The Wedding Supper, Sermon 6
The Sixth Sermon.
Matth. 22. ver. 7.
But when the King heard thereof, he was wroth, and he ſent forth his Armies, and deſtroyed thoſe Murtherers, and burnt up their City.
YOu remember (I hope) how far we have gone in this parable; for my purpoſe is not to repeat, but to go on with this 7. ver. which contains in it, ſummarily, the iſſue & conſequent of their cruel dealing towards the Kings Servants (of which ye heard out of the foregoing verſ.) Wherein (for our more methodical proceeding) I will conſider,
Firſt, Gods taking notice of this their ſin, in theſe words, But when the King heard thereof.
Secondly, His diſpleaſure againſt it, in the next words: he was wroth.
Thirdly, The effect of his diſpleaſure in their ſevere puniſhment, in all the other words, And he ſent forth his Armies, and deſtroyed thoſe Murtherers, and burnt up their City.
In which laſt particular, there are three things, contained, all worthy obſervation.
Firſt, The Inſtrument or means whereby they are puniſhed, viz. Armies.
Secondly, the nature or quality of the Offence, Murtherers; they are arraigned for Murther.
Thirdly, The ſeverity of the puniſhment, they are deſtroyed, and their City is burnt up.
For the firſt, when the King hear… … ere… that is, when Allmighty God decla… himſelf to take notice of this their wickedneſs; for it is ſpoken to our capacity, by a Metaphor taken from a King that hath ſent Meſſengers in love, and hears news that they have been abuſed.
We have a notable Hiſtory in the ſecond book of Samuel, chap. 10. David was willing to ſhew kindneſs unto Hanun the Son of Nahaſh, and ſent his ſervants to comfort him, concerning the death of his Father: Which (as you ſhall find in that place) were vilainouſly dealt withall; and then ver. 5. we have theſe words, when they told it unto David. Thus the Lord is made out under theſe words, and when the King heard thereof, as taking notice of the cruel uſage of his Servants in the World. And ſuch expreſſions we have many in Scripture. As for inſtance, Gen. 18. ver. 20.21. And the Lord ſaid, Becauſe the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and becauſe their ſin is very grievous: I will go down now, and ſee whither they have do… altogether according to the cry of it which is … unto me; and if not, I will know. I obſerve this Doctrine,
Doct. That, cruel or unworthy dealing againſt the Miniſ… of the Goſpel is a ſin that God takes ſpecia… …ice of.
And the reaſon is becauſe it is a capital ſin, it is an abuſe of Gods Grace in a high degree. It is (as we may call it) God-Murther, and Chriſt-Murther, as well as ſoul-Murther, &c. (of which more ſhall be ſaid when we come to it.) But in the mean time conſider, Wherein can Mortal man do greater deſpight to the Majeſty of God, then to oppoſe his Grace and favour offered in the means of Salvation? And therefore, we have a remarkable expreſſion Luk. 3.19.20. But Herod the Tetrach, being reproved by (John) for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the evils that Herod had done, added this above all, that he ſhut up John in Priſon. Mark (I pray) many evils are laid to his charge, but this is added above all the reſt, as a more crying ſin then all his other ſins, That he ſhut up John in Priſon. It is a ſin that cannot be hid, a ſin that God takes ſpecial notice of.
Learn therefore for the firſt uſe, that …ens wickedneſs in this kind (though … looked upon as a ſin) is yet a very great one.
Ʋſe. 1 As firſt for the ſin of depriving them of their livelihood. 1 Cor. 9.9.10. To muzzle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corn; This is a crying ſin: For if the cry of the labourers hire that reapeth down your corn crieth ſo loud, as to enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabboths: how much more will this Preacher-ſtarving ſin? And by the way, I muſt tell you, this is ſhameleſly practiſed in this very place. There is not a penny that comes out of your purſes, ye are even almeſmen in this kind; other places muſt maintain you a Preacher, and you intruſted only to gather it up; and yet that wickedly (bluſh O Heavens?) is detained; for no other cauſe, but becauſe ye are plainly, for your good dealt withall. Becauſe you, and your Pride, Knavery, Folly, Covetouſneſs, are found fault withall (which all the Country ſtinks of) therefore you will add this to all your other wickedneſſes, to detain that which ye are only entruſted to receive, and pay. Is it not enough that ye have embezled the ſtock of the poor artificers, which was given in by your charitable Anceſtors: and careleſly (like fools) ſet out the yeerly revenews of the town to ſuch as either cannot or will not pay the rent, wherewith the Schoolmaſter ſhould be paid: but that ye ſuffer men very well able to pay rent for houſes, to dwell in houſes of Charity, and to ſuffer ſome of them to run to ruine; that now in your laſt enfeoffing the town-Land, ye have conſpired againſt the Church, and all the Members of it, that not one of them ſhould be made privy to your proceedings, nor the father of any one that Communicates with the Church, (though every way more ſufficient in eſtate and far greater payers to all paiments, then ye your ſelves) That ye nick-name the People of God a rigid faction; the like unheard of abominations, (which a modeſt man may bluſh to ſpeak of, though you do not to practice them:) I ſay is not all this enough, but ye muſt detain that which others have cared for the procuring of, and which neither is, nor never was yours? O conſider this ye Monſters, leſt ſome monſtrous judgement befall you. And as this is a ſin that God …ears, that is, takes notice of; So alſo all your affronts, and ſcoffs, and provocations, eſpecially your fitting your tickets and libells of contentio… and ſtrife to be read on Lords days, and uſually on ſuch of them as the Church uſe to receive the Lords ſupper upon, that you may fill up the meaſure of your ſin; and God pour on you and yours the Vials of his wrath, which moſt certainly he will do, if repentance prevent not.
Ʋſe. 2 Here is in the next place a comfort to Goſpel-Preachers; God (who is able to right them) takes notice of their wrongs. And this ſhould keep up their Spirits in the middeſt of all their barbarous uſages.
Ʋſe. 3 O take heed, all of you that hear me this day, (and this ſhall be my laſt uſe of this point) take heed, I ſay, of this ſin, be not injurious to the Miniſters of the Goſpel; God takes notice of it, and will ſeverely puniſh it: which is the ſecond thing in the verſ. and comes next to be handled.The 2. particular.
He was wroth. And without any more ado it affords us this Doctrine.
Doct. That baſe uſage of the Meſſengers of God, &c. is a ſin that greatly provokes Gods wrath.
Read the chap. before this, the one and twentieth, ver. 35. to the 42. You have their ſin in all the verſes, except the laſt which is the one and fortieth: and in that, the miſerable effects of Gods wrath are foretold. He will miſerably deſtroy thoſe wicked men. Which came to paſs ſure enough, not long after.
Reaſon. Now the Reaſon hereof, is, becauſe God favours no ſin. All ſin is contrary to his holy nature, and righteous Laws; and tends to the deſtruction of his creature: but this above any other ſin whatſoever, is diſpleaſing to God: for
Firſt, It is a cruſhing of Gods grace, ſo far as a man can. It is a God-killing ſin. And if it be a ſin to kill a man; what is it to go about to kill God? The grace of God, is the moſt glorious thing in the world Was there ever ſuch love heard of? That God ſhould not ſpare his own ſon, but give him to death for us; admirable love! And here is unparalleld juſtice too; the Son though the Son, muſt die that juſtice may be ſatisfied. And wiſdom able to make all the wiſe men of the World quite mad, ſo much as once to look upon it. And much might be ſaid of the glory of the Goſpel, the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. And therefore to go about to hinder this deſign of God for his glory, is a provoking ſin, and brings down great wrath.
And then Secondly, Oppoſing Goſpel-Preachers, tends to the deſtruction of thouſands eternally. If we call them bloody men, which ſpoyl, and kill, and have no mercy, which caſt into Priſon, as many of our poor neighbours were by curſed Cavaliers into Lidford Caſtle and the Town hall here, where they ſtarved divers of them. I ſay, how much more are they bloody butchers among you that go about to hinder your Salvation, and to keep you in ſuch a condition as will be for the everlaſting deſtruction both of body and ſoul!
Friends, I fear the blood of thoſe that ſtarv'd in this Town in the late troubles, will be laid to the charge of ſome of you, that did not pitty them nor relieve them; but rather rejoyced in their miſery (as many of you did) and helped to make it greater. O do not add to body-killing ſoul-killing; do not add to man-killing God-killing, Chriſt-killing.
Ʋſe 1 But be informed, that though a few vain men among you are ſuch Grace-enemies, and are countenanced by ſuch of you as ſhould have more wit, and ſhould improve your eminencies to better purpoſe; and will, when ye have taſted the Lord is gracious; yet the righteous God likes it not.
Ʋſe 2 And ſecondly, wo to the guilty. It were better to provoke all the men in the World then God to wrath, as all abuſers of Miniſters do.
Ʋſe 3 And that I may end this point alſo let me perſwade you, do ſo no more (good people) you provoke the heavenly King to wrath; and this will turn to the ſhame and confuſion of your own faces; yea, to your utter deſtruction if you go on. O if God ſhould once ſay, and ſwear; foraſmuch as I have been ſtifled and ſtrangled by you ſo long; and my rich offer ſo trampled on in the dirt of your pride and prophaneſs, paſſion and worldlineſs; you ſhall be troubled no more; it would be ſad news.
And ſo I come to the ſevere puniſhment of this ſin, and therein firſt of the inſtrument which God makes uſe of, and the means whereby he puniſheth ungodly men: He ſent forth his Armies. The nature and quality of the offence, and the ſeverity of the puniſhment it ſelf, ſhall be ſpoken of (God willing) afterward.
But firſt (I ſay) of the Inſtrument or means. I am almoſt out of doubt that th… holy-Ghoſt here hath an eye to the Roman Armies which came and beſieged Jeruſalem, by Gods appointment and ſending, even to the utter deſtruction of that City: but yet I will enlarge ſomewhat upon this Doctrine.
Doct. That God hath armies to execute vengeance upon his ungodly adverſaries, that ſet themſelves againſt his Ordinances, and the Miniſters and obſervers of them.
I add that (the obſervers of them) becauſe uſually wicked men joyn them together in their oppoſing them, as Saul made havock of the Church, Acts 8.2. and haled not only Preachers, but other men, yea, and women to Priſon. I confeſs, through the mighty power of God, Curſt Kine have ſhort horns among us: but yet what may be done, and what the times will permit to be done, is extended to the very utmoſt even againſt all that are of this way, both old and young. Now ſeeing it is …o, let us muſter up the Lords Forces, that they may be terrible to you, that by repentance, the coming of them may be prevented.
Reaſon. That God hath many Armies, we may eaſily demonſtrate from the variety of his creatures, which are many hoſts; and from whence it cometh to paſs that he is ſometimes called the Lord of hoſts, as Pſal 84.1, 8, …2. In all which verſes he is ſo called. The ſeveral ſorts of Hoſts or Armies we will ſhew you.
Firſt Angels, ſome whereof are good, ſome are bad. 2 Sam. 24.16. An Angel ſtretched out his hand upon Jeruſalem to deſtroy it, to wit, by the plague. 2 Kings 19.35. An Angel of the Lord ſmote in the camp of the Aſſyrians, an hundred fourſcore and five thouſand. Theſe are called a heavenly hoſt. Luke 2.13. And ſuddenly there was with the (or that) Angel (that brought to the ſhepherds the news of Chriſts birth) a multitude of the heavenly hoſt praiſing God, and ſaying &c. Acts 12.23. And immediatly the Angel of the Lord ſmote him (that is, King Herod) becauſe he gave not God the Glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the Ghoſt.
2. Sometimes the Lord makes uſe of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and this is another ſort of Army the Lord makes uſe of: theſe are called the hoaſt of heaven, Deut. 17.3. Now Hoaſt is the ſame with Army.
We finde the Lord making uſe of this hoaſt, Joſhuah 10.12, 13. And he (to wit Joſhuah) ſaid in the ſight of Iſrael, Sun, ſtand thou ſtill upon Gibeon, and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon. And the Sun ſtood ſtill, and the Moon ſtaid, &c.
Thirdly, he hath his Armies of men. Exod. 12.51. The Lord did bring the children of Iſrael out of Egypt by their Armies. Yea even evil men, wicked men are Armies that God ſometimes makes uſe of. Iſaiah 10.5.6, 7. O Aſſyrian the rod of mine anger, and the ſtaff in their hand is mine indignation. I will ſend him againſt an hypocritical Nation; and againſt the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the ſpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the ſtreets. How be it he meaneth not ſo, &c. And ſo Jer. 25.9. Behold, I will ſend and take all the families of the North, ſaith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar my ſervant, &c. Thus ye ſee the Armies of men good and bad are all the Lords,
Fourthly, The Lord hath his Armies of water. Gen. 6.17. The Lord prepares waters to drown the whole World for the wickedneſs of it. And Exod. 14.27 28. The Lordoverthrew the Egyptians in the middſt of the Sea. And the Waters returned and covered the Charets and horſemen, and all the hoſt of Pharaoh, &c. So, Judges 5.21. ſings Deborah and Barak. The river Kiſhon ſwept them away, that Ancient River, the River Kiſhon.
Fifthly, The Lord hath an Army of fire Gen. 19.24. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorra, brimſtone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven. So 2 Kings 1.10. Eliah is ſent for, but fire comes down from Heaven, and conſumes that Captaine and his fifty men that were ſent to take him; and another in like manner, and his fifty, ver. 11.
Sometimes the ayr is imployed as Gods Army to let flie its arrows of the peſtilence. Numb. 16.46. Or of hailſtones as Joſhua. 10. ver. 11.
Seventhly, the Lord hath the Farth alſo to make uſe of for the deſtruction of his Enemies. Numb. 16.3…. The earth opens her mouth to ſwallow up Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
Yea even the meaneſt creatures Lice, Frogs, Worms the Lord hath to fight againſt Pharaoh, and Herod. Exod. 8.6.8.16.17. and Acts 12.23.
Laſtly, the Lord doth ſometimes make a mans own Conſcience a terrible Army againſt himſelf. O when God ſhall fight againſt a man with terrors of Conſcience, he will be weary of his life, as Judas was. Mat. 27.3.4.5. Theſe Armies are all at a minutes Call; when God doth but ſay the word, they go.
Ʋſe. 1 Now for the firſt uſe, learn we hence, that God wants not power to puniſh his adverſaries. Did folk conſider Gods Armies, they would not dare to go on in ſin. Men fooliſhly think earthly powers are above the powers of the Allmighty. This is a great ſin againſt the firſt Commandment. Yet is it common that men fear earthly powers, and fear not God who is the Lord of Hoaſts; and in compariſon of whom, all the Nations are as the drop of a bucket.
Ʋſe. 2 I will declare in the next place, in the name of the Lord of Hoaſts, a woe to all thoſe that are adverſaries to this heavenly King God Allmighty. He hath Armies to execute vengeance upon his Adverſaries. Surely they are not like to eſcape his wrath: There is no ſleeing from Gods Armies, nor from his preſence, who is himſelf a conſuming fire. Whither ſhall I go (ſaith David) from thy preſence? Pſal 139.
Ʋſe. 3 Thirdly, Stand in awe of the Allmighty, be carefull not to diſpleaſe him: he is a great General, he hath many Armies, as you have heard. Men of power are feared, how much more ought God?
Queſt. But how may a man know, whither he fear God or no?
Anſw. I anſwer. By his diligent departing from evil, and conſtant cleaving to that which is good. Pſal. 34.11.12.13.14. Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that deſireth life, and loveth many dayes, that he may ſee good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from ſpeaking guile, depart from evil, and do good, ſeek peace & purſue it. Pro. 8.13. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride and arrogancy, & the evil way, & the froward mouth do I hate.
And ſo I come to ſhew you the nature of the ſin, that is here laid to the charge of Goſpel oppoſers, and neglectors, that you may ſee the greatneſs of it, and the more abhor it.
Murder is laid to the charge of the Jews. They were guilty of murder many ways.
Firſt,Miniſter Murther. In that they murdered Gods Meſſengers. Now this again is done,
Firſt, By taking away their lives. So Stephen was murdered. Acts. 7.58.59. So in Queen Maries dayes, Cranmer, Ridley Latimer, Philpot, Bradford, Saunders, Rogers, Julius Palmer, were cruelly burned, becauſe they wit neſſed for Chriſt.
Secondly, Gods Meſſengers are ſometimes Murthered, in their good name, and in their reputation. He that ſhall ſay to his brother, Raca, Mat. 5.22. is in Gods account a Murderer. We know our times are in Gods hands; and our reputation riſeth and falleth, even as the Lord will: Yet thoſe evil tongues that ſpeak ſuch devouring words of us, are murtherous tongues before the Lord.
And ſo alſo Thirdly, When people are cauſeleſly angry with any, much more with Miniſters, and ſwell in their pride and paſſion, Mat. 5.22, aforenamed, the former part of the verſe.
Laſtly, To detain from them, that whereupon they and their families ſhould live. It is a ſin to withold goods from the owners, though there be power in mens hands ſo to do. But bleſſed be God, who hath granted us meat to eat ſome other way, and wherewith to live. Yet give me leave to tell you, that ſit here before me, and are guilty of this crying ſin, that you muſt anſwer for it before that God whom we ſerve.
The ſecond ſort of Murder, is, Soul-murther.Soul murther, I mean of their neighbours; All that oppoſe the wayes of God, do by conſequence make themſelves guilty of their blood that periſh in their ſins. They ſhall periſh, but their blood ſhall be required, (as at the hands of careleſs Miniſters, ſo) at your hands, that either neglect to do your beſt to procure Preachers; or (which is far worſe) oppoſe them that God hath ſent among you.
Thirdly, Ye are guilty of ſelf-murther, Selfmurther.in regard of your poor ſouls: And for a man to be found in this ſence felo de ſe, will procure a ſentence not only to be caſt out, to a dog-like burial in the high way, 4. Chriſtmurder.but to be caſt into outer darkneſs, where there is weeping and gnaſhing of teeth.
Fourthly, Such will be found Murtherers of Chriſt alſo. Heb. 10.29. They tread underfoot the ſon of God, &c. they are guilty of the blood of the Lord Chriſt, they do in effect ſhed it again, that do refuſe this crucified Chriſt offered in the Preaching of the Goſpel.
Laſtly, Godmurther.Such as oppoſe Goſpel-Ordinances, fight againſt God, the Author of this rich vouchſafement, and reſiſt the life of God, what in them lieth; We have an expreſſion from the mouth of Gamaliel, recorded Acts 5.39. of fighters againſt God: But I lay to the charge of all that do not readily and thankfully accept of Gods offer, but oppoſe his Ordinaces, no leſs crime then murthering of God. Such as are ſtrangers from the life of God, as ſtifle the life of God, which is his truth, O that they would conſider. God ſpeaketh to us, yea intreateth us, that we would beſaved; but we withſtand God, we reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt. Act. 7.51. Learn therefore,
Doct. That Cruelty, yea though but neglect, againſt or of the means of Grace, is in Gods account, and in Scripture language Murther.
Ʋſe. 1 And thereforefore great is their ſin, that are any way guilty hereof. Murder is a haynous ſin. Surely there be many Murderers, in all the ſorementioned particulars, that to the utmoſt of their power, indeavour Miniſter murder, Soul murder, Self-murther, Chriſt murder, and God-murther.
Ʋſe. 2 And let ſuch know that they have a fearfull account, to make before God, for, Murther is a hainous ſin.
Ʋſe 3 Tak ye all heed, how ye oppoſe, or but ſlight preaching under any pretence whatſoever. Ye are guilty of Murther, if ye do; and muſt dy for it.
The ſeverity of the puniſhment it ſelf, is the laſt particular. He deſtroyed thoſe Murderers, and burnt up their City. This is the Doctrine,
Doct. 3 That the baſe uſage of faithfull Preachers, and deſpiſing Ordinances, ſhall be ſeverely puniſhed.
I ſhall referr you to what hath been ſaid, and proved, and eſpecially to Luk. 19.43.44. & alſo to Mat. 10, 14.15. where the Lord Chriſt threatneth to ſuch as ſhall refuſe to hear the words of his Meſſengers, that it ſhall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorr… in the day of judgement, then for that City …nd alſo you may read Mat. 23.34.35.36. You have the practice of evil men ver. 34. to kill, ſcourge, perſecute thoſe Prophets, wiſe men and Scribes which God ſends: And after the threatned accuſation, or enditement, forerunning the ſeverity of Gods juſtice, moſt certainly to be executed.
Reaſon. It muſt needs be ſo; for it is the very hight of rebellion, the higheſt treaſon againſt God.
Ʋſe. 1 O how hath the Divel bewitched men, to make them think that they ſhall not ſmart for this ſin.
Woe to all thoſe that are guilty, the curſe of God hangs over their heads: the ſentence of Gods judgement is gone out againſt them.
Laſtly, Would ye eſcape this ſevere vengeance of Allmighty God? O take heed that ye be not cruel againſt the Miniſters of the Goſpel, nor careleſs of the Means of grace.
Take a Motive, Severe puniſhment from man is terrible; what then (think ye) will the ſeverity of God be? when a fire [ſhall] be kindled in [his] anger, and ſhall burn unto the loweſt hell, and ſhall conſume the earth with her increaſe, and ſet on fire the foundations of the Mountains. I will conclude with Heb. 12.29. For our God is a conſuming fire. So much for the offer of Chriſt to the Jews. And ſo much for this time. Let us pray.