The Parable of the Great Supper Opened, Title page – Publishers advertisement
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.
London, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge, 1669.
To the Right Worſhipful, Sir JOHN BANKS of Ailesford in the County of Kent Baronet, and to the Vertuous Lady his Wife; and to LAMBARD GODFREY, Eſq;
IF we may judge of the Excellency of things by their uſefulneſs, we muſt confeſs, that Parables are very excellent, ſince they are of ſuch uſe. Although the things mentioned in the Parables that were delivered by our Saviour and others in Scripture, were never acted according to the Letter, yet ſomething like thoſe very things was acted by thoſe very perſons to whom the Parables were spoken, which had it been spoken in plain down-right language, would not have inſtructed them half ſo well: for Parables are ſuch clear Glaſſes, as (being held up to men) do repreſent both them and their actions in a moſt lively manner, and that ſo fully, as that they a…e forced to paſs ſentence upon themſelves by their own judgment and conſcience, which otherwiſe could never be ſo convincingly done. I ſay, to paſs judgment againſt themſelves, even as David did upon Nathan's Parable againſt him; and the Jews did upon our Saviour's Parable againſt them, Mat. 21.41.
It is lawful to uſe Parables, when a man is able ſo to fr…me them,Per terreſh is intelligit Chriſtus doctrinam lactis; ſive ſimilitudines illus ruſtieas & terreſt…es quibus uti ſolebat. Marlorat. that the true ſcope m…y both appear and inſtruct; and the words be ſo choſen and placed, as an underſtanding ear may diſcern them to be a Parable, not a ſtory.
A Parable (ſaith Peter Martyr) is nothing elſe but a ſimili…ude, or example to illuſtrate the matter in hand. Parables do familiarly explain divine truths, repreſenting heavenly matters under earthly reſemblances. If I have told you earthly things ſaith our Saviour, John 3.12. that is earthly reſemblances, or ſimilitudes, repreſenting thoſe heavenly truths, which all believers ought to know and practice while they are upon the earth. Parables in Scripture do hold forth the ſame truth under divers ſimilitudes. In one Chapter, viz. Matth. 13. We ſee how many Parables Chriſt makes uſe of to ſet out the kingdom of heaven by. It is ſaid ver. 3. he ſpake many things to them in Parables, ſaying, A ſower went forth to ſow. And ver. 24. Another Parable put he forth unto them, ſaying, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which ſowed good ſeed in his field. And ver. 33. Another Parable spake he unto them, ſaying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, which a man took, and ſowed in his field: divers other Parables: of like nature ye have in the ſame Chapter. So that as ſome speak of the Jews Manna, it was turned into all manner of ſavoury teſts, according to the ſeveral palats of them that eat it, ſo there is that in heavenly Doctrine, which ſuiteth with all true deſires of happineſs.
Moreover in Parables, ſimilitudes are fetcht from the ſeveral and uſual employments of all ſorts, to illuſtrate that Doctrine of the Gospel, which belongeth to all ſorts. This every one ſhould heedfully mind; how Chriſt speaks to them in the language of their own Trades and Callings: here each perſon in his own Trade and Occupation may learn ſomething for his Salvation. Here the plough-man may meditate on the Parable of the ſower, when he is ploughing up his ground, and turning up the furrows of the earth, which may put him in mind of plowing up the f…llow-ground of his heart: and when he is breaking up the clods of the earth, he may remember, that Gods calls for a broken and contrite heart: and when he put his hand to the plough, this ſhew him the conſtancy of an holy profeſſion. No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9.61. hereby a man may learn what pains to take with his own heart, ſo preparing it for the true ſeed, the word of life: and when he caſteth in the ſeed in the ſeaſon, he may underſtand his own ſeaſon: and as that which a man ſoweth, is not quickned, unleſs it die, ſo he may learn that the body of man after it dieth, and rotteth in the earth, ſhall riſe again: and he that ſeeth not ſo much in the ſowing and reaping his grain, is a fool in the Apoſtles ſenſe, 1 Cor. 15.36. his plowing up the ground may alſo ſhew him the grievouſneſs of afflictions, how the wicked plow upon the backs of the Righteous, and make long their furrows. He that thus meditates at the plough, ſhall alwayes have a Sermon before him, every furrow being a line or ſentence; and every grain of Corn that he ſoweth, a Leſſon whence he may learn ſomething of God.
Here the Gardiner may receive the Gospel as brought to him in his own language, and may conſider the Parable of a certain man that bad a fig-tree planted in his Vineyard, &c. Luke 13.7, 8. That is, God, who for our capacity is compared to a man, ſignifying, that he uſed them not as beaſts and ſlaves, but lovingly and kindly as men do, or ſhould do one to another, drawing them with the cords of a man, and the bands of love, Hoſ. 11.4. Had a fig-tree planted in his Vineyard,] that is, had a people whom he had choſen to himſelf, and both planted, pruned, and watered, by his word and Sacraments: by the Vineyard he may underſtand the Church of the Jews, or the Land of Jury, and by the fig-tree the Inhabitants thereof. Of God's particular planting this Vine, we read, Pſal. 80.8, 9. God brought a Vine out of Egypt, caſt out the Heathen, and planted it, prepared room for it, and cauſed it to take deep root, ſo that it filled the Land, the hills were covered with the ſhadow of it, and the boughes thereof were like the goodly Cedaers. And whenſoever the Gardiner (like Adam) walketh am…ng the trees of the Garden, and beholdeth the Vine, he may think of that Myſtical Union between Chriſt and his Church; that he is the Vine, his people the branches, that whoſoever abideth in him, and he in him, the ſame bringeth forth much fruit. That the Church of God alſo is a Vineyard of red wine, that the Lord doth keep it, and water it every moment, and leſt any hurt is, he will keep it night and day, Iſa. 27.2, 3. That men alſo are compared to Trees, as in Jotham's Parable, who compareth A…imilech to the Bramble, a baſe Plant, uſurping Authority, when the more noble Trees, the Olive, the Fig-tree, and the Vine refuſe it. In a word! that the good man is compared to the green-tree, and the wicked unto the dry.
The Scripture is very copious in borrowed expreſſions, and partly for our weakneſs condeſcending to us, to make us to underſtand the deep Myſteries of God by earthly things. It ſets forth Chriſt (as one noteth.) 1. From inanimate things, from the Sun, the St…r, a Rock. 2. By vegetative, the Root, the Branch, 3. From ſenſitives, the Lion called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 4. From Rationals: the Son of man, to ſhew, that Chriſt is all in all.
Parables are either. 1. foreign, when the nature of the thing doth make the compariſon, as in that of the ſeed; the variety of increaſe by the word preached is expreſſed by the greater or leſſer increaſe of the grain, according to the ground whereon it falleth. Or 2. foreign, when the dispoſition or affection makes it, as when Chriſt compareth himſelf to Children piping and dancing, to expreſs the mild means he uſed for the ſaving mens ſouls. Or 3. foreign, when a paſſion, or perturbation makes it, as when Chriſt's coming is reſembled to a Thieves Burghlary, or to a woman's travel for the ſuddenneſs and affrightment. Or 4. foreign, when the action is only brought for compariſon, as in the Parable of the unjuſt Steward, Luke 16.6. that as he made friends of his Maſters money againſt an hard time, ſo ſhould we of the goods lent us by the Lord, by giving alms to the poor, whoſe prayers may help us in the day of tryal.
Our Saviour was frequent in the uſe of Parables in his diſcourſe and doctrine, and therein he acommodated his speech to his Auditors. The Jewiſh Nation was much uſed to Parables, as appears by the doctrine of the Prophets of old. So the corruption of the Church is ſet forth by the ſimilitude of a degenerate Vine, Iſa. 5. and of a moſt unclean harlot; Ezek. 16.30, 31. &c. we read Ezek. 21.2.—6. Of a Parable of a Wood to be burnt with fire: then the Prophet is commanded to turn his speech to the men of Jeruſalem, and to denounce deſtruction to them from ver. 7. ad. 10. at length he is commanded to ſigh, and groan, and lament bitterly, even to the pain of his loins: And if they enquire into the cauſe of theſe things, to anſwer, becauſe evils are coming, at which every heart ſhall melt away. Now by this kind of language Chriſt took a courſe to enflame their minds after Gospel myſteries. And albeit divine myſteries were veiled in the Parables, as barely propounded to the reprobate world, making them the more inexcuſable, through the juſt judgment of God; yet theſe myſteries were revealed by Parables as clearly expounded to the elect, through the goodneſs of God in Jeſus Chriſt.
But although Parables do familiarly explain and illuſtrate divine truths, yet they darken divine truths to ſome, to whom it is not given to know the myſteries of the kingdom of heaven: and our Saviour ſaith, that therefore he ſpake in Parables to them, becauſe they ſeeing ſaw not, and hearing heard not, nor did they underſtand. A ſingular judgment of God on them for their contumacy and contempt of the Gospel. It is an obſervation of Oleaſter, that the holy Prophets (especially to great men) spake moſt in Parables, that ſince the people were ſo ſhy of naked truth, it might be preſented in ſome Guiſe.
Doubtleſs, the deſign of our Saviour in laying things under parabolical expreſſions, and as it were out of ſight, was, that his hearers might ſeek out the things hereby intended with more diligence, and find them with more pleaſure; for this way of Illuſtration makes things very delightful and pleaſant, and it is not only a way, whereby the ignorant may be made to underſtand, but the ſcope of them being once found, it will then appear, that no falſhoods, but real truths are contained in them; becauſe truths, not falſhoods, were not only intended, but ſignifyed by them, and ſo Parables are not only lawful, but commendable, and very grateful to the ingenious Reader or Hearer.
How then ſhould every one deſire to know the meaning of Scripture-parables? as Chriſt's Diſciples came unto him, ſaying, Declare unto us the Parable of the Tares of the field, Matth. 13.36. that ſo they may come to the clear and ſound knowledge of divine truth. Parables are pleaſant, like a Picture drawn with lively colours. And profitable alſo. Galeacius Caracciolus, that noble Marqueſs of Vico, was converted by a ſimilitude uſed by Peter Martyr in a Sermon, ſeconded with private diſcourſe.
Much honoured in the Lord!
Here you have in this enſuing Treatiſe (which I humbly Dedicate to you) a judicious Explanation, and faithful Application of one of our Saviours Parables: The Parable of the Great Supper, to which many Guests were invited. The Author was better known to you than to my ſelf, yet not altogether a ſtranger to me. He was not only a word-man, but a work-man; a work-man that needed not to be aſhamed: a pattern of wholſome words in ſound teaching, a pattern of good works in well doing, ſo that a man might read his Sermons written as it were in the lines of his life. He was a light of direction in teaching, and a pattern of perfection (as it were) in his life. His Preaching and his Practice; his Words and his Works agreed together. The Law of God is a Lanthorn, good example bears it; it is ſafe following him that carrys the light. That Miniſter only know how to ſpeak well, that hath learned to do well. Then doth the ſeed of the word bring forth fruit, when the godlineſs of the Preacher doth water it in the breaſt of the Hearer. Thus eraving pardon for this my boldneſs, that the Lord may add to thoſe gifts and bleſſings he hath beſtowed upon you, is the prayer of
Your moſt humble and affectionate Servant in the Goſpel, W. GEARING.
Books to be ſold by Thomas Parkhurſt, at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge.
THe Proteſtants Triumph, being an exact anſwer to all the ſophiſtical Arguments of Papiſts. By Ch. Drelincourt.
A Defence againſt the fear of Death. By Z. Crofton.
Gods Soveraignty diſplayed. By William Geering.
The Godly Mans Ark: or City of refuge in the day of his diſtreſs, in five Sermons; with Mr…s. Moores Evidences for Heaven. By Ed. Calamy.
The Almoſt Chriſtian Diſcovered: or the falſe Profeſſor tryed and caſt. By Mr. Mead.
Spiritual Wiſdom improved againſt temptation, by Mr. Mead.
The Doctrine of Repentance.
Heaven taken by Storm.
The Miſtery of the Lords Supper.
A Divine Cordial.
A word of comfort for the Church of God.
A Plea for Alms, in a Sermon at the Spittle.
The Godly Mans Picture, drawn with a Scripture-penſil. Theſe ſeven laſt were written by Tho: Watſon.
The True bounds of Chriſtian freedom; or a Diſcourſe ſhewing the extents and reſtraints of Chriſtian liberty is ſetled, many errors confuted; out of John 8. ver. 36.
A Treatiſe of the Sacrament; both by Sam. Bolton, D. D.
The Lords Day enlivened, or a Treatiſe of the Sabbath, by Philip Goodwin.
The ſinfulneſs of Sin, and the Fulneſs of Chriſt, two Sermons; by W. Bridge.
A ſerious Exhortation to a Holy Life, by Tho. Wadſworth.
Ovid's Metamorphoſis Tranſlated Grammatically, by J. Brinſley.
Comfortable Crumbs of refreſhment, by Prayers, Meditations, Conſolations, and Ejaculations; with a Confeſſion of Faith, and ſumm of the Bible.
The difference between the ſpots of the Godly and Wicked, in four Sermons, by Jer. Burroughs.
Four Centuries of Select Hymns, collected out of Scripture, by Will. Barton.
Sins Sinfulneſs, by R. Venning.
Memento to Young and Old, by J. Maynard.
The Chriſtians Daily Monitor, by Jo. Church.
Cloſet Prayer, a Chriſtians Duty, by O. Heywood.
A Little Book for Little Children, by Tho. White.
FINIS.
THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT SƲPPER OPENED.
LUKE 14.16.
Then ſaid he unto him, A certain man made a Great Supper, and bad many.