The Parable of the Great Supper Opened, Sermon 11
SERM. XI.
LUKE 14.21.
So that ſervant came, and ſhewed his Lord theſe things, &c]
CHAP. I.
IN theſe words we have. 1. The return of the meſſenger. 2. the report that he maketh. So that ſervant], he who was ſent about that Goſpel-errand fore-mentioned: came] The Greek word ſignifies to be preſent,Dicuntur foreign qui adſwit …cui in judicio ut Advocati. Thus Plato uſeth the word. foreign: ſiſti judicio. or to ſtand up as in a Court of Juſtice, like an Advocate, one called, and coming to a Tribunal, as well to accuſe and implead another, as to excuſe and defend another. Thus this ſervant that was ſent forth, came from the Pulpit to the Bar, from inviting to accuſing: he came, and ſtood before God's Tribunal, to give him an account of the particular anſwers given in by the refuſers of the Goſpel-meſſage, that ſo they might receive their doom.
Obſerv. That the meſſengers of the Goſpel do return from them who refuſe the Goſpel, unto him that ſent them to preach the Goſpel. They return from mens refuſal to God's Tribunal. For the clearing of this, we muſt take the meaning of [ſervant] in this verſe, as it was taken in ver. 17.
I. That ſervant eminently.] The Angel of the Covenant, the great meſſenger of the Goſpel, Jeſus Chriſt: he returned to his father after he was refuſed by the world:Reverſus est Chriſtus ad patrem per aſcenſionem, & nuntiavit patri per plagas efficaciter loquentes a majoribus Judaeorum per Gentiles inflictas. Salmer. in loc. he returnned by his Aſcenſion, and th…s Chriſt calls a going to his father, and to his God, John 20.17. And it was Chriſt's manner, when he was a preacher upon the earth to withdraw himſelf from them, who would not draw nigh to him by cloſing with means of grace which he brought.
II. That ſervant collectively] or thoſe particular ſervants and meſſengers of the Goſpel ſent from God through Chriſt in any particular age of the world, to any particular people, as
1. The Patriarchs. Enoch propheſied againſt ungodly livers in his time, and then God took him, Jude ver. 14.15. Noah, that preacher of righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 2.5. did not always call upon the old world to amend their lives, but in the end condemned them in the preſence of God, after they had refuſed the word of God, Heb. 11.7.
2. The Prophets: Thus Iſaeah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, made their complaint to God for the obſtinacy of their hearers.
3. The Apoſtles, when inſtead of being received, they were threatned and perſecuted by men, then they appealed unto God, Act. 4.24, 29. they betook themſelves to his tribunal, they delivered their enemies over into his hand. The miniſters of the Goſpel ſince are to take the ſame courſe.
CHAP. II.
NOw the manner of this return of the meſſengers of the Goſpel from the refuſers of the Goſpel, is
1. The removal of the perſons of thoſe meſſengers, either from one place to another here in this world. When Paul preached at Athens, and ſome mockt his Doctrine, and others did not readily receive it; it is ſaid, ſo Paul departed from among them, Act. 17.32, 33. The obſtinacy of many hearers drives away their Teachers from them — on from this world to the world to come: The Prophets do not live for ever, Zech. 1.5, 6. They ſpend their breath upon many, who ill requite them, and gain no good by them, and God ſtops their breath the ſooner.
2. The withdrawing God's preſence from the labours of thoſe Miniſters, ſo that their labours profit not. Though the ordinances in their diſpenſation are continued, yet the exciting & aſſiſting motions of the ſpirit are withdrawn, ſo that men become as the withered branches of a Vine, John 15.5, 6. no ſap, not vigour in them, or the faculties of their ſouls about ſpirituals, are like the wheels of a watch when the ſpring is broke, or when it is not wound up. And hence it is, that inſtead of doing them any good, both the Doctrine and praying of Gods meſſengers is againſt them.
1. Now the office of theſe Gospel meſsengers requires this.
They are Embaſſadours, 2 Cor. 5.20. therefore when their meſſage is not received, their manner is to return home; eſpecially when beſides the refuſal of the meſſage, the meſſenger is abuſed. St. Matthew tells us, that theſe refuſers did not only ſlight the Supper, but ſpightfully entreated the ſervants who invited them, Mat. 22.5, 6. wherefore open War is proclaimed, the Embaſſadours being abuſed,
2. The commiſſion of theſe meſſengers requires this.
This direction is in their commiſſion, if any receive them not, or hear not their word, then they are to depart from them, and to ſhake off the duſt of their feet againſt them Matth. 10.14. Theſe two things are due to the Miniſters of the Goſpel. Maintenance, and Audience: the one reſpects their perſons, the other their Doctrine. Now, if thoſe among whom they come, refuſe to receive them, then they muſt depart from them: if they will not maintain them, houſe them, harbour them, then they muſt ſeek out for entertainment elſewhere. The work-man is worthy of his meat, ver. 10. of all things neceſſary for this life, for him and his family.—Again, if thoſe among whom they come, refuſe to hear their words, then they are to ſhake off the duſt of their feet againſt them. The meaning of that phraſe is,
1. To ſhew, that theſe meſſengers ſought not theirs, but them, they would not carry away ſo much as any of their duſt.
2. To ſhew, they would have no more to do with them, they would wait no longer upon them. The duſt of thoſe feet that ſhould have been beautiful, ſhall be fatal againſt them.
3. To ſhew, how God would break them to pieces, and crumble them (as it were) into duſt, Pſal. 2.9. or trample upon them like the duſt. They did as it were ra… the duſt, and make a ſteem againſt the meſſengers of the Goſpel in token of deſpite; therefore they ſhall be as it were trod upon as the duſt under foot in token of contempt.
4. To ſhew, how little they eſteemed the greateſt perſons that refuſed the Goſpel, even no more than the duſt of their feet.
CHAP. III.
Uſe 1. THis informs us, that God's ſpirit ſhall not always ſtrive with man, Gen. 6.3. with perverſe men, by preaching, diſp…ting; convincing in the mouths of his meſſengers, nor by inward checks and motions which they have ſleighted. And let men know, that they ſhall hear of their miſdemeanours again, who refuſed the Goſpel under any meſſenger of God, now dead and gone. The meſſengers are gone to God to do their errand. Men are ready to flatter themſelves, by thinking, when the Miniſter is removed, they ſhall hear of their faults no more. Alas! be not deceived. Abels bloud cryed when he was dead, Gen. 4.10. and as there is a voice in the bloud of Martyrs, ſo there is a voice in the Doctrine of preachers after they are dead and gone.
Uſe 2. Yet God doth ſometimes continue his meſſengers among thoſe that are obſtinate, Ezek. 2.5. though they grow worſe by it, yet they ſhall enjoy it; ſurely, it will be to make them the more inexcuſable. Here is one of the depths of God's judgments, that thoſe enjoy the means, who grow worſe by the ſame, and thoſe want the means, who would grow better by the ſame: but Chriſt pronounceth the ſeverer wo againſt ſuch, Matth. 11.21. who abuſe that means which others would improve.
On the other hand, though thoſe that refuſe the Goſpel, cauſe Miniſters to go from them; yet thoſe that receive the Goſpel cannot always keep Miniſters with them. St. Paul was called away from thoſe that wept ſore at his departure, Act. 20.37, 38. Chriſt hath the ſtars in his right hand, and he placeth, and diſplaceth them according to his pleaſure. They that are glad at the ſight of their Miniſter, muſt arm themſelves for this affliction; their miniſter muſt be removed out of their ſight.
Uſe 3. Refuſe not the Goſpel, when brought to you by the meſſenger of the Goſpel. Continue not in your unbelief, hearing the Doctrine of faith preached to you, do not reject the word: receive the meſſage of the Goſpel now it is tendred to you in the miniſtry of the word. The meſſengers of the Goſpel will not always continue. Walk in the light, while ye do enjoy the light, John 12.35. believe in Chriſt, who is the true light, ver. 36. be guided by the ſpirit of God according to the word of God: follow the Doctrine and examples of Gods faithful meſſengers, who are called the light of the world, Matth. 5.14. obey them that have the rule over you, ſubmit to them that watch for your ſouls. Aſſociate your ſelves with the children of light, 1 Theſ. 5.5. maintain intimate familiarity with them whoſe words are pure, whoſe lives are ſhining. Be ye perfecting holineſs on earth by way of preparation for the perfection of holineſs in heaven: every degree of grace, is a ſtep to glory.
CHAP. IV. And ſhewed his Lord theſe things.]
HAving heard the return of the meſſenger, we are now to hear the report that is made. And ſhewed.] The Greek word, foreign, ſignifies to relate, or to bring back again an anſwer to a meſſage that was ſent. A word frequently made uſe of by humane writers in that language. Poets, Orators, Hiſtorians, Moraliſts: and by ſome in this ſenſe to make report as Embaſſadours do when they return from their embaſſage. So that great Moraliſt makes uſe of the word, which ſenſe ſuits well with our Text. His Lord] that is, he who made the feaſt, and ſent him as a meſſenger to invite. Theſe things,] that is, the very naked truth of thoſe ſeveral excuſes, as they were given in by the Recuſant Gueſts, without any excuſing of their excuſes.
Obſer. That the meſſengers of the Goſpel do relate unto God thoſe anſwers which are made by the refuſers of the Goſpel.
The anſwers made by the refuſers of the Goſpel we heard before in the examination of their ſeveral excuſes: now let us ſee how the meſſengers do relate, or ſhew theſe things unto their Lord.
1. By producing the commiſſion they had to ſpeak in God's name: they ſhew unto their Lord the diſpatching of their errand according to his mind. He that had the five talents, ſaid, Lord, thou deliveredſt to me five talents, and behold, thus and thus I have made uſe of them. And ſo he that had the two, Matth. 25.20, 22. Lord, ſaith the preacher, Thou didſt put me into ſuch an office. Thou didſt endue me with ſuch gifts, and I did execute that office, and employ thoſe gifts among ſuch a people, I wholly gave up my ſelf to the work.
Here be thoſe I ſpake among, let them deny it, if they can.
2. By declaring what, and how they ſpake by vertue of that commiſſion. They ſhew unto their Lord the Scripture they preached, the Texts they handled, the Argumens they uſed, the affection they expreſſed in the diſcharge of their duty in the work of the miniſtery, John 17.14. & 15.22. Lord, ſaith the preacher, I gave them thy word to whom thou didſt ſend me: and though ſome did receive it, yet others did refuſe it, and hated thoſe who did receive it. Thy word I taught without mixture and deceit, preſſing the Authority of thy ſacred majeſty.
3. By complaining of the obſtinacy of thoſe who hear the word. Lord, who hath believed our report? Iſa. 53.1. Lord, how few are there that regard what we ſpeak? They look upon thy word as our report, as though it had no other Author than our ſelves, and ſo give no heed or credit to what we ſay. They conſider not that thou ſpeakeſt when we ſpeak, and ſo they think they are not bound to believe us.
4. By reporting the ill uſage they meet withall from the oppoſers of the Goſpel. They ſhew their Lord what they ſuffer for his names ſake. The Apoſtles returning from their Adverſaries to God, ſaid, And now Lord, behold their threatnings, Act. 4.29. Lord, ſaith the preacher, behold how many ſpeak againſt us, becauſe we ſpeak for thee, how many threaten us, becauſe we denounce thy threatnings againſt them for their ſins. We may be ſure that God hearkens to ſuch grievances.
5. By appealling to God as the ſupream power, whoſe name hath the greateſt wrong by the oppoſers of the Goſpel, Act. 4.24, 25. They ſhew unto their Lord, that the oppoſition of enemies is not ſo much againſt them [poor ſervants] as againſt himſelf, and Son and heir Chriſt Jeſus. In outward appearance it is againſt us, but of a truth it is againſt thy holy child Jeſus.
CHAP. V.
NOw the time when the meſſengers of the Goſpel do make this report, is
1. In this life, when they addreſs themſelves to the throne of grace by prayer, Act. 4.23, 24, 31. As the ſpeak from the Lord, ſo they have daily occaſion to ſpeak to the Lord: and they muſt tell him of their hearers manners, as well as tell them of his mind, yet ſo as in this life while there is hope, to beg pardon in their behalf, Luke 23.34. Thoſe many ſouls brought in at St. Peters Sermon, Act. 2. Some attribute as a gracious return to the fore mentioned prayer of our Saviour: and ſome make St. Pauls converſion as an anſwer to St. Stephens prayer, lay not this ſin to their charge.
2. In the life to come, when they appear to give up their account at God's tribunal: then they ſhall lay all open, and ſpeak plainly againſt all that opoſed the truth. Like as the the Prophets ſometimes prophetically deſired abſolutely, that the curſe of God might fall upon ſuch enemies of theirs, Jer. 18.20, 23. which kind of imprecations, though God's meſſengers muſt not now follow, yet ſurely hereafter they will. Lord, remember that heretofore I ſtood before thee to interceed for this people, that they might be bleſt, but now I ſtand before thee to accuſe them, that they may be curſt.
The reaſons why God's meſſengers muſt do thus, are theſe.
1. Becauſe God is their Lord in a peculiar ſenſe, according to the phraſe in our Text, unto whom they ſtand reſponſible for all that they have done in the work of the miniſtry.
2. Becauſe God made them witneſſes, Act. 26.16. and they muſt not be falſe witneſſes. Surely as their perſons, ſo their labours and their lives, and their ſufferings, will all come in as witneſſes at the great day.
3. Becauſe God hath made them ſtewards, 1 Cor. 4.1. and ſo they muſt give a true account. I have obſerved in the Courts of Judicature here below at our Aſſizes, when thoſe that are called do make default, the officer is called who ſummoned them, an Oath adminiſtred to the Baily of ſuch an hundred, and then this is propounded to him, By virtue of the Oath which you have taken, did you warn ſuch a man? Yes, ſaith he, then is he liable to the cenſure of the Court. Thus, methinks, 'twill be at the Great Aſſizes, ſpeak you Miniſters of ſuch a City, of ſuch a Town, of ſuch a Village, did you not warn ſuch a people? did you not leave ſuch a ſummons with them? did you not preach ſuch a Doctrine among them? make many a prayer for them? yea Lord! but they refuſed to bear thy Sons yoke; they would not reform their lives according to thy Laws. This will be dreadful againſt all the refuſers of the Goſpel.
CHAP. VI.
Uſe 1. HEre ye may ſee,Omnis praedicator eſt vir rixarum & judici…, ac cogitur ex officio reprehendere quicquid vitioſum eſt, non habita ratione, vel perſonae, vel officii in auditoribus. Luther. why miniſters are ſo much deſpiſed by many, it is becauſe their employment is to diſcover the faults of others, and that diſpleaſeth thoſe that are faulty, Act. 19.28. not only the profane, but the erroneous too, do fall out with ſound and faithful teachers. When the truth is ſpoken againſt errours, it cauſeth many enemies, Gal. 4.16. The preachers office diſpleaſeth thoſe that allow themſelves in any ſin, and ſo conſequentially it cannot be but their perſons are oppoſed.
Again, it is but a folly, for any to think to fare the better for their acquaintance with the meſſengers of the Goſpel, when they refuſe the meſſage of the Goſpel, for they muſt relate things as they are. 'Tis required in ſtewards, that a man be ſound faithful, 1 Cor. 4.2. Though the hearer ſhould be Wife, Brother, or Siſter to the preacher, and ſhould live contrary to the Doctrine of holineſs which he preacheth, yet none of them ſhall be advantaged by their relation to him.
Uſe 2. Yet 'tis not the meſſenger of the Goſpel,Malitia tua te ad mortem adduxit, non nos. Lyran. but the refuſal of the Goſpel-meſſage that condemneth men: it is mens own ſin that caſteth them. Witneſſes of old were wont to put their hand upon the head of the offendor, and ſay, it is thine own wickedneſs that condemneth thee, and not we. The moſt obſtinate man, the Heretick is condemned of himſelf, Tit. 3.14. holding ſuch an erroneous opinion, he doth vertually condemn himſelf, declaring that he is fallen from the truth, and is an oppoſer of the ſame.
Now though God's meſſengers make a report to God, yet it is not to inform him, as though he did not know thoſe things without that report: God is greater than our reports, yea than our hearts, and knows all things, 1 John 3.20. all things are naked and open in his ſight, Heb. 4.12.
Uſe 3. Then let this Doctrine be a watch-word to you that are our hearers: Miniſters muſt do your errand. Muſt Miniſters ſhew to the Lord what you do; oh then take heed what ye do! Venture not upon any known ſin upon any pretence, Prov. 1.10. Think with your ſelf, would you do ſuch a thing, if the paſſages of it ſhould be told to the whole Town: oh then why will ye venture upon ſuch ſinful practices, which muſt be reported unto God before all the world at the laſt day? do not continue in any known ſin; be not as the men of this world, who lie in wickedneſs, 1 John 5.19. Ye that will go on in the ways of your own heart, know ye, that for all theſe things God will bring you to judgment, Eccl. 11.9.
If it be thus, then conſider, what anſwer will ye now give to the meſſenger of the Goſpel to be returned in your behalf.
1. Let it not be a refractory anſwer, like that of the Jews to Jeremiah, We will not walk therein, Jer. 6.16. oh let not your hearts riſe, and ſwell againſt the holy word of God.
2. Let it not be a delatory anſwer, like that of Felix to Paul, I will call for thee, when I have a convenient ſeaſon, Act. 24.25. A meer put-off to ſpin out time.
3. Let it not be a curſory anſwer, like that of Iſrael to Joſhua, All that thou commandeſt, we will do, Joſh. 1.16. ſuddenly ſpoken, without the conſideration of what was to be done, or with what ſtrength they would do it, as appears by their frequent revolting afterwards. Some people are ready to anſwer as faſt as a Miniſter can ask them, will you forſake the Devil and all his works, the pomp and vanity of the world? oh yes, we will do any thing; but alas! they little conſider what they ſay, as appeareth by their ſoon turning aſide from the paths of holineſs.
4. Let it not be a nugatory anſwer with thoſe g…eſts in our parable, who preferred the trifles of this world before the eternal good things of the Goſpel. But let it be an humble, holy anſwer, like that of the Pſalmiſt, Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy ſtatutes, in anſwer to that, Thou haſt commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently, Pſal. 119.4, 5.