Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 12 · Sermon 109
SERMON CIX.
That moſt of thoſe that are called, come ſhort of what is abſolutely neceſſary; And who they be.
MAT. 22. 14.
For many are called, but few are choſen.
THe perſons called by God, who yet are not choſen, are of two ſorts, as you heard:
Firſt, Thoſe, who, though ſo graciouſly invited, do yet obſtinately and peremptorily refuſe, and theſe are actively onelyonly called on Gods part.
The ſecond ſort is of thoſe who do give conſent, and yeild to their call, but becauſe they do not riſe up fully to all that is required, therefore they are caſt away. In this rank is the man, who being invited, made no oppoſition or excuſe, but went in, and ſate down at the feaſt, was as confident as the other gueſts, ſeemeth to be conſcious to himſelf of no fault, but having no wedding garment, the maſter is ſo wroth and diſpleaſed with him, that he is adjudged to everlaſting torments; and from this inſtance our Saviour gathers this concluſion in the Text; ſo that the meaning is, Of thoſe many that are called, and give a general acceptance of it, yet few are choſen to eternal glory: Thoſe enjoy the feaſt of the Ordinances here, who are to be tormented for ever hereafter; thoſe are admitted to eat in Gods preſence here, who ſhall be commanded to depart from him hereafter, he knoweth them not: Many are admitted into the Temple, that may not enter into the holieſt of holies.
That many of thoſe who are called, and in many things obey, do yet come ſhort Obſerv.in that which is abſolutely neceſſary.
He that comes to the feaſt, was not guilty of ſuch rebellion, as they that oppoſed, and inhumanely handled the Meſſengers; yet becauſe he did not prepare the Wedding-Garment, which is a converſation and life ſutable to the outward profeſſion of Chriſt, therefore he is caſt away: This is a neceſſary truth; for though we have many Chriſtians, yet we have indeed but few: Though all in the Land come and ſit down at the feaſt, yet we may ſay to many, Friends, how came ye in here? How came you to profeſs Chriſt? how came you to ſay you are Chriſtians? What? ſuch a ſinner, ſuch an ungodly perſon, and yet ſay, You believe in Chriſt, you love Chriſt? What is the reproach of the Chriſtian profeſſion this day, but the ungodly, ignorant, and prophane lives of thoſe who are baptized into Chriſts name? Monſters they are, and not Chriſtians, who in one part bear the image of Chriſt, and in another the image of the Devil; in one part ſeem to be men, in another beaſts: So that although the Chriſtian Religion may boaſt in the multitude of her followers, yet it may bluſh at the lives of them: This was a point our Saviour did much treat upon, That men did receive the truth, as to ſome particulars, and ſome degrees, butnot wholly and throughly. The Parables of the ſeveral ſorts of ground, of the unwiſe builder, eſpecially that of the fooliſh Virgins, who were Virgins, had their lamps, went out to meet the Bridegroom, onelyonly they wanted oyl, and this was not perceived till it was too late; all theſe tend to this purpoſe: You ſee then beloved, that we may have our lamps lighted, we may have the external profeſſion and acknowledgement of Chriſt, but want oyl in time of need. Certainly, while we are preaching of this ſubject, we may ſay almoſt to every man, Nunc tua res agitur, rouſe up thy ſelf and attend, for this matter belongs to thee: Thou receiveſt Chriſt and his ways but in parcels, though thou haſt Baptiſm, the title of a Chriſtian, ſitteſt down at the Ordinances; yet where is the Wedding-garment! where is the converſation that doth agree, and belong to ſo holy a matter?
To open this Doctrine, let us conſider,
Firſt, Wherein lieth this outward obedience to Gods call, which yet is ineffectual; Conſiderations to … po…nt.for can any thing more concern you, then that you ſhould not be Chriſtians in vain? that all thy praying, and frequenting of holy duties, may not be in vain? that God may not take thee from this feaſt, as Haman was from his, in which he ſo much boaſted, to be put into confuſion, and everlaſting fear?
Now this external ſubmiſſion, lieth in theſe things:
Firſt, A conſent to be Baptized, and entred into the number of thoſe that own 1. The prophane Chriſtians ground of confidence.Chriſt: They will not abide in the number of Jews, Turks or Pagans, but they are willing to in…oll their names in Chriſts Catalogue: Thus in the Apoſtles times, yea, while Chriſt preached, you read, John 2. of many who believed in him, yet Chriſt would not commit himſelf to them, becauſe he knew what was in their hearts. To come to Chriſt, is not the work of the tongue, or of the head, but mainly and principally of the heart: With the mouth man is ſaid to make confeſſion, but with the heart he is alſo ſaid to believe, Rom. 10. Now if you obſerve the general deportment of thoſe who are thus called, can you ſee any more in them, then a meer bare and general conſent to be accounted as a Chriſtian? Do they matter any more? Do they ever think, What? is this all Chriſt would have me to do? No, but they ſit down with this general acknowledgement: Thus Simon Magus, he came to the feaſt without a Wedding garment; though the Text ſaith, He believed, and was baptized, yet he was in the ſtate of gall and bitterneſs, Acts 8. 17. it is true, he did not feel this bitterneſs, he thought all was well, but it was ſo much the more dangerous: Thus it is here, thou believeſt, thou art baptized, thou prayeſt, thou profeſſeſt Chriſt with the mouth, and yet thy ſoul may be in gall and wormwood, a great gulf may be between thee and ſalvation, and thou all this while lie down in peace and ſecurity of ſpirit.
Secondly, Upon this entering themſelves into the number of Chriſts flock, they may be fully, but fooliſhly perſwaded, that now they have done all: That this will 2.intereſt them into heavenly glory: Oh what a bewitching is this! and are not moſt men ſurprized by this? they think this believing in God and Chriſt, this external and viſible profeſſion, will inſtate them in all happineſs. The Jews of old did deſperately miſcarry upon this point, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, Jer. 7. this made them bold and confident; and in the New Teſtament, ſee how induſtrious James is, to ſhew the vanity of that faith, Iames 3. which is titularly faith, and not effectual in godlineſs. They that cryed, Lord, Lord, and had propheſied, and wrought miracles in Chriſts name, are commanded to depart into eternal fire, becauſe they were workers of iniquity. Many times the Apoſtle bids them not be deceived, Neither fornicators or extortioners, &c. ſhould inherit the Kingdom of heaven, 1 Cor. 6. 9. Be not deceived, ſaith he: We are very apt to think, that a profeſſion, or bare duties, will carry us to heaven, without this power of godlineſs: And if the Apoſtle ſpeaketh but of the tongue onelyonly, Iames 1. 26. If any man ſeem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, that mans Religion is in vain: How much rather, if he do not mortifie his ſin, and refrain from all other groſs impieties? when will people drowned in ſin, recover out of it? Awake thou that ſleepeſt in this ſtupidity: What is Baptiſm? what is Chriſtianity? what is Proteſtantiſm, but a meer empty ſhadow and title, if thy life be polluted with impieties: As the Heathens called their Idols gods, when yet they had no Deity in them, being images of wood, Having eyes, and ſee not; ears, and hear not; feet, and walk not: Thus are ſuch Idol Chriſtians, Idol Believers. There are (ſaith the Apoſtle) many called gods in the world, but we know that an Idol is nothing: Thus it is here, there are many called Chriſtians, many called Believers, but we know this is nothing, where the life and power of godlineſs is wanting: Truſt not then to thy good faith, to theſe glorious titles, they will deceive thee.
Thirdly, If in the primitive times, among thoſe many that gave up their names 3. The number of choſen ones very few.to Chriſt, few were choſen, how much a leſs number muſt there be now of choſen ones: This I would have diligently conſidered, If ſo be in thoſe primitive times of thoſe many thouſands that believed in Chriſt, few were choſen, how little a remnant or handful may we expect to be among our called perſons! For there were three Reaſons, why all that were then called ſhould be choſen: For
Firſt, To accept of the Faith and Doctrine of Chriſt, was then a meer free and ſpontaneous thing; there was no compulſion by outward power, it was not a Religion they were educated and brought up in, their Parents did not teach them faith in Chriſt: Now who could not think certainly, they are right indeed, they muſt needs have the power of grace in them, who did thus readily and willingly receive a Doctrine that was wholly new to them, their parents did not inſtruct them in, no earthly power did force them to, but out of meer voluntary choice they imbraced it: Yet in that company there was more chaff then wheat, in that garden there were more weeds then flowers: What then may we judge, when as the contrary Reaſons are with us? for the Chriſtian faith we imbrace, is that we have by education, by Cuſtom: Who is there that makes uſe of his own underſtanding, of his own will to imbrace the truths of Chriſt? who is there, that upon ſearching the Scriptures, and trying all things, doth thus adhere to the truth? Are not men bruitiſh in believing, as well as in living? Malunt homines credere, quam judicare, They take up that Religion their parents taught them, and its a meer hap, wholly accidental to them, that its the truth: Thus, like beaſts, they follow one another, they go qua itur, non qua eundum est; certainly, this is far from having the ſpirit of God opening our hearts, and inlightning our mindes: This is not by underſtanding and judging, and proving all things, to hold faſt that which is good; This is not for a man to live by his faith, but by his Fathers, or Grand-fathers faith; indeed, to be brought up in the true Doctrine of Chriſt, is a wonderful mercy, its an excellent ſeaſoning of the veſſel betimes; but yet if a man have no more from the Chriſtian Doctrine, then his education, he hath no more to ſay for the truth, then the Jews and Turks have for their groſs falſehoods.
Secondly, That all were not choſen, who were then called, we may wonder, becauſe of the great and wonderful miracles that they enjoyed, which might greatly confirm their faith; for who could be but perſwaded that Chriſt was the Meſſiah, when he ſaw the dead raiſed from the grave, the blinde made to ſee, the deaf to hear, and the glorious things of God, ſhewing themſelves thereby? and to theſe great miracles, we may adde the zeal and remarkable godlineſs of thoſe who lived in the former times; Alas! no compariſon may be made of the grace and godlineſs that now is, with what hath been formerly: Now then, if thoſe that were called in thoſe days, had all thoſe great incitements to the power and life of godlineſs, and yet were defective; What may we look for, when thoſe are not enjoyed?
Thirdly, This may make us wonder that few onelyonly were choſen, of thoſe many 3.called in former times, becauſe there was little or no outward incouragement unto the way of Chriſt: There could be little ſatisfaction given to carnal expectations. How often doth our Saviour call upon them for ſelf denyal? foretel of the trouble and hatred they ſhall meet with in the world? and when men have proffered their obedience to him, he tells them of the little worldly incouragements they muſt look for. Now it may be a wonder, that men, who had not the deep impreſſion of godlineſs upon their hearts, ſhould ever venture upon ſuch profeſſion, where there were no earthly baits. We uſe to ſay, That adverſity tryeth a friend; yet here it did not hold: Well then, if many men called in thoſe days, did ſo miſcarry, when yet we would think nothing but pure love did ſet them on work? what little faithfulneſs may be thought to be in the inward parts of thoſe, who have temporal advantages by Chriſt; yea, they would be ſubject to the Magiſtrates puniſhment, if they ſhould renounce the faith of Chriſt: Thus you ſee, how conſiderable a matter it is, that even in our Saviours time, and primitive beginnings of the Church, there ſhould be many called, and few choſen: Oh, if ever, then we ſhould have thought the Church would have been conſtituted of thoſe that were truly godly; if ever, then it would have been altogether fair, and no ſpots in it, but we ſee the contrary: …ts therefore ſadly to be lamented, that even the greater part of thoſe, who yet give an external ſubmiſſion to Chriſt, ſhould yet not have their names written in the book of life.
Fourthly, Theſe come upon the invitation, and yet are without the Wedding-garment, 4.That are diligent in the diſcharge of the external duties God requireth, but never look to the internal frame and change of the heart: That was the univerſal diſeaſe among the Jews, for burnt-offerings and ſacrifices they were conſtant and diligent in; they did even weary God with the abundance of them: but God rejected them all comparatively, Burnt offering and ſacrifice God would not have, but a broken ſpirit, and the Law of God written in their hearts. Our Saviour alſo is very earneſt in this point, in acquainting people with this, That the meer outward performance of any Religious duty, without any inward change and work of the ſpirit, is but a ſhell, is but the skin; therefore he tells them, The heart is the good or bad treaſury, Mat. 1…. 35. the heart is the fountain from whence all ſtreams flow; and John 4. God is a ſpirit, and he ſeeketh for ſuch who worſhip him in ſpirit and truth: No wonder then, if you ſee many people ſubmit to the external duties of praying and hearing, for theſe are but a bodily labor: Here is no inward working upon their ſoul, they pray not, they hear not with a powerful change upon the inward man: Speak to them of a broken ſpirit, a contrite heart, which is of ſo great repute with God, you ſpeak a meer riddle to them. Obſerve then, if the greateſt ſort of perſons do any more then the meer external duty; and if ſo, theſe have but an outward call, they have none of that ſpiritual glory within.
Fifthly, Thoſe are outwardly called, and not choſen, who regard ſome particulars 5.in Chriſtianity, to do them, but not all; when its the ſame Chriſt that commands both, and the ſame hell and damnation is threatned to the violation of one, as well as another: Its ſtrange to ſee, how many things thoſe that are called, dare not but do; yet there are again, as plain and as neceſſary duties, that they wilfully omit: Now the Apoſtle James in a pregnant manner doth confute this. He that breaketh one of the Commandments, is guilty of all; and he proveth it, becauſe there is the ſame authority offended, He that ſaid, Thou ſhalt not kill, alſo ſaid, Thou ſhalt not commit adultry, James 2. 11. Now then conſider, Why doeſt thou retain any parcels of Chriſtianity, and not all: Thou believeſt a God, thou believeſt Jeſus Chriſt was God: Why? becauſe the word of God ſaith ſo: Doth not the ſame word ſay, Swear not at all? doth not then the ſame word ſay, Be not drunk with wine? doth not the ſame word ſay, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge? This man that was called in the parable, by the ſame reaſon that he purpoſed to go to the feaſt, he ſhould alſo have provided a ſutable garment; he could not but think what a neglect and contempt it would be accounted to do otherwiſe: Oh then, that all who hear this truth, would deeply conſider of it, by what reaſon I obey the call of God in any thing, I ſhould do it in all things; by what ground I will go to pray and hear, I ſhould alſo leave ſuch luſts, and forbear ſuch ſins, either all or none, for all duties have the ſame Divine ſtamp upon them.
Sixthly, Thoſe that are called, but not choſen, they are forward for the priviledges 6.of th…calling, but not the duties of the calling: The Jews had many priviledges by their outward calling, they were thereby the people of God, Gods preſence and power was among them. The Apoſtle Rom. 9. 4. reckons up many prerogatives every Jew had by being a member of that Church; and thus under the New Teſtament, every one externally called, though not inwardly ſanctified, partaketh of many advantages; The promiſe is made to him and his ſeed, he is within the outward adminiſtration of the Covenant, he is accounted of the Church, and the body of Chriſt: Now theſe things people make a great matter of; Oh, to be reputed as a publican and an heathen, is an high reproach; ſhould not they be thought Chriſtians, their children to be baptized, they would judge it unſufferable wrong, not conſidering, that though they be thus forward for priviledges, they are negligent about duties: Thou wouldſt have thy childe baptized, thou conſidereſt not, how God would have thee to walk, and what thy duty is about the education of children: Thy wickedneſs, and thy ungodly ways do provoke God, more then all thoſe priviledges will advantage thee.
Seventhly, Thoſe that are called, but not choſen, they would indeed receive 7.Chriſt as a Saviour, and hope for pardon by him, but do not reſign themſelves up to him as a Lord, whoſe commands they will obey: Its true, none can really and truly believe in Chriſt for pardon, who do not alſo at the ſame time receive power from him, in ſome meaſure, for ſanctification and juſtification; but yet many men have not faith, but a conceit or preſumption of Chriſts ſatisfaction, without Scripture direction: Now he that is ſo, contents himſelf with this, that he truſts in Chriſt, and hopes in him for ſalvation, when they have not the ſpirit of Chriſt: No, the ſpirit of God convinceth of ſin, as well as righteouſneſs, and Chriſt he dyed not onelyonly for comfort for his people, but for grace and holineſs: Oh then, do no longer deceive thy ſelf! thou takeſt Chriſt, thou hopeſt in him, all thy truſt is in him; Oh but what feel you of the ſanctifying and mortifying power of the Lord Chriſt in thy ſoul and life.
Laſtly, The perſons called, but not choſen, do all the eaſie things in Chriſtianity, 8.but not the difficult and exact things: The way to heaven is a ſtraight way, there muſt be ſtriving, as in an agony, to enter therein. Prayer is to be fervent, to have grones unutterable; the ſubduing of ſin is mortifying and crucifying, which argue the pain and reluctancy of the fleſh therein: But alas, the greater ſort of Chriſtians look not to, nor minde thoſe things; they go in a formal road, they perform the outward duties ſometimes, but as for this ſpiritual combating, ſtriving and wreſtling, they are not acquainted with it: How merry, how jolly, how unexerciſed are they with any temptations: Certainly, if the way of Heaven be a ſtraight way, thou art not in it; if the Kingdom of Heaven be had onelyonly by violent perſons, thou art never likely to obtain it.
Uſe of Exhortation, to tremble under this truth: Though the Phyſitians call Uſe.a diſeaſe Tremor cordis, yet the Scripture calls a grace, The trembling of the heart: What if thou art in the number of one outwardly called meerly; nay, are there not many too clear proofs of it? is there any more then a general conſent or ſubmiſſion? do you not leave out the main and neceſſary things, though other things you do? Is not thy life a large, looſe life, and the duties of Religion a meer formality: Oh this is too true of too many; help Lord, and give men underſtanding to perceive theſe things: Think not that damnation is onelyonly for Jews, and Turks, and Pagans; Oh you ſee how near it may come your own houſes, and then thy confuſion will be greater: This man to be pulled away from a feaſt, and to be ſeverely puniſhed, had the greater confuſion and reproach. Oh glory not in names, in Titles, in outward priviledges! for if your lives be full of ungodlineſs, you are not thoſe Apoſtolical, but Apoſtatical Chriſtians; even as we ſee God, by the Prophet, makes an excellent mutation of the name Iſrael, that was given to all the Nation, and is as much as a Prince, or one that prevails with God: Now God calls it Ieſreel, a place famous, for the terrible ſlaughters that were made there; and ſignifieth as much as the diſperſion or ſcattering of God; as if he had ſaid, Ye are no more Iſraelites, but Jeſreelites: Thus will God handle all thoſe, that though they have the name of Chriſtians, and glory in an outward calling; yet wanting the power of it, ſhall be adjudged into eternal condemnation.