced of the truth of what is spoken and almost perswaded to close with it as Agrippa Act. 26.27 28. 3. Such as do not persecute Gospel-preachers nor think them fit to be persecuted As those hearers of St. Paul who said This man doth nothing worthy of death or bonds Act. 26.31 32. These were not so furious as those Elders with their Oratour Tertullus who called Paul all to naught Act. 24.5 4. Such as do not
the Gospel Yea preachers may receive light from men like themselves not only from the Scriptures but from judicious expositors Though no writings may be received in a co-ordination with the holy Scriptures yet they may in a subordination to them Though the Scripture explain it self yet 't is but a Normal expositor and we have need of personal expositors too Act. 8.31 The Mathematicks are not learned without a Teacher so it is with many Scriptures which are hard to be understood Use 3. Doth God speak to his messengers what they speak then let our behaviour be answerable to the belief of such truth 1. In reference to the Scriptures where God speaks let us look upon them as the inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 Oh what majesty and harmony what verity and purity is in them Read the Scriptures and meditate therin as the word of God Psal 1.3 They are as a Letter sent from Christ to a particular person Rev. 2.1 let them much affect thee in the reading these lines They are as good news out of a far Country oh welcome it They are as a Statute-book containing those wholsome Laws according to which we are to order our lives it concerns us to be well skilled in them 2. In reference to Christ that messenger of the Covenant by whom God doth principally speak unto men let us hear him because God sends to us by him and hath in a special manner authorized him to speak unto us Matth. 17.5 yield faith and obedience to what he speaks hear and live Isa 55.3 3. In reference to Ministers Account of them as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 wait on the ministry of the word as upon God himself Prov. 8.34 do not expect that God should teach you without the means if ye neglect the means he hath set up among you Frequent the publick ministry be attentive hearers It is dangerous to fall asleep with a Candle burning by your side some have been so burnt in their beds but it is more dangerous to sleep while the Candle of the word is burning so near you and do not wander in your thoughts that is to sleep with your eyes open Be also retentive hearers food received if it stay not with us doth us no good The honest and good heart having heard the word keeps it Luke 8.15 If you have not strength of memory to keep the words of a Sermon see that ye have an honest heart to keep the substance of a Sermon I have heard of a woman having methinks such an heart who coming from a Sermon one askt her what she remembred she answered that at present she could not recal much but she heard that which should make her to reform some things as soon as she came home CHAP. VI. Go out quickly into the Streets and Lanes of the City IN these words we have the commission of the Gospel-messenger renewed The chief ones among the Jews proved Recusant Guests as hath been shewn by their several excuses given in Now therefore the invitation is sent to the body of that people and afterwards to the Gentiles ver 23. though some would have the Gentiles meant in this verse In the words read there is the manner how and the place where this great errand of the Gospel is to be delivered For the first the manner is with expedition Go out quickly For the Greek word translated Go out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propriè significat exire in expeditionem ad pugnam contra hostes Novar Criticks observe its use 1. In a military expedition There is indeed a Militia in the ministry 2 Cor. 10.4 the work of it is to wage war against mens lusts 2. For going out by authoritative commission as Mark 1.38 Act. 1.21 Thus ministers are to go out De missione ad ossicium usurpatur go when they are sent as we heard on ver 17. The word we are now to fasten upon is that word Quickly it is swift upon the wing Here note Observ God would have a quick or speedy dispatch of the Gospel-message Mat. 10.7 10. This appeareth 1. In the Promise God himself did make a quick discovery of the Gospel-mystery The promise of the second Adam came into the world soon after the sin of the first Adam Gen. 3.15 As man continued not long in his state of innocency so neither did he continue long in his state of Apostacy without the hope of recovery As soon as ever man drank in the deadly poison of sin God provided the bloud of Christ as an Antidote for the same 2. In the Type The children of Israels deliverance out of Egyptian bondage was a type of our deliverance from wrath to come And the Passeover was a sign of that deliverance which they were to eat in haste Exod. 12.11 because they were sent out of the Land of Egypt in haste ver 33. Solomon in his Royalty was a type of Christ in the excellency of the Gospel The Psalmist therefore speaking of him saith His tongue was the Pen of a ready writer Psal 45.2 dexterously setting forth Christ in all his glory 3. In the Prophesie Isaiah speaking of Christ's throne saith there shall be the hasting of righteousness Isa 16.5 dispatching business without needless delays 4. In the performance in the days of the Gospel There was a going forth quickly within a few days after Christ's Ascension Act. 2. This is Salmeron's gloss upon the words of our Text. Thus then in the Primitive times the Apostles did go out quickly St. Sohn sets it out by the Hieroglyphick of a white horse and his Rider going forth conquering and to conquer Rev. 6.2 The Emblem of those Apostolical preachers might well be a white horse white for their purity of Doctrine Discipline and Conversation Horses for their swift preaching of the Gospel An horse by the Heathens was dedicated to the Sun because of its swiftness Eusebius speaking of the spreading of the Gospel by those Primitive preachers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Hist l. 1. c. 22. saith that it ran through the world like a Sun-beam And St. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to pray that the word might have such a free course 2 Thes 3.1 So in the reforming times in Luthers days How many godly and learned men did go out quickly and spread the Gospel far and near Luther Calvin Melancthon Zuinglius Zanchy Peter Martyr Bucer Musculus Ecclesiae Anglicana reformationem desperasset aetas praeterita admiratur praesens obstupescet futura Scultet annal Oecolampadius Latimer Cranmer Ridley c. on this side and on that side the Seas there were very many viz. Those Angels which came flying with the everlasting Gospel in the midst of heaven Rev. 14.6 So the Learned interpret that place The Gospel had a swift passage by diligent preaching by Printing good Books by Translating the holy Scriptures into vulgar Tongues by Catechizing youth by publick Disputations by
recording the Martyrs such a thing saith one as the former age had even despaired of the present age admireth and the future shall stand amazed at Thus he speaks of the Reformation in England CHAP. VII This work is brought to pass 1. BY the Ascension of Christ who went up in the Chariot of a cloud Act. 1.9 which moves swiftly and upon his Ascension the spirit came down in the form of fire Act. 2.3 which is quick of motion 2. By the operation of the spirit 1. Giving utterance to them that spake for those Primitive preachers spake as the spirit gave them utterance Act. 2.4 uttering divine Apothegms the Oracles of God 2. Making entrance into them that heard The word in their mouths called the sword of the spirit was sharp and penetrating It is said the Angels went whither the spirit was to go Ezek. 1.12 so do the Angels of Churches the Ministers of the Gospel The reasons why it is thus are these 1. Because things of the greatest worth and such the Gospel-message is are to be speedily dispatcht If a pardon be to be sent to one that is ready to be executed he that carrys it must make haste Letters of great importance have this writ upon their backside post-haste 2. Because both those that preach and those that hear the Gospel too are but creatures Mark 16.15 therefore preachers are to make as much bast as they can in delivering the Gospel-message to their hearers who have but a little while to be hearing CHAP. VIII Use 1. SEe here how liberal God is how speedy in shewing mercy which doth very much set it off he comes apace towards his people Psal 104.3 4. clouds and Chariot wings and wind spirits and fire all speaks speed every word shews swift motion See here also how unbeseeming sloth and laziness is in the Ministers of the Gospel A lazy labourer an idle Minister is as absurd as a blind eye God cannot bear with such Oh thou wicked and slothful servant Matth. 25.26 Such a loyterer is an unfaithful Steward in God's house who wraps up his talent in idleness and burys it in the earth where perhaps he is playing the worldling all his time Vse 2. Though the messengers of the Gospel are to go quickly when they are sent yet they are not to run before they are sent We read of a scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven Matth. 13.52 it is not for every one who can speak an hour to adventure upon the work of reaching Again though Ministers sent are to go quickly yet they must not in their speaking be too quick for their hearers they should make no more hast than good speed Old Mr. Dod observes it as a general fault among Ministers to shoot over their hearers Ministers should explain divine truths leisurably that the weakest capacity may understand the same Use 3. Must ministers go quickly to you then answer this Doctrine with the quickness of your motion be swift to hear Make use of all opportunities where ye may hear safely for the good of your souls Be you as quick in closing with the Gospel as God would have his messengers quick in disclosing it Make your peace with God speedily Matth. 5.25 The only way for this is through Christ that one mediatour between God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 If you would not hazard the loss of all by continuance in sin make haste to compound through faith in Christ Be sure ye do not put off Gospel-advice a day longer Heb. 3.7 Christ bid Zacheus make haste and come down and accordingly he did and received him joyfully Luke 19.5 6. Be restless in your spirits till you find Christ who is the rest of your souls Enquire diligently whether you are in the way to heaven then make haste in that way go on with speed The life of Christianity is as a race therefore so run that ye may obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 Sin is like a sore the longer you let it alone the more it festers and ranckles and the worse it is to heal The Scripture saith To day lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.13 sin encroacheth upon the soul by degrees James 1.14 15. let young men remember God in their youth the sooner any receive the Gospel-message they are in a capacity to do God the more service Do not put off the doing or receiving good till old age Yet let not this discourage old people from minding good Better late than never If you come in though at the eleventh hour you shall have your reward Matth. 20.9 Abraham was old when God called him It was late ere the Thief on the cross was converted he had a quick passage from the Cross to heaven CHAP. IX Into the streets and lanes of the City THese words do seem in a special manner to refer to the preaching of the Gospel unto the body of the Jewish people after the refusal of it by the great ones among them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Latini quoque utuntur vocabulo platea pro vla urbis latiore Plaut Terent. according to that commission where the charge is to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Matth. 10.6 the accomplishment of which appears in that sacred H story of the Acts of the Apostles Into the streets and lanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urbis locus in quem omnes certatim confluunt the two Greek words signifie places of resort where there are continually multitudes of people This phrase the streets of the City may bear the same sense Territorium universum urbis ditioni subjectum designans Med. in Apoc. 11. as judicious Mr. Mede takes that in Rev. 11.8 who understands it for the Territories belonging to the Dominion of that City Here then it must be taken for the whole Country of Judea among whom God would have the Gospel publish'd And then in the high ways and hedges among the sinners and out-casts of the Gentiles Thus Salmer glosseth upon our Text understanding these words of the Jewish commonalty who have their houses together in streets and lanes as the Nobility have theirs alone Streets and lanes denote the multitude of persons to whom and the publickness of place where the Gospel is preached Observ God would have the Gospel preached openly where it may be free for all to hear it Prov. 8.2 3. and Chap. 1.20 1. In streets there are rows of houses together Hence we have the name Parish from the scituation of houses one by another Parish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the joyning of several houses together Thus then the going into Streets and Lanes is the preaching of the gospel in Cities Towns Villages Parishes where people dwell together Thus the Apostles went from City to City preaching the gospel Act. 14.21 and preaching Elders were ordained in every City Tit. 1.5 God in mercy providing for the conveniencies of people in sending the Gospel to their very doors it is but for