The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 3
A SERMON Preached immediatly before the Communion.
On Matth. 22 2.—4. — All things are ready, come to the Marriage.
THere are many great and glorious things ſpoken of the Goſpel; and our Bleſſed Lord Jeſus hath made uſe of many good Similitudes wonderfully oppoſite, to ſet it out: Sometimes it's called the Kingdom of Heaven, for reaſons that we will no… now inſiſt upon; ſometimes it's called a Marriage, as here and elſe-where; ſome o… thoſe Similitudes ſhew what great and ſingular ſatisfaction is to be had in it, therefore its compared to a Feaſt, Supper, and Dinner, ſome of them ſhew the way how we are made Partakers of it: So opening and receiving holds forth believing; and ſome of thoſe ſimilitudes hold forth both, as this of a Marriage, which points at the ſtrait union betwixt Chriſt and Believers, and at the manner or way of our entring into this bleſſed union, on which follows Communion.
We need not inſiſt in opening the Words, which are plain; we ſhall only ſay theſe two Words, to make way for Obſervations; The firſt whereof ſhal be, to ſhew that the ſcope of the Parable is not to hold forth Peoples coming to the Ordinances, or the Sacraments only or mainly; but their coming to Chriſt Jeſus himſelf and to the fat things in the Ordinances: Many come to the Ordinances who come not to Chriſt and to the feaſt: that which is called for here, is a real cloſing with Chriſt, and an accepting of him for our Husband, on his own terms: The ſecond word is, to ſhew that though the Ordinances be neither the Marriage nor the Feaſt, Yet it's by the Ordinances that the marriage is furthered and the Feaſt prepared and made ready? for Faith takes Chriſt in the word, and ſtrikes hands with him in the Sacrament, when he ſayeth in the Word, be thou for me and I will be for thee, Faith ſaith, content Lord, and when he ſaith in the Sacrament, Take, Faith ſayeth welcome with all my heart, He being there as well as he is in the Word.
Theſe two things being premiſed, we ſhall firſt, at once and together Propoſe ſome Obſervations from the words. Secondly we ſhall clear and confirm them: and and then Thirdly we ſhall inſiſt in the application of all joyntly. The Obſervations are theſe. Firſt that in the Goſpel there is a clear and manifeſt making up of a Marriage betwixt Chriſt and Souls; The preaching of the Goſpel is like a mans making of a marriage for his Son. The ſecond is, that this marriage is one of the moſt excellent marriages that ever was: therefore its called the Marriage of the Kings Son. The Third is, that before this marriage can be brought about and accompliſhed, there are many things to be made ready. The Fourth is, that where the Goſpel comes, all things are made ready for Souls cloſing with Chriſt in this marriage. The Fifth is, that the Maſter of the Feaſt the KING God the Father, and the Kings Son the Bridegroom are not only content and willing, but very deſirous to have ſinners coming to the Marriage, they would fain (to ſpeak ſo with reverence) have poor Souls eſpouſed to Chriſt. The Sixth is, that when the Maſter ſends out his ſervants in his name, their great work is to invite to the wedding and to cloſe the marriage. The Seventh is, that when People are invited to this Marriage, it is their duty and greatly of their concern to come. The Eighth is, that all they that come may expect a very hearty welcome: therefore they are invited once and again: and if we compare this Text with Luke 14. We will find there, that the Maſter orders his Servants to Compel them that are invited to come in.
All theſe Obſervations are very obvious in the Words; and if the Lord would Graciouſly pleaſe to help us to ſpeak and you to hear: as they are no unpertinent to our Preſent Purpoſe, So they might be made very edifying, ſtrengthening, refreſhing and comfortable to us.
We ſhall in the ſecond Place, a little more particularly clear and confirme every one of them. The Firſt was, that, There is a Marriage betwixt Chriſt and ſouls held forth and made offer of in this Goſpel. We take this for granted: for here is the Kings Son, and ſome bidden to his marriage, and thoſe that are bidden are not worthy: they are all Profeſſors & members of the viſible Church, the ſcope of the Parable being to ſhew, that the offer of this Marriage was firſt made to the Jews, and again renewed to them, and then from them it came to the Gentiles, I ſhall in paſſing give you a litle hint of the nature of this Marriage in theſe four: 1. There is by this Goſpel a real union made up betwixt Chriſt and the ſouls of Believers; Which union is not with the O…dinances, nor with ſenſe, nor with the Benefits which flow from Chriſt; but with Chriſt himſelf Primarily and Principally, and it is ſo near a …ye and very cloſe, that it is preferred unto and goe…h beyond the union that is betwixt the Husband and Wife: Epheſ. 5.30. We are (ſays the Apoſtle) Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his bones, Where alluding to that union betwixt Husband and Wife, he not only makes the union reall, but makes the one much ſtraiter then the other. Secondly the nature of this union is ſuch, that it is Mutual; the Bridegroom hath in a manne… (to ſpeak ſo, with reverence of his Majeſty) no Power ove… himſelf, when he is Married un…o the Bride; and the Bride hath no Power over her ſelf, but the Bridegro…m: So that here there is a ſort of mu…uall upgiving of the Bridegroom to the Bride, and of the Bride to the Bridegroom; according to thoſe w…nderfully condeſcending words, Hoſea 3.3. Thou shalt not be for another man, So will I alſo be for thee: The Lord hath Believers under a peculiar tye to him, and he hath tyed himſelf Peculiarly to them, ſo that (if we may ſpeak thus) neither of them is Maſter of themſelves; The Lord Jeſus doth ſome way account himſelf not to be maſter of himſelf, he is ſo engaged to them to be theirs and for them; and cannot but be anſwerable to his engagemen…; and they are oblidged to be no more Maſters of themſelves, but to be abſolutlie and altogether at his diſpoſing. Thirdly this union is made up by mutuall conſent of Parties, and the conſent muſt be willing; His conſent comes in his Word; He ſays from thence, Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man will hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me; I come, (as if he had ſaid) in my Go…pel to woo, and if any will conſent to take me on the terms on which I offer my ſelf, I will be theirs: The ſouls conſent is given by Faith in his word, which is called John 1.12. receiving of him, and is relative to the offer: The offer is indeed backed and quickned by the Spirit, without which it would never be received; yet notwithſtanding, that which our faith lays hold on, is not the Spirit, but the word quickened by the ſpirit. Fourthly conſider here the effects that follow immediatly and inſtantly on this Marriage union, Chriſt with all that is his becomes ours, and we with all that is ours become his; our debt is imputed to him, he is lyable to it and muſt pay i…, and provide for us and be our head and Husband; and his righteouſneſs, the Purchaſe of his Death and ſufferings, viz. Juſtification, Sanct fica…ion, his Spirit, Grace and Glory, and every good thing that he hath, become ours, and at length the Bride is taken into the Kings ivory Palaces.
The Second Obſervation was, that this is a moſt honou…able Noble and excellen… Marriage; the like whereo never was, nor never ſh ll be from Adam to he end of the Wo ld, it's with the Kings Son with the Prince of the Kings of the earth, the Heir of all things, the brightneſs of the Fathers glory, the expreſs Image of his perſon, who was before all things, and by whom all things conſiſt. O! is there any match like this? Is there any ſo great and ſo Noble as He? Is there an… in this world whom ye can marry, that is ſo rich as He? They that Marry Him ſhall inherit all things Rev. 21.7. We may clear it a litle further from five or Six Particulars in the Text. 1. It's an excellent and honourable Marriage in reſpect of the Bridegroom who is, (as hath …een hinted) The Kings Son, who hath not another natural Son, He is he only begotten of the Father? there is not another Mediator, He is the Fathers equall and fellow; So that if (if we may put an if to it) the Father be great and glorious, ſo is He, for He is God, the ſame God equal with the Father in Power and Glory; the wonderful Counſeller, the mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace. Secondly this Marriage is excellent and honourable in reſpect of the Brides Father in Law, (ſo to ſpeak) He is the King; God the Father, Son and holy Ghoſt have all a hand in it; and the Believer married to Chriſt is Daughter in law to the great God, ingrafted ſome way into the ſame ſtock, allayed with the ſame family. 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters ſayeth the Lord Almighty. Thirdly it's excellent and honourable in reſpect of the Preparation made for it. There was never ſuch a wedding Feaſt; the dinner is prepared, the oxen and Fa…lings killed: but you will ſay what is all that? Even Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, He is that Bread indeed, that drink indeed; the feaſt of fat things and of wines on the lees well refined; the Bridegroom is (to ſay ſo) the chief diſh that the Believer feeds and lives upon for ever; and the Spirituall bleſſings and benefits that are gotten in him and from him, are as ſo many diſhes of this feaſt; ſuch as righteouſneſs, Pardon of ſin, Peace, and friendſhip with God, the Spirit, Adoption, Sanctification, joy in the holy Ghoſt, grace and Glory, the hope of a Croum in thoſe manſions that are in his Fathers Houſe, of a ſeat with him at his Table and on his Throne; even a ſhare in his whole Purchaſe; and is not that a feaſt? Fourthly its Honourable and excellent in reſpect of its moſt noble riſe, viz. From all eternity, in the boſome of the Father, it bred (to ſay ſo) in the Kings breaſt before the foundation of the World was laid; the Covenant of Redemption was then concluded, and the contract of marriage there drawn, and the bleſſed Project of it then laid down; Sacrifices and Offerings thou didſt not deſire, (ſaith the Mediator, Pſal. 40.) Mine ears hoſt thou opened, burnt offerings nor ſin offerings thou haſt not required; Then ſaid I, lo I come, in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: The Father gives ſo many to the Son to be redeemed of whom he willingly readily, and cheerfully accepts, and offers to ſatisfie for them, which in due time he doth. Fifthly, its excellent and honourable in this reſpect, That there was never ſuch a concurrence of ſo many and ſo great things to commend and further a marriage as there is in this; Such as the making of the World, men and Angels, the incarnation of Chriſt or his coming into the World, his Preaching and working of Miracles for confirmation of his doctrine, his ſuffering and dying, riſing and aſcending, his giving Miniſters and their gifts: and to make up the Marriage union, the Spirit from Heaven coming along with the word, and working faith in the Soul, by which bonds Chriſt & the Believer are joined together; Chriſt by his Spirit apprehending the Believer & the beliver apprehending Chriſt by Faith: was there ever a marriage contract or union bound up betwixt two ſuch vaſtly and infinitly diſtant Parties? was there ever ſuch honour and riches attending and following a match? ſuch righteouſneſs, remiſſion of ſin, Adoption, Peace with God, joy of the Holy Ghoſt, the Spirit, holineſs in the beginning and gradual advances of it, fellowſhip and walking with God, the White ſtone, the new Name, the Throne, the Crown, Grace, and Glory, every thing that is good, for the Bride here, and Glory in Heaven; In a word Jeſus Chriſt and all the benefits of his Purchaſe; were there ever ſuch eaſie termes and conditions? It's only, come to the Wedding; when the King comes a wooing, let him be welcomed with your hearts conſent; when he ſayes, I am content to marrie you, let your hea…ts ſay, Amen, Lord Jeſus, I am content to marrie thee, and to be for thee and for none other: and may not I add, was there ever ſuch ſecurity and confirmation given of any marriage? it's confirmed by the death of the Bridegroom, he hath ſealed his Teſtament with his Blood, and there is no annulling nor altering of a mans Teſtament when he is dead; and our Lord Jeſus who was once dead is now alive and lives for evermore, he will never die again, nor make another Teſtament: O! beloved hearers, all this is to let you ſee that our Lord is in earneſt and very willing to eſpouſe you: and indeed it ſhall not be his Fault, i… it be not a bargain, and if it be indeed a bargain betwixt your ſouls and him, it's a very ra…e and rich one: O! the many rare, excellent, noble, notable and non-ſuch Priviledges and advantages that attend this marriage, and are to be enjoyed by the ſoul eſpouſed to Chriſt; even God and Chriſt, Grace and Glory and all that is comprehended under theſe belongs to tha… ſoul: We muſt here be ſilent, leſt in ſpeaking of …hem we darken them by our words; here is an abyſs and bottomleſs dep…h ready as it were, to ſwallow up words; we confeſs we can tell you our very litle wha… they are, nay if all the ableſt and holieſt Miniſters on earth, all the Angels in Heaven were joyned together they could not to the full by very far, tell what an excellent match and marriage this is, even to be matched with the Son of God; and yet this priviledge and honour have all the ſaints, all Believers, to whom he is wonderful and Precious, though alace! not as he ought to be; there is a day coming, when we ſhall know to ſatisfaction, that the Father is in the ſon, and the ſon in the Father; and that believers are in Chriſt and he in them; We ſhall then know the now in expreſſible and inconceivable advantages of this marriage, When He shall come to be glorified in His Saints, and wond'red at in all them that believe: and till that day the one half will never be told us.
The third Obſervation was, that there are many things to be removed out of the way, and to be done: many things to be made ready before this marriage can be made up. 1. There is a naturall diſtance between the Parties, that muſt be removed: God cannot be one fleſh with us: and betwixt Parties to be married, there muſt …e ſome Suitableneſs of nature: therefore to remove this diſtance, and to bring abou… the marriage, the Son of God becomes Man, that he may be Immanual God with us, God i… our nature a…d ſo in capacity to be cloſed with. Secondly, there is a ſinfull diſtance, w ich alſo muſt be removed before this marriage can be made up: For God is a c…nſuming fire to ſinners; He and they neither will nor can unite in …hat poſture: The efore …efo…e an offer or marriage can be made to any Purp…ſe, …e muſt give himſelf for his Church, that he may Sanctifie and cleanſe it with the Washing of water by the word: and he… i… f…ll…ws, that he preſents her to Himſelf a glorious Church without ſpot and wrinkle, or any ſuch thing: He …ould not have acceſs to marry his Bride, ſhe was ſo u…c…mly, fi…thy and lothſom, lying in a moſt pityful condition, in her blood as Ezekiel ſets it forth …o …he life and at great length, Chap. 16. Therefore to cleanſe her, he gave himſelf for her. Thirdly, ere all this could be do…e, there beh…ved a ground to be laid for peace with God the offended party, who was to be father in law: and here comes in the Covenant of Redemption, Pſal. 40 6, 7. Sacrifice and Off…ring thou didſt not deſire, then ſaid I, lo I come &c. For taking away the curſe and reconciling the elect to G d, the Father ſayes (as it were) I muſt needs be once in friend…hip with them, ere I can admit them to my houſe; and Son if thou wilt Satisfie my Juſtice, and Pay their debt, I ſhal give them to thee for a ſeed, and to be thy Bride and wife: well ſays Chriſt the mediator, Father I accept of the bargain, Lo I come to do thy will, O my God: Whereupon it comes to paſs (as the Apoſtle hath it, 2 Cor. 5. laſt,) That he is made ſin for us who knew no ſin, and we are made the righteouſneſs of God in him: For it was as really agreed in the Covenant of Redemption that he ſhould be made ſin for us, as it came to paſs in the actual execution of it: and thus way is made for the marriage. Fourthly when this is done, the marriage muſt be proclaimed through the world by the Preached Goſpel, the contract muſt be opened up and read, and ſinners conſent called for; We are told therein, that the Word is made flesh and dwelt amongſt us, and becauſe No man hath ſeen God at any time, the only begotten Son who is in the boſom of the Father, he declares him: as it is John 1.14, 15. He comes and reveals more clearly the contract, firſt in his own Perſon and by his own Miniſterie, and then by ſending his ſervants, and telling that all things are ready. Fifthly, the laſt thing to be removed is the uncircumciſion and ſtupidneſs of our hearts, naturally we are given to ſlight him in his offers, to refuſe to open to him, and to let him in, when he knocks, to make excuſe, to delay, ſhift and put him off, nay to refuſe to entertain his propoſal of Marriage, and to give him a repulſe: therefo e he comes by his Spirit, and puts in his finger by the hole of the door, and lets ſome Myrrhe drop on the handles of the lock, and powerfully but ſweetly inclines the heart to caſt it ſelf open to him; and then he performs the promiſes of Sanctification, Circumciſing the heart to love him with all the heart, and with all the Soul, as it is Deut. 30.6. And all theſe promiſes are contrived, framed and provided to meet with difficulties in us; we are told, John 6 44. That no man can come to Chriſt except the Father that ſent him draw him, and Pſal. 110.3. It is Promiſed, that in the day of his Power His people shal be willing: and whoever (being made willing) cometh shall in no wiſe be caſt out, John 6.37.
The Fourth Obſervation is, That by the Preaching of the Goſpel, whither ſo ever it cometh, and by the great things made offer of therein, all things are made ready; Obſtructions and what ever might hinder the cloſing of the Marriage are removed; the Father is ready, having declared his willingneſs to give his conſent; This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed, hear ye him, Matth. 3. I am well ſatisfied with him, take him to you for your head and husband: the Son is ready to take all by the hand that will embrace him: Pardon of Sin, Peace, with God, Sanctification, the manſion &c: are ready to be beſtowed: the feaſt is ready, the fatlings are prepared; the Promiſes are filled with every neceſſary good thing, there is bread enough in the Prodigals fathers houſe and to ſpare: the contract is ready, and an offer of it made on the Bridegrooms ſide: the terms are drawn up and put in Form, and all things agreed upon and ready, even to the Subſcription: and there is no more required, but that the hearers of this Goſpel heartilly conſent to take him, and ſubmit to his righteouſneſs and dominion: which if they do, all things ſhall be theirs, even life eternal, and all things that may fit them for it, Promiſes for this life and that which is to come, and Chriſt engaged to keep the bargain: and this is it that is preached every day to you, though, alace! unſuitably: ſo that it's not now, Who shall go up to Heaven and bring down Chriſt from above? or Who shall deſcend unto the deep, and bring him up from the dead? That we may get him to Marry: but the righteouſneſs of faith, ſaith the word, is near thee even in thy mouth, &c. Chriſts conſent is not to be asked or brought from afar, for he hath declared it in his word, and the terms of the contract are, if thou shalt confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and shalt believe with thy heart, that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou shalt be ſaved: Rom. 10.8, 9. Engage therefore honeſtly with Chriſt, and keep to him: deny your ſelves and cloſe wi…h him, give u… your ſelves to him, and ye ſhall be ſaved: and that is all one with this, to be married to him: yea the day of the Marriage is ſet; and that i… the day of the Goſpel, the Bridegroom is come to the Church, the Table is covered, and the Miniſters the Bridegrooms friends are waiting on, to eſpouſe you …o him and to make up the Marriage, ſo that all thin…s meet and requiſit for making peace betwix… God and ſinners are ready
The Fifth Obſervation was, that Chriſt the Bridegroom & his Father are very willing to have the match made up and the marriage compleated: therefore doth he ſend forth his ſervants with a ſtrict commiſſion, not only to tell ſinners that all things ready, but to bid them come to the Marriage: yea he not only wills them to tell that all things are ready, and to invite, but to Compel them (as Luke hath it Chap. 14.23.) to come in: to ſtirr them up and preſs them to it: to threaten them if they come not, and to accept no refuſal or na…-ſay: the evidences of his willingneſs are many, which I will not now inſiſt upon: as that he hath made the feaſt, and ſuch a feaſt, and prepared ſo for it, and given himſelf to bring it about, and keeps up the offer and Proclamation of the Marriage, even after it is ſlighted: all theſe and many moe tell plainly that the Father and Son are moſt heartily willing: therefore they expoſtulat when this Marriage is refuſed, O! Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem how often would I have gathered you, but you would not: Matth. 23. O! Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, if thou even thou, hadſt known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace; Luk 19. All theſe ſad complaints, that Iſrael would not hearken to his voice, and his people would have n ne of him. Pſal. 81 7. That he came to his own and his own received him not Joh. 1.11. And that they will not come to him that they might have life. Joh. 5.40. make out his willingneſs abundantly and undenyably.
The Sixth Obſervation was, That the great work of the M…niſters of the Goſpel i…, to invite unto, and to endeav…ur to bring this Marriage betwixt Chriſt a…d Souls to a cloſe: the Servants are ſent out for this very end, to conclude the bargain: Though he be Lord of all, yet he would not imploy in this work, Angels, neither would he ſpeak immediatly by his own voice from Heaven: for by rea…n of his greatneſs we could not have endured that way of wooing: but ſayeth on the matter to men, ſubject to the like paſſions and infirmities go tell that the King ha…h ſuch a Son, and that ye are ſent out to w…o in his Name, and make not only offer of Marriage, but requeſt, intreat, perſwade, pray and obteſt, yea command and compell them to come to the Marriage, by holding forth the curſe which comes on them that will not come: and hence are thoſe denounced woes and ſhaking of the duſt off …heir feet, for a Teſtimony againſt them that will not come.
The Seventh Obſervation was that i… is the duty of all to whom the good news of this marriage come to come to it, and when the… a…e invited to it, Preſently without all delay to yeeld. Needs there any proof of this? do not the Maſters ſending and the ſe…van…s coming call for it? do not his preparing of all things, his inviting to the Marriage, and his expoſtulating w…h them that come not, and our own great neceſſitie urgently require it?
The Eighth and laſt Obſervation was, that all they that come may expect a very good and heartſome welcome, none need to fear, that they ſhal not be made welcome, ſeeing they are come not uncalled, they ſhall not ſit unſerved: The Lord will not look down on ſuch as come: nay he is waiting on to welcome them, and to meet them, as it were Mid-way: as we ſee in the Parable of the Prodigal, Luke 15. His father ſtayes not till his ſon come to him, but ſeeing him afar-off coming, he runs with ſpeed to meet him, and then moſt affectionatly embraced him and falls on his neck and kiſſes him; and if the poor child ſhould ſay, I am not worthy to be called a Son. He anſwers that, not ſuffering him to ſpeak out all that he had reſolved to ſay; Even when the debaucht runagate had ſpent all by riotous living and would fain have told out the ſad and ſhameful ſtory of his groſſe miſcarriages and great unworthineſs he interrupts him and ſays, in a manner, Son hold thy peace as to that, I know well it is grievous to thee, go quickly and put on the robe, the Ring and the ſhoes that are provided for thee.
I come now in the Third place to make application of all; and is it poſſible to ſpeak or hear of this Subject, as becomes? who is ſufficient for theſe things; to ſpeak ſuitably in the name of the Lord, and to lay before you this contract of marriage with ſuch a Bridegroom? Beloved hearers, are ye in a ſuitable Poſture to tryſt with him? Do ye think that ye are for this Marriage? is it your ſerious purpoſe to cloſe the bargain with him? If ſo, Pray the Lord to give us to ſpeak and you to hear the word in ſuch manner as it may be a marriage-day indeed: there are very good news here, and bleſſed eternally be God, that ever we heard them, or had them to ſpeak of, and that ye have them yet to hear; they ſhould make your very ſouls, in a manner, flighter within you, and make you to rouze up your ſelves, to welcome them with gladneſs of heart.
And therefore Firſt, we would exhort you all to believe this report; there are alace! but few who doe indeed believe, that the Eternal God hath this deſign of a marriage betwixt him and ſinners? Therefore let not your hearts be ſtraitned, only believe that this is the good word of God, that theſe are the faithful & true ſayings of him that cannot lie, and that he is waiting on to ratifie them to all who give them Credit: It's ſomewhat hard to deliver or receive a word of threatning in faith, but in ſome reſpect, more hard to believe a word of Promiſe and of conſolation; It is Proportionably hard to look upon this as Gods own offering of a marriage with his Son, as if he himſelf were by vive voice ſpeaking it out of Heaven, and to believe that this offer is really his: and therefore as I deſire (as his Servant) to ſpeak to you, ſo I would, again and again, Obteſt you to be rouzed up, and to rouze up your ſelves to believe it. Secondly, Rouze, ſtretch and enlarge your underſtandings, and your hearts and affections, for beholding, conceiving and embracing this rich bargain of Grace: O! conſider ſeriouſly, from whom it is, For what end it is, how it is brought about, and doth come to you: the height and Depth, the Length and breadth whereof is inconceivable; be Holily amazed and wonder, that the offer of this marriage comes to you, and that he is content to marry you. Thirdly, In a word, would you know what we have to do with you, or what is our commiſſion to you this day? This is even it, to tell you that the King hath made a marriage for his Son, and hath prepared and made all things ready for reuniting you to himſelf; yea this ſame King that hath made this wedding ready, and hath carved out this way of throughing his deſigne, by ſpeaking to you in his Word by his ſervants, ſpeaks to you by us, and we ſpeak to you in his name and tell you, tha… our bleſſed Lord Jeſus is wooing you; we declare, publiſh and proclaim it: O! take notice of it, our Lord Jeſus is not far to ſeek, he is here waiting on to cloſe …he bargain w…th you: This is our errand to proclaim theſe glad t…dings to you; and what glader tydings could yo… wiſh, then to have it told you, tha… …e may be happy and eaſily happy, and that if ye be content …o be ſo, the…e is no…hing that might mar… …his happineſs, but it is …emove and taken ou… of the way: Is not the Fa…e… ready? He hath given his conſent; is no… the Bridegroom ready, when he hath done ſo much and is waiting on your conſent? the Feaſt is ready, and the Garments are ready, and there is n… more to do, but t take and put them on; a…d fa…h exe…ciſed on him w…l … both; the Con…ract is ready, and there is nothing …o … changed o… altered in it; and He is ready to accep… o… you, if ye will accept o… him; our bleſſed Lord Jeſus ſays, he is c…n…e… …o marry you; and there is no more to do, but to ſubſc…ibe your name to the contract i… you want clothes he will give them to you; …f ye want a houſe, if ye want meat or drink, he will provide for you, what ever it be that you really ſtand in need of for Soul or body, in time o… eternity, ye ſhall have … from him; The promiſes a…e filled with all things tha… p…ain to life and godlineſs, to h…s life and to tha… which is to come; there is in effect n thing wanting but your conſent, and let not tha be wantng, I beſeech you.
I… proſecuting this purpoſe, I ſhall ſpeak a litle. 1. T… thoſe to whom the offer is made, or to thoſe wh… a e called 2. To wha… they a…e called …o 3. To the terms on which they are called. 4. To the manner how ye ſhould come. 5. To the Peremptorineſs of the call, and to the necesſitie of coming, And 6. (If it be Poſſible to win at it) a word to ſome motives, whereby ye may be Preſſed to come, and not to neglect the opportunity of ſuch a Precious Seaſon of Grace.
For the Firſt; it is not one or two or ſome few that are called, not the great only, nor the Smal only, not the holy only, nor the Profane only, but ye are all bidden, the call comes to all and every one of you in Particular, Poor and rich, high and low, holy and prophane; Ho (Proclaimeth the Lord, as it were, with an Oyas Iſa. 55.1.) Every one that thirſts, come, and he that hath no money, Let him come: whoſoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely, Rev. 22.17. Our bleſſed Lord Jeſus is not ſtraitned in his call; and we may humbly ſay in ſome meaſure, that we are not ſtraitened in our bowels; in his name we invite all of you, and make offer of Jeſus Chriſt to be your Husband; that ye may have a room among them that stand by, and be with him for ever: I ſay we make this offer to all of you, to you that are Atheiſts, to you that are Graceleſs, to you that are Ignorant, to you that are Hypocrits, to you that are Lazie and Luk-warm, to the Civil and to the Prophane; We pray, We beſeech, We obteſt you all to come to the wedding; Call (ſayeth the Lord) the blind, the maimed, the halt, &c. Bid them all come, Yea compel them to come in: Grace can do moe & greater wonders then to call ſuch, it cannot only make the offer of the Marriage to them; but it can make up the Match effectually betwixt Chriſt and them: We will not, we dare not ſay, that all of you will get Chriſt for a Husband, but we do moſt really offer him to you all, and it ſhall be your own fault if ye want him and go without him. And therefore before we proceed any further, we do Solemnly Proteſt, and before God & his Son Jeſus Chriſt, take inſtruments this day, that this offer is made to you; and that it is told to you in his name, that the Lord Jeſus is willing to match with you, even the profaneſt and moſt graceleſs of you, if ye be willing to match with him; and he earneſtly invites you to come to the wedding: if you can touch at any thing on his ſide, that is not ready, or at any thing on your ſide, but it may through grace be made ready if ye will come, you may: but its impoſſible: for the Covenant is well o…dered and ſure, and that in all things, and theſe words are not the words of men, but the Words of the true and faithful witneſs, which ye muſt count and reckon for, when we are dead and gone: He hath killed his Oxen and Fatlings, and prepared his dinner and bid his gueſts: all things are ready, in the due order and manner, whether on your ſide or on his, if ye be willing to ſtep to and make the bargain, he hath drawn up the contract, and ſent us out with it to you, to crave your ſubſcription, and if ye be ready for that, he craves no more of you: Now, I put you all to it, whether will ye ſubſcribe it or not? and I would not put one of you without the reach of this invitation; however we be, Alace! much carnal in ſpeaking his mind, yet we deſire not to obſcure nor limit our Lords grace, he calls all of you to the wedding, he hath ſent us out as his Servants (though of all the moſt unworthy) to cloſe and conclude the contract of Marriage with you this day, if you be willing. Come then, O come and ſubſcribe, and it ſhall be in very deed a bargain, if ye can through Grace ſay from your hearts, We will take him, then I ſay to you, take him and have him with the Fathers blesſing; our commiſſion is not only to offer him, and to invite you to take him, but to cloſe a bargain betwixt him and you who are content to take him: we would (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Cor. 11.2) Eſpouſe you to one huſband, that we m ght preſent you a chaſt Virgin to Chriſt, and have you hand-faſted to him, as the word is: and this is very well becoming one of the dayes of the Son of man, and one of ſuch ſeaſons of his grace, to make this offer to great and ſmall, rich and Poor, learned and unlearned, Gracious and Graceleſs, Hypocrites and prophane; there is here no exception of perſons with him; the bleſſed God is content to match with the moſt graceleſs and Godleſs of you, as well as with thoſe who are gracious and Godly; There is joy in heaven at the converſion of a ſinner, and the price was payed for the Elect, that are yet Graceleſs, as well as for theſe of them who are now gracious; for all were once in the ſame condition; Therefore look not with narrow and ſtraitned hearts on the Rich and liberal allowance of our Bleſſed Lord Jeſus.
But Secondly, what is it that we call you to, when we bid you come to the Marriage; It's not to the Communion only, It's not to any of Chriſts benefits only, it's not to ſay at firſt hand confidently that all is yours, or to have a ſure knowledge (as ye call it) and perſwaſion at the very firſt that it is ſo; though I heartily wiſh that ye may find this Perſwaſion on ſolid and good grounds; but it is firſt and mainly to marry the Bridegroom, and then to come to the Feaſt: We call you to believe, and we declare in his Name, that if ye will betake your ſelves to him in good earneſt, ye ſhall be ſaved: If ye will as it were, put your hand to the Pen, and Subſcribe your ſelves heartily content to take him, ye ſhall moſt certainly have him and all his benefits: ye that are Prophane take him, but not to live ſtill in your Profanity, but to ſtudy Holineſs in all manner of converſation in his ſtrength; Ye that are ſelf-righteous take him, but not to live ſtill in the good conceit of your ſelf-righteouſneſs, but to renounce it, and to take him for your righteouſneſs; ye that are blind take him, but not to live ſtill in your blindneſs, but to grow in grace and in the knowledge of him: whatever ye be, and whatever ill aileth you, take him, but not to continue in the ill, but to get it amended: This ſure is no leſs then to call you to the communion, yea it is more, whether therefore ye come to the Communion or not, we call and invite you all to come to Chriſt, and to marry Him; which if ye do, we dare Promiſe you in his name, begun Communion with him here, & full communion with him in Heaven hereafter.
Thirdly what are the termes on which ye are called and may warrantably come to this marriage? I need not ſtand on the terms on his ſide, nor to tell you what he promiſeth, It's this in a word, I will be for thee: He is content to make over all that is his to you; Pardon of Sin, Juſtification, Sanctification, his Spirit to quicken you, even his whole Purchaſe to enrich you: in Sum (as it is, 1 Cor. 1.31.) He is made of God unto you Wiſdome, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption; He hath made all things yours (as it is 1 Cor. 3.21.) And in him ye are compleat, (as the Apoſtle hath it, Col. 2.10.) Ye need never go out of him, to ſeek for any thing truly good that ye ſtand in need of. And on the other hand, what ſeeks be of you but to be for him and not for another: (as it is Hoſ. 3.) He ſeeks no hard condition: In Sum it may be comprehended in that word 1 Cor. 1.31. That he that glorieth may glory in the Lord: not to glory or boaſt in any thing or in our ſelves, but of him, and in him. But for clearneſs cauſe I ſhall draw the termes on your ſide to theſe there. 1 You muſt deny your ſelf, Your luſts, and Idols and your own righteouſneſs: Where is boaſting then? (ſayeth the Apoſtle Rom. 3.27.) It is excluded; by what law, of works? nay, but the law of Faith: Ye then that would Marry Chriſt and ſhare indeed in the feaſt; ye muſt have a ſight of that which ye want; and of your own inability to make it up: and that ye are undone in your ſelves without him, to him that worketh not, but Believeth on him that Juſtifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteouſneſs: That is, to him that expects nothing by his works, but betakes himſelf to Chriſt and his righteouſneſs for his Juſtification before God: and that is no unreaſonable condition. Secondly as ye would not glory in your ſelves, ſo ye would glory in him: what ever ye deny in your ſelves ye would put him in the room of it: If ye dare not lippen or truſt your ſouls to your own righteouſneſs, lippen or truſt them to his: He ſayes I am content to pay your debt, and ſince ye canno… pay your own debt your ſelves, ſay humbly to him, bleſſed Lord Jeſus pay our debt for us; He is the end of the Law for Righteouſneſs to every one that believeth Rom. 10.3. When he offers himſelf, take him thus, and let Faith ſay, ſobeit Lord, I accept of the bargain, Q! hold to it and quit it not. Thirdly, It is required that ye ſhall be his and have no Power over your ſelves: and this takes in Sanctification, dying to ſin and living to Righteouſneſs, adorning the Goſpel, living anſwerably to the ſeverall relations ye ſtand in: for though Mortification and holineſs be not the cauſe, for which he marries, yet it is a condition of the contract; and it well becomes his Bride to be dutifull: Thou shalt be for me, and I will be for thee, If he will graciouſly pleaſe to be for us, it's all the reaſon in the World that we ſhould be for him: Now we know ſomewhat of the terms, which may all come in under theſe three, there are many conditions on his ſide and but few on ours.
Fourthly ye would conſider the Peremptorineſs of this call, to accept of and to Marrie our Lord Jeſus Chriſt on theſe terms, it's not an ordinary complement, but purpoſed by the King the Father, and by the Kings Son the Bridgroom: He ſends out his Servants, who are come to call you Peremptorily: and there are three Peremptories, that this offer and call hath with it: all which three we carry in our commiſſion, and crave of you to Subſcribe to them. The 1. Whereof is; that ye take no other husband but this Bridegroom, there is no latitude left to you in this; ye muſt by no means engage with any other; It's only for Jeſus Chriſt that we woo, and we ſeek of you that ye would give him your ſouls, your hearts, and affections, that ye may be devoted to him and to no other; and therefore we intimat to you that are Married and Joyned to Idols, that ye muſt be divorced from thoſe and betake you to him alone The Second Is, the Peremptorineſs of the terms we ſpeak of; we cannot and ye muſt not alter one jote or title, Ye muſt deny your ſelves, ye muſt be content to be divorced from your luſts and Idols, ye muſt renounce your own righteouſneſs, and give up with the law your firſt husband, conſidered as a Covenant of works, and run out from the curſes thereof to him, which ye will never do; till ye ſee your own righteouſneſs to be as filthy rags, and reject it, as Part of your enditement, that ever ye truſted to it. Ye muſt forget your fathers houſe. 2. As you muſt deny your ſelves, ſo you muſt cloſe with Chriſt, and embrace him for your husband and Lord: do not think that ye will or can dwel beſide him, that ye can ſit and hear him: if ye Marrie him not. 3. Ye muſt be devoted to him in your converſation, he muſt needs be your King as well as your Prieſt; Ye muſt forſake Father and Mother and all your kindred and betake you to him, and ye muſt take up and keep houſe with him, you muſt dwel with him, and ſtudy to be anſwerable to the Marriage tye and obligation put upon you, we dare diſpenſe with none of the Three. The Third Peremptory is this, as ye muſt engage with no other, and as ye muſt not alter the terms, ſo ye muſt not delay to come and cloſe the bargain, ye muſt not put off till to morrow, nay not an hour; All things are ready, Juſt now, Now is the accepted time; Here ſtands the bleſted Bridgroom, here are the conditions and terms on which he will marry you, and we as the Bridegrooms friends ſtand ready to eſpouſe you to him: We dare not be anſwerable to our Maſter, nor can we be anſwerable to our truſt and commiſſion, if we ſhuffle by, or thruſt out any of you, if ye do not thruſt out your ſelves, nor may we admite of an excuſe from any of you: and therefore let me again ſay to you, that here is not only a marriage, and of all marriages the moſt excellent; but let me beſeech and obteſt you to come to the wedding; either come or give a reaſon why ye will not, or cannot: as you can aſſigne no relevant reaſon for your not coming, we dare not accept of any Irrelevant reaſon, nor admit of any anſwer but this, that ye will take him: we dare admit of no excuſe: ye muſt not ſhift nor delay: ye would think that thoſe who were bidden Luke 14. might have come, when they had ſeen their Farme and proved their Oxen: but that would not be with them: So I ſay it will not be with you, to ſhift this offer: He is here waiting on to ſee who will conſent and ſay even ſo I take him: Say it, O ſay it ſeriouſly and abide by it.
Q! Are there any here now looking up to him? Are there any here that would fain have it a cloſed bargain? Are there any here that believe theſe things as the truths of God? Then we pray you let them ſink down into your hearts, and come. And to preſs this a little further, let me ask, what can hinder the making of this bargain? is it the want of notice or timeous intimation of it? That cannot he, ye are clearly convinced of the contrary: Is it becauſe ye will or can be happy without him? Wo to that happineſs: is it any difficulty ſtanding in the way? That ſhall be removed, yea as to him it is removed already, and ſhall be as to you on your cloſing with him: Poſe and put your own hearts to it then, Is there any of you that dare or can find in your hea…ts to refuſe? the Lord is waiting on; his faithfulneſs is engaged to make out what he offereth; He ſtretcheth out his hand, and ſayeth, Even ſo I take you, if ye will take me; are ye content to ſtretch forth your hand and to ſay, Even ſo I take thee bleſſed Lord Jeſus: or if this be not win at to Satisfaction, are there any rouzing and ſtretching themſelves to eſſay how it will go with them? what are ye doing? Is it a bargain or not? ye muſt ſay, yea or nay, and that even now; We ſuppoſe ye will not ſay down right, nay: though more then probably many will delay: but this muſt not be, the Table may be drawn, other gueſts may be called in and ye removed: we cannot allow you an hours time to adviſe, eſpecially from indifferency, yea if ye begin to take adviſement for ſhifting a preſent cloſure, Chriſts call and invitation, and your conſenting will readily cool upon your hand: Paul ſayes that he conſulted not with flesh and blood: So muſt not ye conſult with fleſh and blood in this matter, ye muſt caſt away the beggars cloak, be content to deny your ſelf, quite your luſts, and cloſe with him preſently, or ye may never have the like opportunity, There is a neceſſity impoſed on you from the command to come, from the curſe and prejudice that abides you, and will certainly overtake you if you come not: ye will be eternalie miſerable without him, there is no happineſs but in him: The King is on his Throne, the Table is ſet and covered, the day is fixed, his Servants invite in his name: come therefore, come without further lingering, dallying, ſhifting or delay: alace! there are too many dayes put by already, ye muſt put by no moe.
Now let me ſpeak a word further to this purpoſe, what can marr the matter, what can obſtruct its being a bargain? certainly it muſt be one of three: Either firſt: becauſe ye are not content with the Bridegroom, Or Secondly becauſe ye are not content with the terms. Or Thirdly becauſe ye are not content with your ſelves or with ſome thing in your ſelves: As for the Firſt: I ſuppoſe ye can ſay nothing againſt the Bridegroom: is there any other like to him or that can compare with him; I appeal even to you Atheiſts, and Profane Wretches, that live and ly in your Luſts, Is there a beloved like this Beloved? hath He a match in Heaven or Earth? Is He not the Kings Son? and if ye ask who that is, ye may hear and know from Pſal. 24. The King of Glory, the Lord of Hoſts, ſtrong and mighty in Battel, and from Heb 1.3. The brightneſs of the Fathers Glory, the expreſs Image of his Perſon, upholding all things by the word of his Power: There is none like him, but the Father, and the Holy Spirit, and as God he is one with them, ye have both the Queſtion and anſwer, Cant. 5.9. What is thy beloved more then another Beloved? What is yonder Chriſt of whom we hear ſo much? The anſwer is given (which we cannot ſtay now to Paraphaſe upon) He is white and ruddi…, the chiefeſt, or Standard bearer among ten thouſands, Fairer then the Sons of men; and if ye would know him more Particularly, His head is as the moſt fine gold, He is God: His locks (or his hair) are bushie and black as a Raven: there is not the leaſt unſeemlineſs, even in thoſe things that would, to our thinking, ſeem leſs neceſſary, as his hair; Yea his very Garments ſmel of Myrrhe, Aloes, and Caſsia, (as it is Pſal. 45.) His eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the Rivers of waters washed with milk and fitly ſet, O! ſo lovely as his Properties are, his Cheeks as beds of Spices, as ſweet flowers: His lips like Lilies dropping ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe: his hands, as Gold rings ſet with Berill: His belly (or bowels of love and affection) Like the bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires: His legs like pillars of Marble ſet upon Sockets of fine Gold: His Countenance like Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars: O! So excellent and ſtately: His mouth is moſt ſweet, or (as the word is) ſweetneſs, in the abſtract: never ſoul kiſſed his mouth, but there was a bond thereby laid on it, that it could never again part with him: in a word, He is altogether lovely, or (as the word is) all deſires: there is nothing that Souls can deſire but it is in him: and there is nothing in him, but what has deſireableneſs in it: This is my beloved and this is my Friend (ſays the Bride) O! ye Daughters of Jeruſalem: this is He, he is ſure no common or ordinary Beloved: ſee if among all the beloveds in Heaven or earth there be any like Him: O! Ye deſpiſers and ſlighters of the Son of God, put your ſelves to it, Is there any like him to be found? has he not the preference of and the Preheminence above all beloveds? He is the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and truth; He is the mighty God, the wonderfull Counſeller, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace. It would well become us all to be wondering at him, and to be drawing near to him, to behold Him in his beauty; To go forth and Behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his eſpouſals: O! take a ſtayed view of him in his Perſonall excellencies and in the excellent qualifications of this Mediatory Office, and it cannot be that on this ground ye will caſt at the Match, Will any of you dare to ſay it or to abide by it, that ye will not Marry Chriſt, becauſe ye think nothing of him, or becauſe he is not worthy to be thought of? We ſuppoſe none will do ſo.
If it be the Second, viz. The terms, That ye are not content with; ye would have Chriſt, Grace, and Glory, and every good thing; but here it ſticketh, you look at it as an hard matter to be denyed to your ſelf and to be wholly Gods, to renounce your own righteouſneſs, and your luſts, & your Idols, to be abſolutely devoted to him and wholly dependent on him in your walk, As the evil & the ſlothfull Servant called him a hard Maſter; So do many think of him, though they will not down right ſay ſo much in expreſs words: But I would ask you, is there any unreaſonable thing here? Or ſhall all thoſe termes be ſought after, in ſome reſpect, in the Marriage of a poor creature like your ſelves? And will ye deny them to Chriſt? 1. If you get his righteouſneſs; ſhould ye not deny your own? If ye come under the Covenant of Grace with him, is there any prejudice to lay by the Covenant of works? If ye get him for your ſecond Husband, and infinitly beſt, is it any prejudice to quit your firſt husband the Law? And in that reſpect is it reaſonable to caſt at the bargain, becauſe it is free? Secondly, Is it not reaſonable that ye ſhould give him the room of all things? If He be able to fill the room of all, let him have his room, as being well worthy of it; It is your advantage to quit your luſts and ſinfull pleaſures, your covetouſneſs, Pride, vanity, ſelf conceit, &c. To exchange all for him; and if ye be not content of this condition, ye ſay he is not worth the having. 3. Is it not reaſonable that ye ſhould be devoted to him in your Converſation? That ye ſhould no longer Play the harlot, but be as a chaſt Virgin to him? Is it any advantage to you to follow your Idols, that wil go betwixt you and happineſs? If Heaven be an advantage, it is your advantage to quit them and be for Chriſt; Or is it any Prejudice to be Holy? Or will ye quit Chriſt, becauſe ye muſt be Holy? Or will ye refuſe him becauſe he will not ſuffer you, to your ruine, to take your own will as formerly? yea it is not only reaſonable, but very good and Profitable; Nay there is a neceſſity you ſhould be Holy, and may not love to him looſe your heart from ſin? There was another ſort of conſolation, and other bowels of love at the firſt making of the Bargain betwixt the Father and the Son; and it was calculated for more honourable deſignes, and levelled to more Noble ends then any thing the Devil, or the World, or the fleſh can Promiſe to you: and any of you that will ſtand and ſtick at the termes that are ſo juſt equitable and every way reaſonable and eaſie with all, we take your own conſciences to be witneſſes that they are ſo, and you dare not avouch the denyall of their being ſo: If ye be content to take him, to be reconciled, and made friends with God by his ſatisfaction; and to be made Holy by his Sanctifieing Spirit, to be for him as he ſhall be for you; It is a bargain: and what, I pray, ailes you at ſuch a ba…gain; If this be not made, ye ſhall never be able to make ſuch another: What ſhould ye do then, but come to the wedding; It's not time to diſpute or debate, but to cloſe: Say, O! ſay ſincerely, as thoſe do, Jeremie. 3.22. Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God; When He ſayes, as he did to them, returne ye backſliding children, and I will heal your backslidings; turn it over to him, and ſay, Behold we come unto thee.
Thirdly, Are ye not content with your ſelves, or with ſomething in your ſelves? Do ye indeed think and ſay, that it is a good bargain, and that the terms are very reaſonable and eaſie; and we have nothing to ſay againſt them; but we have, alas! much to ſay of and againſt our ſelves; The bargain pleaſeth us wondrous well, and ſo do the terms; but we are not at all pleaſed with our ſelves. I anſwer, 1. May ye not then the better quit and deny your ſelves, and take Chriſt in the room and place of ſelf? 2. I Anſ. Chriſt makes no ſuch objection, He bids the moſt Prophane, the moſt Ignorant and Graceleſs wretch, the moſt Hypocriticall diſſembler, that never knew what it was to be honeſt come, and aſſures them that they ſhall be welcome, if they will come indeed.
Object. But I can do nothing, I cannot keep a word word that I ſay to Chriſt; I Anſwer, Engage and conſent to cloſe with Chriſt on his own terms, and doing and keeping ſhall follow, to give thy conſent is that which thou art now called to, and he engages to help thee to perform.
Object. But ſhall I take on an engagement, preſently to break it again? I Anſwer, If indeed thou conſent; thou mayeſt …ail and break, but the covenant will never be utterly broken nor diſſolved; yea thou ſhalt have ſurety for thy keeping of it; Foraſmuch as (ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 7.22.) Jeſus was made Suretie of a better Teſtament.
If ye Object and ſay; that ye have much ſin, that ye are Lothſome, and Abominable; Subſcribe this Contract and bargain, and ye have a free and full diſcharge of all your debt; I will (ſayeth the Lord Hoſea. 2 19) Betroth thee unto me in loving kindneſs, and mercies; He will pardon your iniquities; There is no exact or ſevere ſeeking and ſearching out of the debt here, where it's ingenuouſly taken with, but rather a covering of it; He will alſo cleanſe you from all your filthineſs, and from all your Idols.
But it may be thou wilt Object, And ſay, I will rather purpoſe then engage, becauſe I fear I ſhall break it.
Anſwer, But is it likely that thou wilt make good ſuch a purpoſe, who dareſt not engage? Or will purpoſes and reſolutions do the buſineſs without performing? Purpoſes of Marriage make not the Marriage? It is actuall conſent and engaging which doth that.
But thou wilt Object, And ſay, alace! I am not in a right frame; I am very confuſed; all things are wrong with me. Anſwer, What is this thou ſayeſt? Will your frame be amended without Chriſt? will thoſe ſwarms of Corruptions be beat out before thou take in the King of Glory, who is ſtrong and mighty in Battel?
But thou wilt Object. I am not clear as to my intereſt. Anſ. Wilt thou not conſent till thou be clear, that is as much as to ſay, thou art doubting, but that thou wilt not put it out of doubt; if thou be unclear as to thy Subſcription, rather Subſcribe & write thy name over again: if ye have not at all Subſcribed, take now the pen and do it; ſay, Lord Jeſus, I come to thee and will be thine.
Object. Alace! fain would I come to the wedding, but I cannot come, it will not do with me; I would fain believe, but my Faith is not Prompt and ready. I Anſwer. Is not the Covenant provided with an anſwer to that alſo? It calls for nothing but for your Subſcribing; and if ye ſay ye cannot; look well that it be not a ſhift; it comes to this, yea or nay, and if ye ſay, ye cannot ſay Yea in Faith, which yet thou wouldeſt fain be at; is there not a promiſe of Grace, that though your hand be as it were withered, if ye mint and eſſay, you ſhall be enabled to ſtretch it forth: Faith may come in the very eſſaying to grip him, only eſſay it and it ſhall go with you.
Object. I have eſſayed it often, and it hath not gone with me; Anſ. Eſſay it again and caſt a new knot; If your evidence be not clear, Subſcribe over again.
Object. But it goes not with me, when all is done, I cannot believe, I would Subſcribe, but I cannot writ (as it were) I cannot diſtinctly act Faith. Anſ. What is that? Our Lord ſtands not on that, though you cannot write well, do as ye can: It's ſtrange to ſee, how ſomes Subſcription is almoſt like a ſcratching with Crow-toes, yet it's a valid Subſcription; ſome again will write down their mark in place of their name, and that alſo where it is well known, is admitted as valid; if you cannot (as it were) write your name in fair and legible Letters, ſet down ſome Mark, if it were but two ſcores or lines in any form or figure, If ye cannot act Faith ſo diſtinctly, come on as you may; if ye cannot to your ſatisfaction ſay, Yea, with the heart, ſay it with the mouth, ſtriving and longing to have thy heart brought up; force thy ſelf (If I may ſpeak ſo) to believing; If thou shalt confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and shalt believe with thy heart, that God raiſed Him from the dead, thou shalt be ſaved, Rom. 10.9. Endeavour to make thy Mouth engage thine heart; bind thy ſelf faſt to Chriſt, even in a manner whether thou wilt or not: act Faith with the underſtanding, labouring honeſtly to bring up thy Will and affections and though ye win not now to a Faith that is diſtinct, it ſhall come in a due time: eſſay to ſet open the door, and it ſhall go with you.
Object. But my heart ſays, all theſe are but fair words? Anſ. Away with that blaſphemy, They are the truths of God: eſſay then, O! eſſay Seriouſly this way of Believing, and ye ſhall find power meeting you, The Pen is, as it were, lying by you, and albeit ye cannot write well and be diſtinct, take the Pen, and Chriſt ſhall (as it were) lead your hand and guide it, to write ſo, as it ſhall Paſs in Heaven for a Subſcribed conſent: ſet your ſelves to give him a welcome, and he ſhall account it to be a welcome. Say now, what more ye have to ſay; lay out your ſcruples; this word, all things are ready, will anſwer them all: the garment is ready to be put on, yea Jeſus Chriſt is your Wedding Garment, take and put him on: He is the cure for all your diſeaſes, apply him for the cure of them all; ye cannot certainly be clothed, before you put on the garment: neither can ye be Healed, before ye apply the cure: ye cannot by any means be rich, till ye marry him. But beſide all theſe, there are ſeveral other needleſly diſquieting ſcruples, there are many other ſhifts (and alace! that there ſhould be ſuch triffling, if I may call it ſo, ſuch whining, as it were, and ſtanding on Ceremonies (to ſpeak ſo) with our Lord,) among which this is one, I wot not If I be in the Covenant and Contract of Redemption, I know not if I be one of Gods elect: Anſ. What is this? ye know not well what ye ſay: have ye any thing to do with that ſecret by a leap and at Firſt hand? are ye not called to Marry Chriſt? Is not that his revealed will to you? I proteſt in his name, this is the thing that ye are called to: and will ye make an exception, where he has made none? Or will ye ſhift obedience to a clear command, upon a ſuppoſed decree, which you cannot know but by the effects? Will ye reaſon ſo in the matter of your eating and drinking? upon a ſuppoſition that God hath decreed, that ye ſhall die to Morrow or within a few dayes, will ye this day not take your dinner, nor make uſe of any refreſhment, till that ſuppoſed day come? Or becauſe ye know not, if God hath appointed you to live ſo and ſo long? Will ye forbear therefore your callings? Or will any of you, in ſeeking after a match in the World, reaſon ſo? Will ye not ſeek after nor Marry ſuch a Woman, till ye be clear that God hath decreed her to be your Wife? When or whom would ye Marry at this rate of reaſoning? But 2. Becauſe there is a ſort of facultie and facilitie here to diſpute againſt God, I anſwer by way of queſtion, were there ever any that had that doubt cleared to them before they came to Chriſt? whoever would have come to him, if they had ſtayed till that had been taken out of the way? Or hath the Lord told that to any before they came? Hath he ſaid to them, believe for ye are Elected: but his method is thus, believe, and ye ſhall know in due time that ye are Elected. 3 Is there any that can ſay, that the offer or the refuſall of the match depended on this? If any of you will ſay, becauſe I was not elected, he refuſed me: He will anſwer, How often would I have gathered you? And there will need no more ground for ſentencing Profeſſors of the Goſpel to deſtruction, then this, Man, woman, thou hadſt the offer of the Goſpel and refuſedſt it, therefore go to thy place: he will not Judge you according to the decree of reprobation, but according to his call and your diſobedience to it: And further ye may take Chriſts Anſwer to this Objection, from John 6.39. Where there are two wills, or rather two things willed, of equal extent betwixt the Father and Chriſt in the Covenant of Redemption, under which all the elect come: The Firſt is verſ. 39. This is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all that he hath given me, I should loſe nothing; But, as if he had ſaid, this is not it that ye have to do with at firſt hand: Therefore verſ. 40. He ſayes. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one that ſeeth the Son and Believeth on Him may have everlaſting life: Not that all the elect ſhould know that they are elected, before they Believe; but that he that Believes in Him, may know that he is Elected: He gives the ſame promiſe to them that Believe, that is given to them that are Elected: and they are diſtinguiſhed, becauſe He would have them to come under diſtinct conſiderations.
And now to conclude, Is there not need, great need to come? and have ye not good warrand to come? Lay by, therefore, ſeeking ſatisfaction to ſenſe and carnal reaſon: and …hile the Lord ſayes, All things are ready, come to the Marriage: It will be greatly to your prejudice, to ſit or ſhift the invitation: ye have the Contract laid before you, alter not the Terms, diſpute not, delay not: This is our Commiſſion to you to day, We tell you that the King hath made ready for the Feaſt, yea all things are ready come then and let there be no more debate about the matter: if ye will but ſay it and ſay it in earneſt, Here Lord Jeſus I give up my ſelf to thee, and though my conſent be now but confuſed, I shall endeavour, through Grace to give it more clearly and diſtinctly another time: It ſhall go well with you: only deliver up your ſelves to him: and in the Lords Name I tell you, that ye ſhall be dearly welcome: as many as come humbly lothing themſelves, wond'ring at the free Grace of God, and Highly eſteeming of Precious and lovely Jeſus, and adventuring to hazard their ſouls on him on his own terms, and to take him for their Husband and Lord: It ſhall not be accounted Preſumption in them ſo to do: nay (as it is Cant. 3.) The bottom of his Chariot is Paved with love, and it's for the daughters of Jeruſalem: It is made for carrying and keeping Believers: leap hither (if I may ſpeak ſo) and ye will fall ſoft, into a ſweetly Perfumed and ſoft bed, even in the arms of Chriſt: There was never a Carpet, never a feather or doun-bed ſo ſoft as that is: only come and caſt your ſelves over on it: Though ye think that ye cannot apprehend and take hold of him, He can and will apprehend and take hold of you; and He is ſo very tender hearted, that he will kiſſe you and even weep over you for joy, (as it were) on your neck: and if ye have no Garments, Rings or Jewels (to ſpeake ſo) to adorne you, He will give theſe to you: Come forward then, come, O! come, and let it be a day of Covenanting with him: and in ſigne and token thereof give up your names to him: and for confirmation, take the Seal of His Covenant the Sacrament with your hand, and bleſs Him with your heart, that ſo heartily welcomes you; and the bleſſing of God ſhall come upon you that come on theſe terms.