The Wedding Supper, Sermon 11
The eleventh Sermon.
Matth. 22. ver. 13. the latter part.
There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth.
THe Point that we were in handling, was, The ſubſtance of the Commiſſion given for the execution of this unworthy Gueſt, as it is in this 13. ver. We have noted two things therein.
Firſt, the manner of his puniſhment.
And Secondly, The condition of the man puniſhed.
The former hath been diſpatched in the forenoon. And many ſhort notes have been given you of it.
As 1. That ungodly men ſhall not eſcape puniſhment, from the words, Bind him hand and foot.
2. That it is a puniſhment to be ſeparated from God, and from the comfortable ſociety of his People; From theſe words, and take him away.
3. That all wicked men are a company of Caſt-aways; From theſe words, Caſt him out.
Fourthly, That unſpeakably, unconceiveably ſad and wofull will the condition of ungodly men be after death; From theſe words, outer darkneſs. Caſt him into outer darkneſs.
Now it remaineth, that ſomething be ſpoken of the condition the Party puniſhed ſhould be in under this puniſhment; or a deſcription of the place into which he was caſt, Poena damni, poena ſenſus.which is here intimated to be a place of weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. The former words of the verſe, do but ſet forth the puniſhment of loſs, but this the puniſhment of ſenſe. Weeping doth uſually attend upon pain, ſorrow, calamity; but gnaſhing of teeth, imports great tribulation, and anguiſh. That ſorrow which is ſet out by gnaſhing of teeth, is a great ſorrow. It ſhews great torment, agonies, and pains to be the portion of ungodly men. This little portion remained intended for the forenoon; but time prevented the delivery of it then. Therefore take it now in theſe words,
Doctr. The torments which wicked men ſhall endure in the world to come, will be very grievous and terrible.
This point is evident from the effects thereof, weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. And we have other places beſides the Text to make good the Point; which I will read unto you.
As firſt, Matth. 13.50. And ſhall caſt them into a furnace of fire; there ſhall be wailing and gnaſhing of teeth. Cap. 25.30. And caſt ye the unprofitable ſervant into outer darkneſs; there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Luke 16.23. And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment.
Reaſ. 1 And it muſt needs be ſo; For firſt, They ſhall be rewarded according to their works of diſobedience, and hardneſs of heart and impenitency. Rom. 2 4. to the 7. ver. God will render to every man according to his deeds. The weight of this reaſon lies upon the juſtice of God: who can as well ceaſe to be, as forbear to torment unto eternitie all ungodly men.
The torments of the Damned muſt needs be great in Hell, becauſe there they ſhall have the full vials of Gods wrath poured out upon them. Iſa. 30.33. For Tophet is ordained of old, yea for the King it is praepared, he hath made it deep add large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord like a ſtream of brimſtone doth kindle it. The Lord here doth but fight with little parties, but then he wil bring up all his Forces. Thats the day of wrath, and of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God: you have thoſe expreſtions, Rom. 2 5. D Preſton, All things come alike to all.And likewiſe there in the ſame verſe, you have this phraſe of treaſuring up of wrath, by hardneſs and impenitency of heart. All thoſe expreſſions are very ſignificant. Gods Juſtice here is covered; Pſa. 97.2.clouds and darkneſs are round about him, though righteouſneſs and judgement be the habitation of his throne: but then there will be a diſcovery, a revelation of Gods juſtice. A man would think this were ſomewhat, and ſufficient to diſcover God: the drowning of the old World, the burning of Sodom, and the other Cities of the Plain, the killing of ſo many thouſands at ſeveral times of his people in the wilderneſs (inſomuch that of ſix hundred thouſand only Joſhua and Caleb were left alive to go over Jordan) the drowning of that glorious Army of ſix hundred choſen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. Exod. 14.7. What do I talk? time would fail me to relate the terribleneſs of God in puniſhing ſinners, the examples are ſo many in Scripture, & have been in all Ages; and yet all this is nothing in compariſon of that day of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God. Here God maketh uſe of ſome particular judgements; but there the full vials of his wrath ſhall be poured out.
Thirdly, that torment muſt needs be great where there is no eaſe, no intermiſſion, and of which there ſhall be no end. Not ſo much as one drop of water to cool the burning tongue of the rich man in hell, &c. Luk. 16.24, 25. he is tormented, and there is a gulf ſixed; out of hell there is no redemption, Matth. 25.46. And theſe ſhall go their way into everlaſting puniſhment, Mark 9.43, 44. The fire ſhal never be quenched, the worm dieth not. Here men are partakers of many of Gods gracious Vouchſafements, even ſuch as are his enemies. God cauſeth his ſun to riſe on the evil and on the good, Matth. 5.45. Pſal. 103. v. 9.and ſendeth rain on the juſt and on the unjuſt. Though his Plagues upon Pharaoh were many and grievous, yet they were numbred and ended, and there were intervals, and reſpits. Here God doth not always chide, neither keepeth he his anger for ever. But then God will always chide, and will keep his anger unto all eternitie.
Fourthly, it muſt needs be, that the torment of ungodly men muſt be inconceivably great; becauſe there muſt be a perfection or rather a finiſhing and conſummating of all things. All irregularities are ordered by the God of wiſdom and juſtice, to ſuch ends as ſhall be in the utmoſt end for his greater glory. Every thing keeps crying and moving, and ſeeking to be perfected. As trees and plants though they move not out of their places, as men and beaſts do, yet they ſpred their Roots to get nouriſhment. And gratious men run to and fro that their knowledge may be increaſed: and they are always thirſting for God, even for the living God, becauſe he is their life, and their perfection: Pſal. 42. ver. 2. Pſal. 16. v. 11.and untill they come to his right hand, where there is fulneſs of joy, &c. they will not be quiet. And ſo the ambitious man hath never honour enough, nor the covetous man wealth enough: So neither ſin puniſhment enough untill theſe times of wrath, and revelation of Gods juſtice, and the perfection of ſin (I know it is a harſh expreſsion) but this is true of all things, that they ſtrive to, and cry after their compleating. And this proves perfection in God, becauſe in him there is no motion in regard of his glorious eſſence. Prov. 16. v. 4.But yet he made all things for himſelf, even the wicked to periſh in the evil day and therefore it muſt be ſo; the fulneſs of Gods wrath muſt be poured out in helliſh torments; elſe ſin ſhall not attain its end; beloved there is an end of the Work, Finis operis & operantis.and of the Worker: though ſinners intend not their damnation, yet the wages of ſin is death, Rom. 6 23.
And now we come unto the application of this point, of the greatneſs and intolerableneſs of Hell fire.
Ʋſe 1 And firſt it ſhall be to inform us, and that in a checking manner (for according to the homely proverb, It is better fear a Knave then kill a Knave) I ſhall endeavour to fire ye out of your ſtrong holds of ſin, as Jude adviſeth, 23. ver. of his Epiſtle. Others ſave with fear, pulling them out of the fire. I ſay, this is to teach us, that ungodly men have no cauſe to be ſo jocund as they be. O they that tear it out in whole cloth (as we uſe to ſay) in the ale bench corner, and are ready to throw the houſe out at window, Pſalm. 50.and let their tongue walk through the earth: little do they think what is a brewing for them. O conſider this ye that forget God, leſt he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you. All that befalls wicked men in this life, are but Gods warning peices: but in this day of weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, ye ſhall know what belongs to Gods murthering peices. It would do ye no harm (O ye wicked great ones,) to read Amos 6. from the 1. ver. to the 8. There is a woe in that place pronounced to them that are at eaſe in Sion, and truſt in the mountain of Samaria: and ſo did put farr away the evil day, and cauſe the ſeat of violence to come neer, &c. And yet all that is there threatned is but their going into Captivity, with the firſt, (that is ſpeedily) and the removal of their banquet, though they had ſtretched themſelves for it, ver. 7.
But Alas! What compariſon is there between the puniſhment of a temporal captivity, and the torments of Hell (where moſt aſſuredly the Sparks and the Brutes of our times ſhall be brought)? Even no more then between painted fire, and fire indeed. Ye will not come neer Gods People now, the time ſhall come, Luk. 16. ver. 23.when ye ſhall ſee them afar of (as Dives ſaw Abraham afar of; and Lazarus in his boſome) and ſhall wiſh with all your heart that ye might come among them, and might be no longer tormented in that helliſh flame. And let ſuch as laugh at Gods word now, know, they ſhall weep out of his preſence then. Woe be to you that laught now; for ye ſhall mourn and weep, Luk. 6.25.
Ʋſe. 2 The Second uſe is of exhortation. Take heed that ye come not into this place of torment. Mot. I ſay take heed, and provide a hiding place from this ſtorm. Conſider, we deſire to avoid bodily griefs and pain, Headaches, Toothaches, Agues, &c. If we be wiſe for the leſſer, ſhall we be fools for the greater? There is reaſon (one would think) that we ſhould be wiſe for our ſouls, and the things that do concern eternity.
Queſt. But how ſhall we do to avoid theſe torments, and this place of weeping and gnaſhing of teeth?
Anſw. I anſwer, Take heed of unbelief, and diſobedience. Heb. 3.12. Take heed brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Cleave to God by faith, labour to be obedient: for theſe practices ſhew that thou art eſcaped; and alſo love of the brethren.
The thing that I ſhall chiefly preſs, is, that ye would accept of the gratious offers of Chriſt, while they are going. Take heed that ye be not hardned through the deceitfullneſs of ſin. I do not teach you, that you can avoid and eſcape the wrath of God by your doings; but this I ſay, the work is done to your hand; accept of Gods love, and Chriſts merits, and all ſhall be well; He that believeth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved, Mark. 16.16. What ſhould keep from believing? ye have a commandment to believe; and ye have a promiſe, That he that believeth ſhall be ſaved.
Object. But may ſome ſay, All ſhall not be ſaved, all are not elected; therefore ſome are commanded to believe a lye: for if they be commanded to believe that Chriſt died for them, and he did not (as he did not if they belong not to Gods election) then they are commanded to believe a lye.
Sol. For ſolution and ſatisfaction, moſt certainly, every one that believes in the Lord Jeſus, and takes Chriſt offered in the Goſpel, ſhall be ſaved by him. He that believes Chriſt died for him, believes no lye, but a truth. And it is a ſin not to believe. And John 5.40. Chriſt complains of the Jews that they would not come to him that they might have life. They that do not believe ſhall be damned, they have made God a lyer, voluntas approbationis & effectionis.But yet, as there is Gods will of Precept; ſo there is his will of working; and he will call in all his elect. The Command of the word we ought to look after; and ſo to do, is a ſign of ſalvation. 2 Theſ. 1.10. When he ſhall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (becauſe our teſtimony was believed among you) in that day.
Here we have to deal with two ſorts of People.
Firſt, The prophane multitude; theſe ſay they have had a ſtrong faith from their childhood.
But let us talk with them a little. What Demonſtration can ye make of your faith? Have ye a Mean or medium. We will help you to one out of the 2 chap. of James, and that is Works, this will be a demonſtration of the Cauſe by the Effects; If thou have faith, ſhew it, make it out, by thy works, by thy carriage, and converſation. Love to the Saints will be another notable Mean or medium to make out a mans faith in Chriſt.
Therefore it is that they (to wit, the Cauſe and the Effect) are joyned together often, as Col. 1.4. Since we heard of your faith in Chriſt, and of the love which ye have to all the Saints. If good People be your delight, and good men the men of your counſell; if you can ſay with David, Pſal. 26.that ye have not ſate with vain perſons, &c. If ye account religious perſons (as Chriſt did) as your Brethren, and Siſters, and Mothers; Why then hereby ye may demonſtrate your paſſage from death to life, and that ye are born of God and know God. 1 John 3. ver. 14. chap. 4. ver. 7.And ſo theſe two Means or mediums will help ye well if ye wil be true to yourſelves. If ye have a reſpect to all the Commandments; there's one. And if ye have love to all the Saints, that's the other. And therefore Soul, deceive not thy ſelf any longer. If thou have neither an obedient frame of Spirit to do Gods will, nor love to the People of God, thou haſt no faith. Shew me thy faith. But you will ſay, God knows my heart; what care I for you? I will not give an account to you. Yea but I ſay, thou are bound to give an account to me, and to every man that asketh a reaſon of the hope that is in thee, and that with meekneſs and reverence or fear. 1 Pet. 3.15. But poor neighbours, it is plain, you have no faith in Chriſt; for ye are rebellions againſt the Lord, and deſpiſers of his People. The Lord pitty ye, and ſoften your hearts, that ye may eſcape the wrath to come.
The other ſort I have to deal with all, are ſuch poor Souls, as out of holy and bleſſed jealouſie, are ready to condemn themſelves, and to give ſentence againſt themſelves, and indeed againſt the truth. They know not whither ever they believed, they are afraid they have not. Never went a ſoul to hell that feared the want of faith, and breathed after it. Mat. 5.3. and 6. The poor in ſpirit, and the hungerers and thirſters, &c. are pronounced bleſſed.
But you have ſaid, Faith muſt have its demonſtrations.
I anſwer, So they muſt, and ſo they have in thee, even in this thy emptineſs, and jealouſie, and groaning frame of ſpirit; O theſe groaning Souls are bleſſed Souls. Such a one was Paul. Rom. 7. ver. 14. to the end of the Chapter. Have a care; yeild not up your Caſtle, however it be with you, in your preſent apprehenſion. Learn of Chriſt, who though he cried, (why haſt thou forſaken me?) Yet held faſt his relation (my God my God,) Never diſown God; thats that the Divel would have.
There are but three things, all that may ſeem to be juſt cauſes ſo to do, as, 1. Deſertions. 2. Great afflictions. 3. Great ſins. Yet bear up againſt them all; neither of them is a Medium ſufficient to conclude thy damnation. Neither of them are certain tokens of Gods being thine Enemy. David is a famous example for all three. God did hide his face from him. And his afflictions were very many. And what ſins in a Saint, comparable to his? And Peter denied, and did aggravate it with Curſing and Swearing, that he knew not Chriſt. To deſpair after a fall, is a greater fall then the fall. The main puſh, is, that perhaps thou haſt ſinned after knowledge. So did thoſe two Worthies, Calvin. Perkins. Capel. of tentations. p. 124.and yet they died in peace and honour. We muſt fortifie our ſelves after Relapſes eſpecially; yet a man may fall into the ſame groſs ſin after true repentance, as Abraham twice laid his wife open to adultery. But ſtill hold faſt by God, thou muſt be bold.
The end of the 13. verſe.