Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A35314
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The parable of the great supper opened Wherein is set forth the fulness of Gospel-provision. The frank and free invitation of Jews and Gentiles to this Supper: the poor excuses of the recusant guests that were invited. The faithful returns which the messengers make unto the Lord of their refusal. God's displeasure against those who slight his favours: his bringing in of despicable creatures to fill his house: with the condemnation of those that were bidden. Methodically and succinctly handled by that judicious divine, Mr. John Crump, late of Maidstone in Kent.
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Crumpe, John, d. 1674.
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1669
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Wing C7431; ESTC R214975
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153,869
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393
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Thus he is that righteous servant of God who justifies many by bearing their iniquities Isa 53.11 a servant voluntarily subjecting himself to his father for the good of all the elect Matth. 20.28 Yea a covenanting servant engaging himself by way of compact to transact such a work as his father set him about A Righteous servant 1. In reference to the purity in his nature being without any act or taint of sin and so fit to be a sacrifice for the sins of others Heb. 7.26 perfectly righteous his will being exactly framed to the will of his father 2. In reference to his fidelity in his office he was faithful to him that appointed him as Moses Heb. 3.2 and that not as an ordinary servant or no more than a servant but as a most eminent servant and more than a servant A son ver 5.6 though he act according to his father's will yet he acteth all according to his own will and appointment II. As man he took upon him the form of a servant being made in the likeness of man Phil. 2.7 and became obedient to the death Beza in Phil. that is to his dying day saith Beza he went through many a death all his life long Moreover as a servant he did not disdain to do the meanest office to wash his Disciples feet And for his particular calling he was a Minister or Preacher of the Gospel Luke 4.18 Christ was sent that is 1. He was empowered with authority from the father Matth. 11.27 Christ is the father's plenipotentiary and privy counsellour He is the power of God and the wisdom of God The father hath committed salvation and judgment into his hand he hath made him both Saviour and Judge of the world John 5.26 27. Him hath God the father sealed John 6.27 God hath commissionated him with full power to save whom he will 2. He was endued with gifts from the spirit not by measure but in a supperabounding manner John 3.34 The spirit of God did in a special manner appear about Christ's manhood in the framing his body Luke 1.35 and in the furnishing of his soul with all requisite qualiries which did appear with proportionable encrease according to the growth of his body Luke 1.80 CHAP. VI. THe messengers or ministers of Christ are the servants of God also which is thus evident 1. He sets them about his work therefore they are called men of God their employment being altogether about the word of God 2 Tim. 3 16 17. clearly to explain and faithfully to apply it What they are to deliver unto others they are to receive from the Lord 1 Cor. 11.23 They are not only employ'd about sacred things in the general calling of Christianity but in the particular calling of the ministery 2. He pays them their wages and that with the enjoyment of himself who is their Master Matth. 25.20 Matth. 24.46 These servants of God are sent 1. In respect of their qualification for the work being filled with gifts answerable to that weighty employment 2 Tim. 2.24 25. endued with wisdom courage patience utterance c. that may make them able Ministers of the new Testament 2. In respect of their acceptation to the work Isa 6.8 a man must be willing to take it upon him 3. In respect of their commission to the work In physicis aer non facit seipsum ignem sed fit a superiori Aquin in loc set apart thereunto Act. 14.23 'T is not every one that hath good legs or that can run that is a messenger he must be likewise sent 'T is not every one that hath good abilities of knowledge courage wisdom elocution is either a Commander in war or an Embassadour of state he must be likewise commissionated 'T is a great errour to think that all the Lord's people are ministerially Prophets 4. In respect of their continuation in the work Act. 6.4 Those that have set their hands to this plough must not look back No other impediment than that which hinders them from the execution of their office must give way to them to lay down their office CHAP. VII Use 1. HEre see the condescension and humility of Christ he made choice of the lowest kind of life even that of a servant and the lowest kind of death that of the Cross when he was among the children of men Phil. 2.7 8. he emptyed himself suspended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as it were laid aside his glory and majesty Yea 't is said God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh Rom. 8.3 Though his flesh was not sinful yet he was just like to sinful flesh As to imputation in respect of God who laid upon him the iniquity of us all Isa 53.6 and as to reputation in respect of men he was reputed a sinner being reckoned among the transgressors ver 12. This may also inform us of the exaltation of ministers they are servants but of the Lord and this title they may glory in Jud. 1. Jude might have called himself a near Kinsman to Christ or Christ's brother for he was so accounted Matth. 13.55 Mark 6.3 and he was so as much as James who is called the Lord's brother Gal. 1.19 but surely alliance to Christ in the service of the Gospel is better than alliance to him in the flesh To be a faithful minister of Christ or true believer on Christ is more honour than to be a natural brother of Christ Here also take notice of the condition of servants Servi sunt imo homines imo contubernales imo humiles amici imo conservi Sen. Epist 47. though their calling be low in the world yet 't is as lawful as any other worldly calling and very useful else Christ would never have taken upon him the form of a servant Therefore servants should be respected for their usefulness Col. 4.1 Philem. v. 16. Seneca hath a pretty Epistle to perswade his friend to respect his servants and not to carry himself severely and rigidly but familiarly towards them Surely 't is your wisdom so to carry your selves towards your servants that they may not only fear you but love you And let servants be contented in the places wherein God sets them for if Christ could then a Christian may do God and men good service in the form of a servant Here also you may see God's indulgence to man as to send so many servants for his good and among the rest his son for one Luke 20.10 11 12 13. Lord what is man that thou shouldest be thus mindful of him Use 2. Four things are to be noted by way of Caution 1. Though Christ be God's servant yet he is his Fellow so God doth call him The man which is my fellow Zech. 13.7 not a secondary inferiour God as the Arrians would have him denying him to be true God God calls him so saith one to shew the unity of the essence Diodat in loc and unity of the will of the father and of
the son the mediator Christ did account it to be no robbing of his fathers honour to be equal with God Phil. 2.6 The same he is in nature and in working and all are bound to honour the son as they honour the father John 5.23 2. Though Christ be the servant of God yet he is Lord of the Church Eph. 4.4 5. appointing laws to govern it as he pleaseth Yea he is Lord of all creatures both of the dead and of the living Rom. 14.9 he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords A name is given him above all names he is the great God and our Saviour 3. Though ministers are the servants of God yet they are not the servants of men but only for God's sake doing service for the good of souls 2 Cor. 4.5 They are servants for the people not of the people It is observed by the Judicious that ministers are called Ministers of God 2 Cor. 6.4 Ministers of Christ 1 Cor. 4.1 ministers of the new Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 ministers of the Gospel 1 Thes 3.2 ministers of the Lord Eph. 6.21 but never ministers of the people 4. Though ministers are servants of God yet they are no ordinary servants They are as stewards to a Lord or Embassadours to a Prince 1 Cor. 4.1 2 Cor. 5.20 Yea they are said to be labourers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 CHAP. VIII Use 3. BE therefore exhorted to these duties 1. To answer the labours of these servants of God yield up your selves to God as his servants Rom. 6.16 Come into his houshold give up your names to him 2. Live as the servants of God To serve God is the great duty we are still prest to this is the beaten road that all Saints walk in and that all men should walk in Here look 1. To the essential requisits of this service it must be 1. From God it is of the very essence of a duty that it be commanded of God in all duties there must be an eye to the will of God Rom. 12.2 2. It must be through God that is through the spirit enabling us to perform this service Rom. 1.9 and through the son presenting our service that it find acceptance with God Col. 3.17 3. To God to set forth his glory 1 Cor. 10.31 2. Look to the material properties of this service 1. Serve God singly or solely Matth. 6.24 not any other in opposition unto him here let all Masters of families especially consider that all under their roof do serve this one God Jos 24.15 2. Reverently Psal 2.11 Stand in aw of him honour him with your very heart 3. Delightfully Rom. 7.22 You like not a servant that goes about his work grudgingly no more doth God 4. Diligently be servent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 and instantly serving God day and night To move you to this service consider 1. It is pleasant Prov. 3.17 there is freedom in this service there is wages in this work 2. 'T is profitable The works of Saints follow them Rev. 14.13 their good service shall be had in everlasting remembrance 3. 'T is honourable To serve Christ is to reign Sumus domini non tantum in geaitivo singulari sed in nomâ—nativo plurali Luther 'T is more honour to serve Christ than to serve the greatest Emperour or to have great Princes to serve us Theodesius counted it a greater honor that he was a member of Christ's Church than that he was Head of the Empire Oh how will God's servants be honoured at the great day SERM. V. LUKE 14.17 And sent his servant at Supper time c. CHAP. I. WE are now to consider the time when the servant was sent viz. at Supper time The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hinc latinè hora Angl. Hour here translated Time doth properly signifie an hour In holy Scriptare it is used for time for an age for a moment for the opportunity of time Joh. 16.2 Joh. 12.18 Luke 12.12 Rev. 9.15 it signifyeth likewise beauty So the Adjective of this Substantive is used Rom. 10.15 how beautiful or how seasonable That being beautiful which is timely opportunely or seasonably So it is with the Gospel dispensed and this is the sense of the word in our Text. This hour of supper is that fulness Hora coenoe fuit plenitudo temporis c. Salmer fitness or seasonableness of time wherein God sent his son into the world to accomplish that great work of mans Redemption or the last time or latter ages of the world which were come in the Apostles days compared with the fore-going time after which no more alteration in Gospel-dispensation was to be expected This supper time being the last meal Hence I note Observ That Christ's coming into the world was very seasonable 'T was supper time for Gospel-provision the fulness of time the very nick of time for man's Redemption Gal. 4 4. This may appear I. By considering the time when he came into the world Nos sumus in quos fines seculorum devenerunt In hoc fine servus mittitur Gloss Ordin 'T was under the reign of Augustus Cesar the second Roman Emperour who then had the Jews among other Nations under his power Luke 2. And he was crucified under the reign of Tiberius Cesar the third Roman Emperour Pontius Pilate being governour of Judea Luke 3. This was the remarkable jancture of time of our Saviour's coming in and going out of the world about 1600 years and upwards from our time according to the ordinary computation of Chronologers II. By comparing several accidents with this time 1. In respect of the accomplishment of Prophesies as that prophesie in Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah c. until Shiloh come The right of supream power administration of justice in temporal dominion should not be quite taken away from Judah until the Messias came who should be of Judah's posterity and change it into a spiritual and everlasting kingdom destroying a little while after by means 〈…〉 Romans both the people and form of any Jewish common-wealth Till Christ came Judah always had the right and kept some reliques of the possession in their greatest captivity having the body of its common-wealth several with its divine and humane laws And when Christ came his spiritual kingdom was over all people was not this opportune and seasonable many other Prophesies also might be lookt upon 2. In respect of the truth and substance of these figures and shadows in the legal ceremonies When Christ came into the world he was fitted with such a body as was meet to be a real sin-offering to answer all the typical sin-offerings of old Heb. 10.5 A body of man's nature yet without man's corruption a body made of a woman without the help of a man a body joyned with the deity and to be an expiatory sacrifice for sin He was fitted with a name answerable called the Lamb of God John 1.29 the true