about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God Have not submitted The Translation is in the Active Voice but the Original is Passive different from the word by which We render it * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were not laid in order Self-Fulness swells Men so big that it puts them out of their place disorders them that 'till they are laid in order and in their Right Mind again Gospel-Provisions will be very ineffectual Men that have enough of their own do not use to buy they live upon their Stock while others go to Market The full Soul loaths the Honey comb Prov. 27.7 He mocks at it say the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagint and scorns a Dainty Morsel offer'd A Sinner's full Stomach turns at any Feast provided If he doth not Vomit up the sweet Morsel he hath eaten and be emptyed of all his Self-Excellency Wisdom Righteousness Strength and seem so little that he is nothing in his own Eyes the Provisions of the Gospel will 'till then be all nothing with him In a word so long as a Man can eat and drink at his own Charges he will scorn to depend upon any other Table And as long as the Soul thinks it self fed well enough already it will hearken the less to Christ to come in and sup with Him Seventhly 7 Hindran The Cares of this Life Worldlings plant such a Brake of Thorns in their way that do hedge them out of God's Pasture they are afraid of the True Bread lest they should lose other Loaves for it When Christ comes to be propounded to them they have a thousand carking tormenting Thoughts that rend and tear their minds from him when they make any offers to sit down with him Mat. 6.31 What shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithall shall we be cloathed how shall the Family be maintained and the Year brought about these Things therefore leave a Gap in their Soul which 'till made up but not with their Thorns in the Flesh will keep Christ and their distant Hearts from uniting Jesus answered and said unto Martha thou art careful and troubled about many Things Luk. 10 4◠The * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word is thou art Divided in thy Thoughts and knowest not which of thy Matters to unite and fix them on †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pasor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cares are Divisions of the Mind that make it anxious and Doubtful where to settle or what to take up withall Thus is it in Religion the Things of God are Preached unto Carnal Men the Thoughts of the World it may be for the present are just laid asleep and the Word knocks up Conscience which being awak'd for the present in a calm alone without other interruptions listens to Gospel-Truth hears it and in the Hearing a little outwardly approves it insomuch that the Mind is divided between God and the World and grows anxious which side to choose but alas the mischief is that their Hearts had been sown before with a Field-full of Worldly Cares just ready to spring up fresh after the Word falls and immediately all Thoughts of Faith and Fellowship with Christ are choakt the Man reverts his earthly Heart tumbles to his Centre and instead of a new creature to live upon this Feast becomes the carking Earthly old Man agen He that received the seed among the Thorns is he that heareth the Word and the Care of this World and the Deceitfulness of Riches choke the Word and he becometh unfruitful Matth 13.22 Worldlings have their Hearts and their Hands both full of Dirt and have no room for any Dish of God's in either Should they put off the World a little yet it will return it will follow them into the very Assemblies of God's People and in a Crowd find 'em out And alas a Happy Meeting they know not how to be so unkind to the World as to chide it home again If such Men look a little out towards God their Dear Idols come weeping about them and are presently enough to break their Heart to leave them * O curvae in Terras animae inanes coelestium Persius Men's Carefulness in the Things of the World is their Hinderance in all the Gospel brings Eighthly 8 Hindran Slothfulness This is also a Fault that will do the Feast hurt Many would like the Provisions of the Gospel better if like Tamar's couple of Cakes which she dress'd for Amnon they might be brought to them into their Chamber 2 Sam. 13.5 6. while they are lying upon a Bed of Sluggishness as he was upon a Bed of Lust Nature saith (u) Rutherford's Letters p. 244. one would have Heaven come sleeping to us in our Beds A Sinner may seem occasionally to run after the Gospel like a Man that hunts for Venison yet what doth it profit him if he be like Solomon's slothful Man Prov. 12.27 that roasteth not that which he taketh in hunting I mean if he be loth to take Pains diligently to apply or practise the Word he went so hastily forth to hear if he grows too lazy to lay up some special Truth he hears he lays out all his mighty Pains in vain What Good will the Dainties of the Gospel do him so long as he (w) Videtur ad gestum desidiosorum alludere quibus ferè mos est manum in sinum aut manicam inferre aut sub axillâ tenere Cartwright in loc folds up his Arms like the Sluggard and will be at no spiritual Pains to pick up the Morsel ready carved to him A slothful Man hideth his Hand in his Bosom and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again Prov. 19.24 So Prov. 26.15 The slothful Man hideth his Hand in his Bosom it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth i. e. He had rather to indulge his Laziness sit and look on than eat So it is a Hinderance to the Gospel when Men choose rather barely to profess it than be at any Pains to profit by one Discourse of the Grace of God they hear Ninthly 9 Hindran Prejudice That is a Fore-judging of Things or Persons as if Men were resolv'd to condemn the Cause before they have heard or try'd it Men are often angry with a Party or with a Person and will reject the Truth tho' they are convinc'd it is the Truth meerly because it comes by such Instruments or such means as they have got a Prejudice against A wicked Ahab did believe Micaiah a better Prophet than those at Ramoth-Gilead and able to inform him truly touching the Success of the War between Syria and Israel but he values neither Micaiah's Abilities in the Spirit of Prophesie nor yet his Honesty in prophesying Truth because he hates him 1 Kings 22.7 8. And Jehoshaphat said Is there not here a Prophet of the Lord besides that we might enquire of him And the
THE Gospel-Feast Opened OR THE Great Supper of the Parable DISCOVERED In several SERMONS By JOSEPH HVSSEY Pastor of a Congregation in Cambridge Isa 25.6 And in this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of Fat Things a Feast of Wines on the Lees of Fat Things full of Marrow of Wines on the Lees well refined Prov. 9.5 Come eat of my Bread and drink of the Wine which I have mingled Matth. 22.2 The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King which made a Marriage for his Son We are God's Trustees to whom he hath committed the Gospel and we are false to our Trust if we don't Preach Christ who is the Summ and Substance of the Gospel Frost 's Sermons pag. 276. Dulce est nomen Jesu mel in ore melodia in Aure in Corde plusquam jubilaeum D. Hen. Wilkinson conciones ad Academicos Oxonienses de Scientiâ Christi p. 157. Christus est Liber vitae in quo scriptus es Luth. loc com class secund p. 95. Si quos Christi taedium capit ij Christum nunquam gustaverunt Camer Myroth Evang. p. 151. LONDON Printed by J. Astwood for John Salusbury at the Rising Sun over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1692. To that particular People of God in Cambridge over whom by a special Call I am fixed as a Watchman in the Gospel and a Minister of our Lord Jesus Christ DEAR FRIENDS THE Great Work of Faithfulness and Labour which by Fervent Prayer and a Unanimous Call you have prevalled on me to come hither and undertake for the promoting the Honour of Jesus Christ the Edification of your own Souls and the Conversion of poor lost Sinners doth much influence and incline my Spirit almost to do or be any Thing in order to these Blessed Ends. As the Divine Providence hath cast my Lot among you so now a Divine Precept doth make me to be in all Things for your Good 2 Cor. 4.5 your Servant for Jesus sake I have therefore in this poor Essay before you at your own Instant and joint Applications brought forth as far as I Mat. 13.52 a poor Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of God am able out of Christ's Treasury Things new and old Rev. 1◠14 These are the Fruits which your Souls have lusted after and the Fruits for which you have been crying Give Give i. e. Prov. 30.15 you have askt them from the Pulpit and some of you have thought long before the Week was gone about to take them in the Great Congregation Psal 40.9 10. You have now askt them again from the Press and lo here is the Savoury Meat Gen. 27.7 such as your Soul loves I desire to bring no other into your Chambers than what the Lord your God hath brought me v. 20. I hope I dare not tender you Stones for Bread Luk. 11.11 12. or venture to bring in a Scorpion to you that ask an Egg. Indeed I had not once a Thought that these Papers without being burnt must have lighted up a Candle for any to see to Sup by but now I judge that so long as I am yours to serve you I must light up any Thing if you may but shine the more You have professed a sweetness to your Taste at the first preparing of this Discourse when this Banquet as now you see it was only made ready for some Meals upon the Lord's Days 'till I had finished the Subject And now I crave this Blessing upon your Meat that as you have chosen more than other Seven Days to keep this Feast 2 Chro. 30.23 it may be also sweet and nourishing in your daily Bread at home that however the Covers may in process of Time be found mouldy in some of your Houses the Provision it self may never be so in your Hands much less putrifie in any of your Heads Exo. 16.20 'till it breed Worms and stink I know it is possible in rich Feeding to contract Diseases and instead of killing Hunger quicken some Mortal Sting But tho' Spiders will suck Poyson out of the sweetest Flowers Heb. 6.9 I am perswaded better Things of you who profess to be New Creatures Now that the Doctrine of Grace here offered may meet with the Principle of Grace to receive it and afford good Nourishment when good Food and a sanctified Appetite meet is the Prayer of DEAR FRIENDS Your Faithful Servant in the Holy Work of the Lord Joseph Hussey THE EPISTLE TO THE Reader IT is sad and humbling that Man's Nature is so prone to treat the Religious Mysteries of the Gospel with scorn and indignation and that because we have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 Isa 29.16 it should be esteemed as the Potter's Clay We must indeed expect that such as sit in the Scorner's Chair Psa 1.1 will never with Ehud Judg. 3.20 rise up tho' we have a Message from God to them Until Men are Cur'd of a spiritual Phrensie they will be sure to reproach others as a Generation beside themselves Act. 26.24 But there is a Day approaching when they will in astonishment Curse their own Madness Luk. 24.25 Oh Fools and slow of Heart to believe I am sensible that the Captious Reader must the Curious Reader will and the most Candid Reader may spy out abundant Failings in the Composing of this Work Tho' God's Feast be unexceptionable yet Man's Cookery may not be grateful to the Palate The Composure of the ensuing Treatise is perhaps no ways adapted to suit the Genius of any but the Godly nor it may be can be expected to suit but with some of them either Undoubtedly there have been many Hundred Treatises suppress'd which have better deserv'd the Light and yet shall never see it but are condemn'd to be buried in a perpetual Grave of Darkness These Provisions in the Discourse are mostly for such as find their Appetite quick in their Master's Work to sit down and eat under Christ's Shadow Cantic 2.3 they are prepared for the needy and would miss their End if they should only please the Dainty I may herein use the Expression of one of my * Mr. W. Green Author of the Book entituled Abyssus Mati or the Corruption of Man's Nature Reverend Predecessors in this Place These Things were not intended to Cram the Full but to Feed the Hungry and to the Hungry every bitter thing is sweet The Subject is weighty Prov. 27.7 tho' the Management is contemptible The Publication was desired for the Profiting of Men's Souls and I hope is so design'd by the Publisher If it attains unto that Mark and saves any tho' of the meanest rank I hope I shall rejoice tho' it can hit nothing else and vain Spectators should laugh at the Arrows who were never prickt in their Heart Act. 2.37 I shall study submission to the Judicious and beg amendment under the Castigations of the
Entertainments Fulness of Bread is distributed in God's House and Flagons of Wine are allow'd his Guests Canaan hath large supplies from Heaven and her Countrey is nourished by the Kings Countrey Acts 12.20 As it is not in Handfulls of Barley so neither in pieces of Bread Prov. 28.19 Psa 73.10 He hath a plenty of Bread for her and makes the waters of a Full Cup return hither In the Dispensation of the Gospel God goes not so low Gen. 18.5 as to fetch out a morsel of Bread that is enough for Abraham but not for the God of Abraham Chap. 15.1 who is his Shield and exceeding Great Reward When God prepareth our Food Job 36.31 he giveth meat in Abundance spiritual Dainties as thick as Quails for Israel in the Wilderness Psa 78.25 when he sent them meat to the Full. When God comes at any Time under the Gospel to make Windows in Heaven 2 Kings 17.2 he will pour out such a Blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3.10 God doth all Things in this Entertainment liberally Psa 44.17 when he feeds us then have we Plenty of Victuals Psa 78.15 and when he gives us Drink to quench our Thirst it is abundantly as out of the Great Depths He that giveth in spiritual Blessings * Psa 84.11 withholdeth no Good Thing The Gospel Luk. 12.16 like the Ground of a certain Rich man hath been seen to bring forth plentifully as the Fields of Egypt in the seven Plenteous years brought forth by Handfuls Gen. 41.47 so there is a Store-house in the Kingdom of Grace that supplyes the Table and his Furniture There is a Fulness of Sufficiency for the many Thousands of Israel Num. 10.36 Math. 13.35 when he makes the multitudes to sit down The Feast will hold out tho' the House of God be full of Guests from one end to another Isa 16.33 Bread shall be given them their waters shall be sure tho' all his Elect were gathered from the four winds of Heaven The Third Branch of the Doctrine is III. to evidence and premise What things we have need of against the Feast For tho' the Provisions of the Gospel be first made ready yet as to our Benefit or Participation the Gospel must afford also some Antecedent Requisites before we can experience it to be a Feast good for Food First There must be an Invitation before-hand And here by an Invitation I would not be understood to intend no more than an External Call of the Sinner by God's Messengers under the Word for tho' it is necessary too that there be such an Outward Call Rom. 10.17 because Faith comes by Hearing yet this alone will be insufficient to partake of Gospel-Grace I would therefore be meant to set forth the necessity of some Powerful internal work of the Spirit upon the Heart joyn'd with the External Call that the Priviledges or highest Benefits and Graces of the Gospel may of right belong unto the Called The Gospel is set forth in the Parable as a Wedding furnished with Guests Mat. 22.10 both bad and good answerable to these Two Calls The external Call doth nothing but brings in men bad as it finds them and thence come the Bad Guests such as will say at last Luk. 13.26 We have eaten and drunk in thy Presence and thou hast taught in our streets to whom nevertheless the Master will reply I know you not whence you are Luk. 13.27 depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity whereas on the other hand the Inward saving Call first changeth men into Good and then brings them in and thence come the Good Guests whose company the King with his own Gracious Presence honours If we obtrude our selves and by an empty vain Profession without true Grace rush in upon Gospel-Priviledges among true Guests it will make the Master of the Feast angry and say at last unto every such Bad Guest Friend how camest thou in hither Mat. 22.12 So to apply the Graces of the Gospel or the Comforts of the Holy Ghost which he no ways applyes himself is tho' in a secret and invisible manner to become the Robbers of Churches and snatch what God never carv'd to any such Guests If men are not called out of their wickedness God will say unto the wicked What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth Psal 50.16 We dare not meddle with the Gospel to apply its Priviledges and Comforts to our own use till we are bidden to lay hold of them We must be invited to the Great Feast and receive a Ticket from our Father to partake of the Children's Meat So long as men are yet in their sins under a Profession of the Gospel they rob God as well as his Children Hos 2.8 to feed their own lusts They take his Corn and Wine and Oil which he hath multiplyed and prepare them for Baal for some Lust they prefer while they hasten after another God Psal 16.4 An Invitation therefore in some effectual work of Grace is a necessary Antecedent or one of the Things which we have need of against the Feast Secondly There must be Conduct We are by nature strangers and need a Guide to bring us to our Father's House Lead me O Lord in thy Righteousness make thy way strait before my Face Psal 5.8 If we are not led we shall quickly lose our way It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10.23 If we are left to trace the way our selves we shall lose it thro' the Forrest It was not ascribed unto the Israelites nor yet to Moses nor unto Joshua tho' a Captain of the Lord's Host to come of themselves to feast in Canaan but it is attributed to a supreme Conduct The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good Land Deut. 8.7 A Land of Wheat and Barley and Vines and Figtrees and Pomegranates V. 8. V. 9. a land of Oyl-olive and Honey a land wherein thou shalt eat Bread without scarceness They could not have found the way thro' the Wilderness to meet with such a Table if He that prepared it had not by the cloudy Pillar led them Psa 78. ult It was not Their Eyes but the skilfulness of his own Hands And how should we grope as Blind men in the Wilderness our selves if we had not the Benefit of that Promise I will lead them in Paths which they have not known Isa 42.10 The Shepherd of the sheep leadeth them out Joh. 10.2 3. And he must carry his Lambs in his Bosom Isa 40.11 to feed them as a Lamb in such a Large place Hos 4.16 Thirdly There must be Protection Conduct is not enough if we have not a Captain to fight our way thrô Plead my Cause O Lord with them that strive with me fight against them that fight
that we may follow the Banquet into our great High-Priest's Palace The Grace of the Gospel takes off our Restraints as well as takes up a Holy Repast for us It easeth us of a Yoke as well as spreads our Table Grace enables us to walk at Liberty Psa 119.45 before we can leave work to earn the Wages of Death and sit down to Meat We read of a Feast Matth. 27.15 at which the Governour was wont to release a Prisoner The Jews having †Credebile est a Romanis hoc ess◠Polt Synop. Crit. probably learnt it from the Roman Custom However this as * Dickson upon Matthew some account it might be an unwarrantable Practice yet it is a gracious Priviledge at this Feast of the Gospel to release a Prisoner ay and a Notable Prisoner too Mat. 27.16 Mankind as notable in the Species as ever Barabbas the Individual was The Gospel which Preacheth up a Feast proclaims a Free Liberty to Captives Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach good Tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Christ came to free the Servant of Corruption and a Slave of the Devil that being loosned out of Bondage Gal. 5.1 the poor Soul might afterwards stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made him free For a Plain Text asserts the Security of such a Freedom Joh. 8.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed 'T is called expresly a Redemption Col. 1.14 it being the Release of Prisoners and Captives by the Payment of a Price at such a Rate as the Son of God paid for the Redemption of them through his Blood Now suppose thou art yet in Bondage to Sin Heb. 12.1 Rom. 7. v. 17 20. the sin that doth so easily beset thee the sin that dwelleth in thee yet the Gospel provideth against the intanglement that thou may'st be made free from sin Rom. 6.18 i. e. Free from the Lordly Dominion of sin by the Spirit of Christ and free from the severe Condemnation of sin by the Blood of Christ according to the Atonement Suppose a Slave that thou art ty'd to Satan's Galleys and one whom Satan hath bound lo these eighteen or twenty or perhaps forty Years yet the same Gospel that provideth to turn thee from Darkness to Light is ready also to turn thee from the Power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 Art thou bound with a Chain that cuts thee and imprints its ragged Indentures on thee whilst thou art sensibly feeling of thy self to be staked down as if something had fastened thee with Bands to Unbelief yet the Gospel is made ready to come in with Faith and more Evidences of Might in the Day of Christ's Power when unto you it is given on the behalf of Christ to believe on him Phil. 1.29 Tho' thou canst not believe except it be given thee from above and thine Impotence makes thy Bondage yet the Gospel provides to release thee from the Bondage of Corruption Rom. 8.21 and translate thee into the Liberty of the Children of God Now therefore if Bound what can suit thee more than the Loosning Power of the Gospel If thou lack'st to be called unto Liberty Gal. 5.13 nothing can be fitter for thy Case than the Gospel that proclaims it and a God that procures it for thee No Power under Heaven can reach thy Case so fitly while of a truth thou art Bound as the Son of God that can make thee Free indeed The Gospel is suited to thy Condition tho' thou art shut up in Prison thou may'st be a Prisoner of Hope Zech. 9.12 tho' thou feelest the weight of thy Chain Psal 107.10 and art laid in Affliction and Iron The Day of the Gospel is a Year of Jubilee a great Year of Release Isa 61.2 and called the Acceptable Year of the Lord in which he accepts of a Ransom for thee Tho' thou hast been barbarously us'd in Egypt he hath set open a Door of Hope Hos 2.15 thro' which thou may'st see and a Door of Entrance thro' which he will bring thee in Free to Canaan The Gospel hath Grace ready to set thee at Liberty and then to keep thee for ever Free from the Tyranny and Dominion of thine old Jailors that thou may'st always dwell in safety Psal 4.8 This is provided suitably to thy Case among the All things ready Sixthly The Gospel hath Apparelling Provisions suited to array the Naked and adorn Nasty Souls 1. It hath Provisions suited to our spiritual Nakedness to cloath and cover it The Gospel hath a Wardrobe of the richest Wear as well as a Table of the choicest Viands Song 3.11 Christ in the Day of his Espousals cloaths the Naked as well as feeds the Hungry We read of the Marriage-Feast of Samson that when he had put forth a Riddle unto the Phlistines he promised to give them thirty Sheets and thirty Change of Garments Judg. 14.12 if they could certainly declare it to him within the seven dayes of the Feast which Samson afterwards upon their telling it gave them in full Tale as He had agreed punctually Now the Gospel-Feast at the Marriage of the King's Son affords to us Changes of Raiment likewise thô not upon such hard Conditions as Samson made with the Philistines for when we have Food and Raiment in the Gospel 1 Tim. 6.8 he frankly gives us Both. Tho' we are stript in the First Adam yet we may be cloathed with the Second Hence it is the Scripture speaks of putting on Christ Rom. 13.14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ Tho' we want Cloaths in a Righteousness of our own yet we may put on the Lord Jesus Rev. 3.18 that the shame of our Nakedness do not appear God hath provided Christ therefore accordingly to suit us as * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jer. 23.6 Iehovah or the Lord our Righteousness if common Providence hath provided a Suit which the very Grass of the Field and the Flowers of it wear Special Grace would not come behind but provide the Righteousness of God in the Garments of Salvation to Cloath you Mat. 6 30. Oh ye of little Faith Job 1.21 tho' you come Naked into the World yet He hath provided that you may carry this Cloathing out 2. It hath Provisions suited to our spiritual Nastiness to adorn us and put the Garments of Praise upon us This Raiment indeed is for Sinners that come Nasty but not for such as are resolved to continue so Alas we come in to the Feast of our selves Jam. 2.2 like the Poor Man in vile Ratment but the Bounty of the Feast-maker provides us with a better Suit to appear at his Table and before his Presence in Mat. 22.10 Luk. 14.21 23.
a Work doth justifie for it is only the Hand to receive Christ who is our Righteousness But he gives it this Name speaking in their own Terms who doted on Works and so the Doctrine of Faith is called a Law Rom. 3 27. because the Jews boasted so much of the Law Hutcheson upon John pag. 102. Work It justifies no otherwise than as it apprehends a justifying Object and it is a saving Work no otherwise than as it fastens and relies upon a saving Worker Hence it cometh to pass that without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now Ignorance of this way to the Provisions in Christ makes them unto many so ineffectual If you think it an easie matter to thrust in to God any how without Christ as your Way his Word as your Rule and his Spirit as your Guide you will profit little by the Gospel so long as such a corrupt perswasion leads you Joh. 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life The Way No access or coming unto the Father but by me The Truth No Doctrine can be sound that leads off from me The Life You will never enter into Life Mat. 19.17 if you enter not in by me as the Door and unto me as the Provision Again The Word must be your Rule Psal 119.133 Order my Steps in thy Word (h) Si extra Legem tuam incedo non est Stabile solum sub Pedibus meis coeno demergor Rivet Via vitae seu medit in Psat 119. operûm vol. 2do p. 472 If I step besides thy Law saith the Learned Rivet I tread where the Ground will not bear my Feet and where I am over Head and Ears in Dirt. Tho' Christ is the Way yet we should never know what Steps to take to or in him 'till the Word lays Christ forth and discovers each of them to us So for the Spirit it 's Guidance is necessary The Spirit of God hath branded it as Foolishness in those that follow their own Spirit Ezek. 13.3 There is no Spirit fit to be our Guide but His. Thy Spirit is Good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Thy Spirit is good lead me or as (i) Tuo spiritu bono deduc me Junius some read it By thy Good Spirit lead me If we had Christ as the Way and his Word as the Rule too yet if we had not the Spirit as our Guide we should not by reason of the Darkness in us and upon us see the Straitness and Perfection of the Rule before us or know of our selves how at any Time to use it There is an absolute need of the Spirit 's Guidance after Conversion hence is that of the Apostle inculcated Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 25. and walk after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 and that Phrase if ye be led by the Spirit Gal. 5.18 all which do import a submitting to the Conduct of the Spirit as our Guide And if there be a need of the Spirit for Saints after they have received Christ be sure there is a necessity of the Spirit 's Guidance for Sinners to bring them in to Christ Well Ignorance of and Unacquaintedness with the way of the Lord must needs be an Hinderance to the Feast of the Lord that makes Sinners desire none of his Dainties That is the Third Hinderance Fourthly Obstinacy 4 Hindran or an obstinate Aversion to the Things of God The Parable gives this account of it Matth. 22.3 that when the King had sent to call them that were bidden to the Supper they would not come Alas if Men will become their own Hinderers no wonder that the Gospel proves ineffectual If they will choose rather to starve than eat how can a Feast preserve or relieve such as these and yet this is the wretched and deplorable Case of Sinners their Hearts do naturally stand off from God therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways Job 21.14 There is a mighty Stubbornness and Rebellion in the minds of Men that God takes Notice of this was expresly laid open in the Jews Isa 48.4 I knew that thou art obstinate and thy Neck is an Iron Sinew and thy Brow brass Sinners will choose Poverty and despise Riches run into Misery and forsake their own Mercy Jonah 2.8 The Gospel would pity relieve and save them but they are a stiff necked Generation that will not turn and live Ezek. 18.23 v. 32. It would feed them but they will rather dye of spiritual Hunger it would cloath them but they will rather to Hell naked than go with Christ's Robe to Heaven They will rot in their Chains before they will stoop to choose a Free Release and will venture to fall Blindfold into the Ditch Mat. 15 14 Rev. 3.18 Joh. 9.7 rather than anoint with Eye-salve or wash in the Pool of Siloam Fifthly Other Feasts besides 5 Hindran Tho' in the Gospel it is the Supper of the great God yet in eating Sinners have taken every one his own Supper before it 1 Cor. 11.21 as the Apostle speaketh of the Lord's Supper They will have Banquets to corrupt the Flesh but none of that Holy Diet which might save their Spirits in the Day of the Lord Jesus Sinners will snatch especially at these Three the Lust of the Flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 The World that reject a Feast provided by Father Son and Spirit yet will banquet with their own * Hec Tria pro trino numine mundus habet Trinity 1. The Lust of the Flesh is a Banquet with Sinners that obstructs the Gospel-Feast Lusts of the Flesh are such Pleasures says (k) Coton upon the 1 Epist of John one as Men find in Meat and Drink or Women either Intemperance or Incontinence And then again Pleasures whether we consider them as gross or vain the Pleasures of the Body or the Mind do hinder the Efficacy of Divine Provisions 1. Gross and Filthy Pleasures or Fleshly Lusts as the Apostle Peter calls them that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pleasure is a Net that entangles ungodly Men. Fleshly Concupiscences the Original reads it alluding to that inbred Appetite of the old Man which goes forth after Morsels roasted at the Fire of Lust and took off the Devil's Spit Abstain saith the Holy Ghost from these Rom. 1.26 The Lust of the Flesh is a bad Appetite a vile Affection that covers to be a Partaker with Devils and rejects Angels Food Psa 78.25 It will find out a Banquet that quite spoils the Feast I may say here of the whole Gospel as the Apostle doth of the Lord's Supper in a Part of it 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be Partakers of the Lords
not buy a Sacrifice much less could it mix with the Price of Blood to sanctify Mat. 27.6 It would not avail to procure a Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 how could it joyn then in purchasing a Satisfaction Mic. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a Year old Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression The Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul Our largest Offers had been infinitely too little for one of the least of God's All things to have come at our Price Mat. 25.40 5. All These Things must surely put a Dignity upon all True Gnests 5 Inf. What an Honour have all his Saints while the Palace of the King sends to treat the Cottage Psal 45.15 What a Preferment is it that God should stoop down to maintain a Communion with us That our Lord should prepare so great a Feast and then gird himself to come forth and serve us Luk. 12.37 These mighty Things will make Believers great tho otherwise they are little both in their own and other men's Eyes The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Mat. 10.42 Prov. 12.16 If we state all Accounts truly little ones God's Little ones are greatest The All Things do put an Honour upon the Brother of Low Degree whom others make the Footstool Jam. 1.9 Such as are highly favoured of God shall not be found Ignoble Luke 1.28 Tho' he sends out into the High-ways and takes up Beggars Mat. 22.9 yet here 's a Feast that makes them Kings and Priests unto our God Rev. 1.6 6. It informs also of the Happiness as well as the Dignity of True Guests that have got the Gospel-Feast Theirs 6 Inf. They are not only by an Advancement set up but are a People saved by the Lord. Oh! Deut. 33.29 we may break out into Admiration when we think deeply of the Blessedness of the People of God who may come freely and partake of all these Things as their own The Gospel is not to feed thy Phancy and please a meer Imagination as if there were no richer or more satisfying Good to the owners thereof Eccl. 5.11 saving the beholding of it with their Eyes as Solomon speaks of the Increase of the best Earthly Things But 't is a Feast made ready to be Thine to fill thee brim-full with thy own share of Christ Oh! blessed are they that have believed and obeyed God who requires the Obedience of Faith as that Work of God which will give them a Right unto the Tree of Life Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life God doth not require his People to look up as Strangers Eph. 2.19 but as Citizens belonging unto Sion and as Servants that have * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orders from their Lord to meddle with it Authority to appropriate the Tree of Life to ' em A Right to the Tree of Life says (k) Durham on the Revelation one is a Right to Jesus Christ and Glory in Heaven with him Now how rich and happy are they that have an Interest by Faith in the Riches of the King's Son Oh! 1 Sam. 17.25 he endows them with great Riches and Honour they can never want Portion and he gives them this Entertainment that they may be Happy in all things and never want Provision An Interest in the Son of God doth not only make the best the most but all things thy own Matth. 4.9 Luk. 4.7 If thou wilt fall down and worship him all shall be thine He hath purchas'd that thou mayst get Possession Oh! blessed View of Faith that can appropriate Gospel-Grace tho' it be a Self-emptying Grace that will lye at Christ's Foot 'till the Soul cry out I am a vile Wretch Isa 6.5 I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips yet is a Grace that exalts a Saviour and will not leave the Soul hanging off from Christ but clinging fast and crying out with Thomas My Lord and My God! Joh. 20.28 God's Children that have his Spirit witnessing see the Gospel for themselves and not another exclusively Job 19.27 The Saints of the most High have a Priviledge beyond all other Men. We have an Altar whereof they have no Right says the Apostle to eat that serve the Tabernacle Heb. 13.10 The Apostle there means that the Faithful in Christ Jesus had such Priviledges by Christ as others had no Right to who adhered to Jewish Customs and Superstitions So there is a Spiritual Divine Participation which natural unsanctified Men have nothing to do with Oh! blessed therefore are the Houshold Gal. 6.10 Eph. 2.12 13. the Houshold of Faith that be not aliens and strangers afar off and having nothing to do with these Things Blessed are the Family that come in to the Feast because God hath given them Meat and 't is now their own Food They have Children's Bread Mat. 15.26 Luk. 6.20 and Blessed be ye Children for yours is this Bread 7. An outward Liberty and a safe Protection of the Guests at God's Table is a great Mercy If all Things be ready 7 Inf. it is an Excellent Security that affords a Protection under the Roof of God's House to enjoy them None indeed shall be able to keep God's Children out of their Fathers House that come nigh the Door with their Father's Name written in their Foreheads Rev. 14.1 The Lord of the Feast doth also plant a special Providence that guards the Table while his Guests are plac'd about it Heb. 1.14 He hath Ministring Spirits that are set for the Defence of the Gospel Phil. 1.17 they stand as watchful Centinels for the Good of his Chosen Psa 106.5 because he maketh a House of Defence to save them Psa 31.2 He hath given his Angels a charge over them Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 that his Guests may partake of the Feast in Quietness and when He giveth outward Quietness in a Day of Liberty Job 34.29 as well as internal Peace and Calmness who then can make Trouble and Disturbance while he entertains us The Lord hath made a Hedge and a Wall so high about his People Job 1.10 that none shall climb over or break thro' to destroy the Gospel-Banquet and spoil that Holy Festival Vpon all the Glory shall be a Defence Isa 4.5 The Holy Mountain is safely fenced round The Guest may trust to a Protection where he tasteth God's Provision For He that hath said Bread shall be given him his Waters shall be sure hath said also that his Place of Defence shall be the Munitions of Rocks Isa 33.6 2 Cor. 6.7 There is the Armour of Righteousness
the Gospel-Feast alone Why sit we here until we die was the Language of those four Leprous Men that were ready to perish with Hunger at the entring of the Gate of Samaria 2 Kings 7.3 last words They could not live in so Black a Famine as we read preavailed Chap. 6.25 where an Asse's Head in this extremity perhaps not common yet Legally unclean was sold for fourscore pieces of Silver i. e. (g) See Mr. Pool's Engl. Annot in loc If we compute those Pieces by the common Estimation or the common Shekel which was half the value of the Shekel of the Sanctuary and reckoned at Fifteen pence then being multiplyed Eighty Times will amount to Five Pound as the Price of an Asse's Head in that extraordinary Famine And it follows the fourth Part of a h The Kab answers to our Quart Dr. Fuller's Pisgah-sight p. 399. mispag'd on the other fide 397 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This contained 24 Eggs and held proportion with our Quart Goodwyn Moses and Aaron lib. 6. Heb◠Measures p. 262. See also Weymse Hebr. Weights and Measures Vol. I. p. 136 137. But Others think this meafure by Egg-shells must be very uncertain because of the Disproportion to be found in Eggs and therefore are not so exact to adjust the measure to our Quart Saith one This way of dealing with Eggs in measures I doubt will make nine measures of ten prove addle Lee's Temple of Solomon pag. 110. Kab which was the least Hebrew-measure of Dove's Dung i.e. no more of this Dung neither for Food than they say could be contain'd in six Egg-shells that is the fourth part of once 24. 24 being reckoned the entire measure of the Kab and these six Egg-shells of Dung too at no lower rate than five Pieces of Silver or as is estimated according to the value of our English Coins at 6 s. and 3 d. Well this Durum Telum necessitas this mighty strait makes these four Leprous Men resolved to quit their Post in the Gate and venture out into the Camp of their very Enemies to find better Quarters They had starv'd if they had not sought supplies or had lookt that the Stones of their Gate should be turned into Bread Indeed these Distressed Hungry Lepers must be fain to put it to the issue as the History relates v. 4. whether they should get their Bread upon the Place where they agreed to go forth They are not Invited to any Entertainment but must venture upon their Enemies Swords to get their Bread with the Peril of their Lives But lo Lam. 5.9 necessity spurr'd them on Why sit we here until we die was Argument enough to venture any where to live Why so there is the same necessity for our coming to the Gospel-Entertainment We die if we have not this Feast this Food to keep our Souls alive And lo we are more abundantly encouraged to seek our Bread than They These Lepers sought it of Bloody Syrians we may of a Saviour that hath shed his own Blood for us They of their Enemies and we of the best Friend we have They ventured to the King of Syrta's Camp we may approach to the King of Sion's Court. They ventured without inviting we are bid to come And shall we not go shall we not gird up our Loins and run 1 Sam. 17.29 Is there not a Cause And shall we starve our Souls to indulge our sitting still We have nothing left by Nature no Bread under our Hand to feed us 1 Sam. 21.4 and tho' we are Prodigals that have wasted our first Allowance we cannot find our second Keeping in any far Countrey or upon the Husks that any Swine do eat We must be nourisht in the King's Houshold under the Roof of his Loving Kindness or we pine and die in the open Field with Hunger Oh! wo unto us we are undone if we make not out to our Father There 's a mighty Famine in the Land and we are Strangers in the Earth Psa 119.19 and from below we have neither inward Grace nor outward open Vision And is it not necessary we should come Shall we slight a Feast of Plenty Shall we hear the Calls shall we smell the Entertainment shall we see the Provisions served up before us And yet shall we hear shall we see Shall we do any Thing but come and taste that the Lord is good Psa 34.8 3. Lastly It is necessary to come to maintain the Healthful and Vigorous Constitution of the Soul with the nourishment of Grace continually Coming to the Gospel Feast is necessary not only to preserve our Life but to encrease our Strength which is also one of the Proximate and Immediate Ends of Eating according to Eccles 10.17 Blessed art thou O Land when thy (i) Inferiour Rulers and Officers of State Pemble Analytical Exposition of Ecclesiastes p. 333. Princes eat in Due Season for (k) Ad Corporis robur animi vires ut vivant valeant Cartwright Homil. in Eccles Strength and not for (l) Ad reficiendum non ad Luxuriam Mercer Drunkenness As the Tables of the Greatest Men should be spread to no other end than the Refreshment and Supplies of Nature so the Table of our Great God must be furnished and we partaking of it as a means of Nourishment and Encrease of Grace If we would have strength in our Souls Judg. 16 5 we must come to the Provisions where our great strength lyes When Grace hath put a new Healthful Constitution into the Soul it procures a Diet to preserve that same Blessed Temper If we would be strong and lively and wait upon the Lord to renew our strength Isa 40.31 if we would mount up with Wings as Eagles if we would run and not be weary and walk and not faint in our Journey towards the New Jerusalem as the Holy Ghost hath promised and spoken by the Mouth of his Servant Isaiah Isa 40.31 we must come to a Feast that hath Healthy Diet in it 'T is by means we obtain the End Waiting running walking as the Means before strength and not fainting as the End Would you be strong in the Lord Eph. 6.10 you must first accept of his Invitation and partake of strong that is Soul-strengthening meat This is the way by which you may come to be strengthened with all might according to his Glorious Power Col. 1.11 So much for the Doctrinal Part. The Last Thing is the Vse IV. only in some Few Truths we may learn from it 1. Inf. If we must Come Oh! what need then of the Spirit of God to bring us we need a Real Aid and a mighty wise and holy Guide with us We must have a Principle of Internal Spiritual Assistance wrought by the Holy Ghost first to enlighten our Ignorance and then to strengthen our Impotence we cannot stir if the Spirit do not strive with us Psal 143.10 Thy Spirit is Good lead me into the
King of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat there is yet one man Micaiah the Son of Imlah by whom we may enquire of the Lord but I hate him for he doth not Prophesie good concerning me but evil God's Elijah's would take their Food 1 Kings 17.6 tho' God should send a Raven to them with it but the Prejudic'd Ahab's of the World will not meddle with Their's tho' Elijah himself brought it The Gospel is ineffectual to many by reason of Prejudice Tenthly 10 Hinderance The General Disesteem which the Gospel meets with in the World The World represents God's Morsels as they will one Day find their own Sauce sowre They account it a melancholy and uncomfortable Entertainment Religion is a Diet that will imbitter all their Portion in this Life They think the Guests that partake of this Supper i. e. Separated Holy Christians are every one of them like Him in the Book of Job Job 21.15 that dyeth in the Bitterness of his Soul and never eateth with Pleasure They cry it up and down in the Streets of Ashkelon 2 Sam. 1.20 that the Ordinances and Appointments of Jesus Christ are Vessels in which is no pleasure Hos 8.8 The Fare of the Gospel is represented by them like John Baptist's in the Wilderness Mat. 3.4 as Locusts and wild Honey Thus its Provisions have got an ill Name by some and they will not be drawn by the very savour of Christ's Ointments Song 1.3 so long as this low repute it hath in the World doth cast in Dead Flies among it Eccles 10.1 Dead Flies cause the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour The Grace of God is not courteously received but treated ill tho' it comes with good will to Men. Luk. 2.14 The Dishes of the Gospel by an unthankful unholy World are much cryed down and therefore when served up are generally much set by Acts 28.22 As concerning this Sect we know that every where it is spoken against This Sect. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Heresie saith the Greek The World concludes it Heresie and therefore will not regard it tho' it be the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12 middle pt Wicked Men will Nick-name God's Truth and then fly from the Truth for the very Name 's sake they gave it They entertain Bad Conceptions of the Truths of God and are become Judges of Evil Thoughts Jam. 2.4 and therefore reproach and trample upon good Things under them The World imagine Fish to be Serpents and then fly from them as Moses did when he cast his Rod upon the Ground Exod. 4.3 and while it became a Serpent fled from before it A vile and a scornful Generation do esteem of the Bread of Life as Stones Oh! it is a mighty Hinderance to their embracing the Gospel of Christ that when his Oxen and his Fatlings are killed Mat. 22.4 they take up these Spiritual Mysteries with no more regard than if it were but the slaying of Pharaoh's lean Kine Gen. 41.3 19. But no matter to God's Children what such insinuate 3 Joh. 10. that prate with malitious words the Children must take their Bread tho' Dogs bark and an Enemy calls it Poison I confess this saith Paul that after the way which they call Heresie Act. 24 14. so worship I the God of my Fathers Eleventhly Bad Company 11 Hinderance If a Man had some Towardly Inclinations to embrace the Gospel yet so long as he goeth in Company with the workers of Iniquity Job 34.8 he will not be able when these Sinners entice him to consent not Prov. 1.10 Certain Lewd Fellows of the baser sort do often set upon a Man that is otherwise soberly inclined even as they assaulted the House of Jason Acts 17.5 and never leave 'till they have worn out his Sober Impressions that you can read nothing at last but the Devil 's Brand upon him Exo. 23.2 When Men follow a multitude to do evil Psa 42.4 they care not to walk unto God's House in any other Company The Gospel of the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 signifies nothing to a Companion of Fools that shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 Psa 119.61 The Bands of the wicked will rob thee of the Feast if thou art not one that hast no Fellowship with them Eph. 5.11 Twelfthly 12 Hinderance Garnal Relations If there were neither Adversary nor evil occurrent abroad yet if a Man's Enemies be the Men of his own House Mic. 7.6 and a Man's Foes be those of his own Houshold Matth. 10.36 there is such a Radical Enmity in the corrupt mind of Man against the Truth of God as will make their Eye Evil and their Hand severe towards their own Flesh and Blood They will violate the Bonds of Nature to fight against Grace Now this is enough without Special Grace that opens the Heart to keep the Gospel and its Provisions wholly out of Doors Men will often hearken to the Voice of their own Flesh and Blood when a Stranger they will not follow Joh. 10.5 Ahaziah hearkens to the pernicious Advice of his Mother Athaliah for his Mother Athaliah was his Counsellor to do evil 2 Chro. 22.3 Carnal Relations will sometimes be very earnest to beat off young Beginners that they may not take up with the New Man tho' perhaps assaulting them with that old Argument that none of their Kindred are called by it Luk. 1.61 There is none of thy kindred that is called by this Name You may be beaten off by such as are related to you if you be not related as Sons and Daughters to the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6.18 Thirteenthly False Teachers 13 Hinderance A corrupt Ministry sets the World against the Truth Unsound Teachers are against Salt because they have lost its savour Mar. 9.50 Men's Lyes to make the very Truths of God of no effect with some When Sinners are beguiled and thro' the craft and sleight of cunning Men mis-led Eph. 4.14 their Minds will be corrupted from the simplicity of the Gospel 2 Cor. 11.3 if they hearken to such as are not Teachers of good things Tit. 2.3 they will not value the Gospel that hath all good things ready If they regard vain Talkers and Deceivers as the Apostle calls corrupt Doctors Tit. 1.10 Teaching things which they ought not v. 11. it will hinder the Advantage of Gospel-Grace provided If there be * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 False Teachers among you 2 Pet. 2.1 it will greatly damage your receiving the Truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 These have a beguiling Artifice to lay their varnish upon the worst Complexion'd Face and for a well-favour'd Rachel bring in a Leah that is blear-ey'd Gen. 29.23 25. They wash over a little false Coin in Doctrine and then put it off to such as cannot try the Spirits