A Feast of fat Things of Wines on the Lees of fat things full of Marrow of Wines on the Lees well Refined Isa 25. 6. Prov. 9. 1 3. And to this Marriage-feast also are Men Called and Bidden that they might partake hereof and their Souls be satisfied here with as with Marrow and Fatness Isa 55. 1 2 3. And so that whereto men are Called is to Jesus Christ and Him Crucisied and that excellent and compleat Preparation provided in Him They are called into the Grace of Christ Jesus Gal. 1. 6. The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets did testifie before hand of the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow And these things are now Reported to us in the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. with Luke 24. 25 27. To Christ God the Father was and is Calling and Directing men To the Teachers He said This is the Rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest and this is the Refreshing Isa 28. 12. 16. Behold saith he my Servant whom I uphold c. Isa 42. 1. 6 7. He hears Witness of Him and Christ is so the Sum of his Teaching that every one that hath Heard and hath Learned of the Father cometh unto Him John 5. 31 37. and 6. 45. Unto Himself Jesus Christ also calleth men He saith Look unto me all the ends of the Earth and be ye saved For I am a Just God and a Saviour and there is none beside me Isa 45. 21 23. with Phil. 2. 8 9 10. And He saith Behold me behold me unto a Nation that was not called by His Name Isa 65. 1. Thou shalt saith the Father Call a Nation which Thou knewest not to wit unto Thy self for so much is signified in what follows And Nations that knew not Thee shall run unto Thee c. Isa 55. 5. All things saith our Saviour are delivered unto me of my Father c. Come unto me I will give you rest Isa 49. 1. 6. Mat. 11. 27 28. John 7. 37 38. It is also the Work of the Holy Spirit to Lift up the Son of Man as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness that Men might look unto and believe in Him To bear Witness of Jesus Christ To take of His things His Abasement Death Resurrection and Glory and to shew unto us And therefore also He is called the Spirit of Christ John 3. 5 6 14. and 15. 26. and 16. 14 15. Acts 5. 30 32. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Yea the one God Father Word and Holy Spirit beareth His Record of Jesus Christ and this is the Record that God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in His Son 1 John 5. 7 10 11. Yea to Him all the holy Ones call us the Spirit and the Bride say Come to wit unto Christ And let him that heareth say Come c. Rev. 22. 16 17. And hereby we may see the desperate folly and madness of Men who forsake or come not unto the Lord the Fountain of Living Waters but hew them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2. 12 13. And it might Ingage and Provoke us all to obey this heavenly Call and run unto Christ because of the Lord his God and for the Holy One of Israel who hath Glorified Him in Himself and displayed the Preciousness of His Blood and His Excellency and Comeliness by means thereof so our escape before us in the Gospel And is Calling and Inviting us unto Him Isa 55. 5. with John 13. 31 32. Oh! let us not turn a deaf Ear to this Call but let us incline our Ears and come unto Him let us hear that our Souls may live c. Isa 55. 2 3. Considering also that which followeth Namely The Account and Ground upon which Men are Called unto this Marriage and Marriage-feast is because it was intended and prepared for them If the Trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the Battel 1 Cor. 14. 8. But so doth not this Trumpet in the glorious Gospel of God for as it gives a joyful sound Psal 89. 15. so also a certain one Gods Mouth hath therein spoken Truth and Wickedness is an Abomination to His Lips All the Words of His Mouth are in Righteousness there is nothing froward or wreathed in them Prov. 8. 6 8. This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation it is both true and Good that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners Sinners indefinitely and without exclusion of any 1 Tim. 1. 15. This His Marriage of our Nature is and was by an Heavenly Messenger proclaimed to be Glad tidings of great joy to all people Luke 2. 10 11 14. And Christ had the Trespasses of the World imputed to Him 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. And by the Grace of God He tasted Death for every man Heb. 2. 9. And is Risen again for theâ—… Justification So that as verily as all have sinned in the first Publick Man and are come short of the Glory of God So also they are Justified freely by God's Grace through that Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3. 22 24. and 5. 18. And in Him there is a Feast prepared for all People Isa 25. 6. Forgiveness of Sins for all Nations Luke 24. 47. Acts 26. 17 18. Righteousness for all Rom. 3. 22. Isa 61. 11. Eternal Life for all Mankind while it is called to day 1 John 5. 10 11 12. A Salvation prepared before the Face of all People Neither is there Salvation in any other Luke 2. 30 31. Acts 4. 12. And on this Ground it is that men are Invited to come to this Marriage and Marriage-feast because it was made and made ready for them even for Jews and Gentiles and so consequently for all Mankind Mat. 22. 2. 8 9 10. Luke 14. 16. 24. On this account His Servants have been provoked and excited to Intreat and Beseech men generally to receive the Grace of God to purpose The Love of Christ did constrain them to perswade men to come unto Jesus Christ because they thus judged that if one died for all then were all dead and that He died for all c. And after they had given an account of the Ministry of Reconciliation which they had received to wit that God was in Christ when one died for all and rose again Reconciling the World unto Himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them but unto Christ they say Now therefore we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 11 14 15 19 20 21. and 6. 1. John 3. 14 16. and 4. 42. Hence the Lord maketh Proclamation and Invitation to every Thirster both to such as thirst out of necessity and to such also as thirst out of delight having tasted the Graciousness of the Lord and saith Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to
Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. What a sad thing will it be for us to sport our selves in our self-deceivings as too many do 2 Pet. 2. 13. Better it is now for us to deal faithfully with our selves then to flatter our selves or be flattered by others to our endless and eternal misery and calamity Come we then to the light of the Lord the Gospel of Christ and therein and thereby we may see our selves whether we be chosen no Even he that is an hearer of the word and not a doer is like unto a man that beholdeth his natural face in a Glass for he beholdeth himself Even as a man may see his natural face in a Glass and see whether it be clean and free from spots and pollution or no so a man that is only called by and an hearer of the word of Truth may see himself and see what manner of person he is Jam. 1. 22 23 24. He may see whether he be chosen out of the World by the Grace of God or whether he be not but still remain in or be turned back again into the World and so is at present rejected of God and not loved with peculiar manner of love As the Apostle intimateth 2 Cor. 13. 5. And if by this Glass we see we are hearers and of the called only Oh let us give no rest to our eyes not slumber to our eye-lids until we so receive and retain the Grace of God which brings Salvation to us that we may be chosen out of this miserable condition and redeemed from amongst Men that it may be well with us for ever and we may not perish with the World And if it appear that we are of the number of those who are chosen that we still abide and continue in the Doctrine of Christ that we may have both Father and Son 2 Joh. 9. Inq. But some may say how may we know whether we be of the chosen number or no declare a little more particularly how we may know it Answ Those who are indeed chosen do know that they are of God and that the whole World lieth in Wickedness as 1 Joh. 5. 19. by keeping His Commandments as the Apostle saith Hereby we know that we know Him and are in Him if we keep His Commandments 1 Joh. 2. 3-5 And he that keepeth His Commandments dwelleth in Him and He in him chap. 3. 24. that is to say in more and plainer words His Commandments are That we believe on the Name of Jesus Christ and love one another as He hath given us Commandment 1 Joh. 3. 22-24 He that hath and keepeth these hath right unto the tree of life and shall enter in thorow the gates into the City even into the new Jerusalem Rev. 22. 14. that is to say they do know they are chosen 1. By this That the Faith they have received is the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and according thereto they believe with the heart that good report the Father hath given of Christ in His Word and Sayings in which He hath testified That He sent the Son into the World not to condemn the World but that the World thorow Him might be Saved And so they believe on the Name of the Son of God Joh. 3. 16-18 they have their Faith begotten by closing with and founded on not Mens Doctrines or their own Thoughts and Imaginations which they know to be corrupt and evil But they have received and retain for their Faith nothing else then the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus which was witnessed by the holy Prophets in former times and is now revealed to us by the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so they believe on Christ as the Scripture hath said and testified of Him and not as Men in their Glosses and Interpretations speak of Him They call no meer Man whatsoever their Rabbi nor own any to have dominion over their Faith but Jesus Christ and God in Him He is their only Law-giver in this respect the Father of their Spirits the Lord of what they believe And so according to His testimony they believe Him to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World the only Foundation of Faith and Hope the only Fountain of all the fulness of Grace and Truth the only Bread and Water of Life the only door of approach of God the only Lord of our Faith and Consciences the only High Priest and Mediatour between God and Men And according hereto they come unto and depend on Him in His way for bottoming all upon Him for receiving all from Him for living continually by Him and to Him for approaching to God thorow Him and expecting and waiting thorow His Spirit for His perfecting all that concerns them c. And so they hold forth this word of Life in Word and Conversation And he that thus believeth on the Son hath the Witness in Himself and gives not God the lye but hath set to His Seal that God is true in all He hath testified of His Son 1 Job 5. 10 11. Job 3. 33. And in receiving this Testimony of Jesus they receive also therewith certainly and undoubtedly the Spirit of Gods Son Gal. 3. 2-5 which Spirit beareth Witness with their Spirit with their enlightened mind and judgment that they are the Sons of God Rom. 8. 16. And hereby they know that they dwell in Him and He in them because he hath given them of His Spirit And they have seen in the light and by the evidence thereof and do restifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. with 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2. They also know they are chosen by this that this Faith worketh in them by Love Gal. 5 6. and therein is efficacious in them And so they are distinguished from and preferred before such as say they have Faith and have not its works and so believe in vain But this Testimony of Jesus being received by them not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God it worketh effectually in them From the knowledge and belief of Gods love in Christ His first love they are begotten and prevailed with to love God even to love Him withall the heart and mind and soul and strength And so to love Jesus Christ as to suffer the loss of all things and count them but dung in comparison of Him It makes them willing to part with their Sins and Idols for His sake and prefer Him before all other things which they may love with a moderate affection 1 Joh. 4. 16-19 And this love of God in Christ known and heartily believed by them begetteth them unto and effecteth in them a delightful love to those who are begotten of Him and that not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth And by this they know that they are passed out of death â—nto life because
hear the Word of Truth and to be hearty Believers and doers of it John 1. 12. 13. with Jam. 1. 18 19 22 25. John 3. 3 5 7. So in the sense before spoken of Men cannot reconcile themselves to God but it is the Work of God by Christ to reconcile us to himself And yet something is required of men Hence the Apostle saith We pray you in Christ stead be ye reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5. 18 20. So here Though God in Christ be the first chuser and by him we are chosen yet something is required of us in the strength he gives that we may be chosen out of the world ruled by him become choice ones and be the subjects of his peculiar love c. And though we find not this command any where Be ye chosen in express words given unto us yet we have the same thing in other expressions given in commandement to us As Be ye saved Isa 45. 22. And save your selves Acts 2. 40. Whereby the same thing is intended as is foreshewn in comparing 2 Thes 2. 10 12. with verse 13. And Be ye seperate which in another Scripture is rendred and read Chosen As also hath been noted by comparing Deut. 10. 8. with Chap. 18. 5. and 21. 5. And Levit. 20. 24 26. with Deut. 14. 2 3. 2 Cor. 6. 17. And we may see this is required of men that they may be Chosen even to come to Christ in which doing they shall be made of the chosen Generation though formerly they have not so been As also hath been said before and may be seen in comparing 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. with verse 9. 10. And to the end we may come unto Christ and so be chosen and pluckt out of the world needfull it is 1. To hear the Word of Christ this is the first and one thing needfull unto the saving of the Soul Luke 10. 39 42. It is good and needfull for us to chuse this good part As God is speaking to us and opening our Ears even to hear in hearing For saith in which men are chosen cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God viz. by the Gospel of Peace and glad tydings of good things Rom. 10. 14 15 17. with 2 Thes 2. 13. It is the work of the Father by his Spirit to glorifie Christ and to bear witness of him He speaketh excellent things unto us concerning him and the opening of his lips are right things And together herewith he both gives unto men capacity of hearing and calls upon them to hear Prov. 8. 4 6 17 20. He saith Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self infatness Incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live Isa 55. 1 3. Let every man be swift to hear viz. the Word of Truth Jam. 1. 18 19 The hour is coming and now is saith our Saviour that the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5. 25. And this is the first Branch of the description of him that passeth from death to life from an Estate of wrath and misery into a state of favour and blessedness he that heareth Christs word John 5. 24. 2. Needfull also it is that we learn of the Father that we may be Chosen not onely that we hear as that is distinguished from learning But that also we heartily embrace his heavenly lesson and doctrine So after Wisdome had called upon men first of all to hear she after saith also Receive my instruction and not Silver Prov. 8. 6. 10. Indeed God teacheth many that are not taught by him and so they deprive their soules of good Isa 48. 17 18 But it is needfull to the end we may be elected that we receive the instruction of our Heavenly father even to buy the truth and not sell it even to buy it with an undervaluing and parting with and forsaking all that we have that we may be made partakers of Christ Prov. 23. 23. with Luk. 14. 33. And every one that is taught of God every one that hath heard and learned of the father cometh unto Christ Job 6. 45. with Matth. 22. 3 4 5. And so shall be chosen and a subject of Gods election And let no man be discouraged from coming unto Christ in this way because of his former vileness and wretchedness for though he be the chief of sinners that cometh yet him that cometh he will in no wise cast out but will receive such an one graciously he will chuse him and not cast him away Isay 41. 9. with Joh. 6. 35. And as the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness so as persisting in such like iniquity he will at last reject such and give them up to a reprobate mind Reprobate Silver shall men call them who after all means used yet will not come to Christ who is the rest and way to it because the Lord hath rejected them Rom. 1. 18 28. Jer. 6. 16 17 30. So also all such as hear the joyfull sound sounded forth by the Father in the Gospel and receive his instruction so as to come unto Christ Such shall find rest Mat. 11. 28 29. Their Souls shall live Isa 55. 3. And they shall have fellowship and partnership with Jesus Christ in him be chosen and after him reckoned And shall abiding in Christ inherit the Kingdom which God hath prepared for them that love him and look and wait for his coming from Heaven 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Yea this Doctrine of Gods Election may also admonish and warn them who are in Christ Jesus not to depart from him Upon this presumption that the Elect cannot possibly be deceived For certainly it is possible for them so to be and they will certainly so be if they abide not in Christ by Faith and Love As our Saviour saith If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and men gather them and they are cast into the fire and they are burned John 15. 6. In which words our Saviour signifieth that such as have been ingraffed into himself who is the true Vine by his Father the Husbandman may not abide in Christ but may so depart from him as not only to be cast into the fire which a man may be and yet be plucked out again as a brand out of it Jude 23. But also be burned that is he may finally perish And to the same purpose the Apostle speaketh to the believing Romans who were in and did stand in the Root of Righteousness Thou standest by faith be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural Branches take heed also lest he spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness otherwise thou also
true That no Man can come to Christ except the Father who hath sent Christ draw Him Joh. 6. 44. But it is also as true That God in and by Christ in due time doth draw them that come not He draws all Men to Himself Joh. 12. 31 32. He draws them who refuse to come with cords of a Man and bands of Love And because He knows what a Yoke is upon them without the removal whereof they would be hindred therefore He takes off the Yoke on their Jaws c. Hos 11. 3 4 5. And since Christ hath finished the work which the Father gave Him to do in His own personal body on the Earth since He laid down His Life and is raised again He hath now gloriously and most immeasurably received the promise of the Spirit in the Nature of Man And hath more abundantly poured it forth on His Servants in their faithful declaring the Gospel then in former times so that the Gospel is called the Ministration of Spirit and Life yea and the Spirit also 2 Cor. 3. 6-8 Phil. 2. 16. So that it is only Mens own wilful and stubborn refusal and rejection of the power of Christ in the call which hinders their coming unto and being chosen by Christ they close their Eyes when opened and stop their Ears lest they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Heart and should be converted and He should heal them Mat. 13. 15. And this also sheweth unto us how provoking and excuseless an iniquity it is that the called are not chosen 4. And lastly This also further appears so to be if we consider the good will and gracious intention of the Caller in calliâ—g Men by His Gospel whose love and gracious heart towards sinners is most clearly manifested and perpetually commended to us in the Cross and Sufferings of Christ Rom. 5. 6-8 Joh. 3. 16 17. Heb. 2. 9. He therefore calls and stretcheth forth His hand that they might come to the Feast He hath prepared for them He doth not therefore call that He might leave Men without excuse though they will be so they will be Speechless who are disobedient to the Gospel nor is His end in calling them to aggravate their condemnation though their condemnation will be aggravated who when they are thus called unto the most High will not at all Exalt Him Hos 11. 2-4-7 But He therefore declares His Gospel to them and therewith councelleth them to come unto Himself that they might listen unto and obey Him that it might go well with them for ever Thus our Saviour graciously acquainteth the Jews who sought to kill Him with His gracious end in Speaking and Preaching the Gospel unto them These things I say that ye might be saved Joh. 5. 16-34 And by His Apostles the Gospel was Preached according to the Revelation of the Mystery and according to the Commandement of the Everlasting God made known to all Nations for the Obedience of Faith Rom. 16. 25 26. He iâ—deed that hateth dissembleth with his Lips and layeth up deceit within Him When he speaketh fair or maketh his voice gracious believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart Prov. 26. 24-26 But far be it from us thus to think of the Almighty who is a God of Truth and without iniquity just and right is He Deut. 32. 2-4 He is not like him that faith Eat and Drink but his heart is not with thee Prov. 23. 6 7. He saith not come eat of My Bread and drink of the Wine I have mingled when either He hath prepared none for thee or hath no cordial desire and intention thou shouldest partake thereof but His gracious will is that thou shouldest be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth Prov. â— 1-5 with 1 Tim. 2. 4-6 And therefore He thus expostulates Wherefore when I came was there no Man when I called was there none to answer But how appears it that they did not answer His call This is declared to us in another Scripture They did Evil before Mine Eyes and chose that in which I delighted not In which is plainly signified to us that His end in coming and calling was that they might have done what was good in His Eyes and chosen that in which He delighted that so they might have been of His chosen ones indeed Compare and consider Isa 50. 2. with chapt 66. 3 4. chapt 65. 12-15 By all which it evidently appeareth that it is their great iniquity who are called by the Servants in their preaching the Gospel of Christ that they answer not His call who accompanieth them and so are not chosen This is that iniquity which is so greatly provoking unto the great King that He thus threatneth to deal with such as are guilty of it Therefore will I number you to the Sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter because when I called ye did not answer when I spake ye did not hear but did evil before Mine Eyes and did chuse that wherein I delighted not Therefore behold My Servants My chosen ones who did answer My call shall eat but ye shall be hungry Behold My Servantâ— shall drink but ye shall be thirsty Behold My Servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed Behold My Servants shall sing for joy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and ye shall howl for vexation of spirit And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen c. Isa 65. 12-15 with Prov. 1. 24-32 Mat. 22. 13 14. And it appears to be an inexcusable iniquity that those who are so called are not chosen There will be no Cloak for their sin They cannot plead that Christ never dyed for them or that saving Grace was not afforded to them for both these are false as we have said and shewn But they will be convinced in the day of the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God that their Destruction and Non-election was wholly of themselves And therefore they will be found speechless as the Man was who had not on the Wedding Garment Let the consideration then of all said move and prevail with us all so to receive the Electing Grace of God that we may be of the number according to the Election of Grace And let us not listen to such desperate sayings as these If I be Elected no sins can bereave me of Heaven if I be Reprobated no good deeds can help me to Heaven But be we well assured that the Scripture speaketh of none as the Subjects of Gods Election to Salvation while they continue in their natural condition and filthiness nor of any Reprobated before they were born or Christ Preached by His Spirit to their Spirits But all Men while it is the day of Gods Grace and Patience towards them may thorow His Grace which bringeth Salvation to them come to Christ the prime Elect one and root of Election and so be reckoned