Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Table of contents
The Principal HEADS in this Book.
LUKE XIV. 16, 17.
THe Text Opened. p. 1.
DOCT. God's Inviting Sinners to accept of Spiritual Saving Benefits Offer'd in the Goſpel, may be Compar'd to a Great Man's Inviting many to a Sumptuous Feaſt. p. 4.
1. Various Sorts of Perſons are commonly Invited to a Great Feaſt; ſo, Saving Benefits are Offer'd in the Goſpel. p. 4.
1. Both to Men and Women. p. 5.
2. To Perſons of Various Nations. p. 6.
3. To Perſons Old and Young, p. 8.
1. To Old. p. 8.
2. To Young. p. 10.
Young Ones Advis'd and Directed in Thirteen Particulars. p. 12.
4. To Perſons High and Low. p. 19.
5. To Rich and Poor. p. 22.
6. To Bond and Free. p. 28.
2. At a Great Feaſt there's commonly Variety of Entertainment, Things for Neceſſity, and for Innocent Delight and Pleaſure: So the Goſpel Invites Sinners to what's Neceſſary for them, and if they Comply they ſhall have the Trueſt and Greateſt Pleaſure. This ſet forth in Seventeen Particulars, and Apply'd in Four. p. 31.
3. In a Great Feaſt, there's commonly Plenty, a Sufficiency for all that come: So there's enough in Chriſt to Save all that come to Him. This ſet forth in Six Particulars. p. 54.
4. When a Perſon makes a Great Feaſt and Invites many, it's commonly Matter of Coſt and Charge to him: So 'tis Coſt and Charge to God and Chriſt, to provide the Bleſſings Sinners are Invited to in the Goſpel. Here are Six Particulars. p. 64.
5. What Perſons are Invited to at a Feaſt, is at Free-Coſt as to them: So Salvation is Freely Offered in the Goſpel. Here Seven Particulars. p. 69.
6. Servants are Imployed in Inviting to a Feaſt: So Miniſters are Employed in Inviting Sinners to Chriſt. Here Nine Particulars. p. 74.
7. Thoſe Bidden to a Feaſt, ſhould be Civil and Social in their Carriage one to another: So Chriſtians ſhould be Kind and Loving to each other. p. 87.
8. Thoſe who come to a Feaſt, ſhould be Thankful for the Bounty of the Inviter: So Chriſtians ſhould be moſt Thankful to God and Chriſt for Saving Benefits. p. 88.
LUKE XIV. 18.—20. p. 91.
DOCT. I. Men are Naturally apt to make Objections againſt accepting Goſpel Invitations. p. 92.
This proceeds from the Corruption of their Nature, their Ignorance, Hardneſs of Heart, Cuſtomarineſs in Sin, from Satans Temptations. p. 93.
USE. We ſhould Bewail the Depravation of our Nature. p. 98.
Saints ſhould be Thankful for Renewing Grace, Sinners ſhould Pray for it. p. 99.
DOCT. II. When Perſons Neglect Goſpel Invitations, it's commonly becauſe they are more deſirous of ſome other Things; as Worldly Profits, Honours, Pleaſures. p. 103.
DOCT. III. Perſons are apt to make Excuſes for their Sin. p. 107.
Therefore we ſhould Pray, (1) That God would give us an openeſs and readineſs of Heart to Confeſs our Sins. (2.) That He would incline and ſtrengthen us to Duty. p. 109.
DOCT. IV. Perſons are apt to make VARIOUS Excuſes for their Sins, or the Neglect of their Duties. p. 111. Some would be Excus'd from coming to Chriſt and Living to Him,
1. Becauſe of the Difficulties and Sufferings attending ſuch a Life. This Reply'd to in Nine Particulars. p. 112.
2. They think they are ſafe and well enough already; this hinders their coming to Chriſt. p. 125.
Anſwer'd in Four Particulars. p. 128.
3. Becauſe they Doubt there's no Saving Mercy for ſuch Abominable Sinners as they are. p. 132.
This Anſwer'd in Seven Particulars. p 133
4. They Excuſe themſelves by pleading their own Inability. This Anſwered in Three Particulars. p. 140.
LUKE XIV. 21.—24. p. 144.
DOCT. I. Servants ſhould Obey, and are Accountable to their Maſters. p. 145.
Here Three Particulars. p. 146.
DOCT. II. If ſome Sinners Refuſe the Offers of Salvation, this can't hindder God from making the like Offer to others. p 152.
Therefore, (1.) Let no… think that God would be really Obl…ed or Indebted to them, if they ſho…ld Heartily Accept the Offers of the Goſpel. (2.) Let not any Neglect coming to Chriſt, meerly becauſe others Refuſe Him p 153
DOCT. III. God is very ready and earneſt, to Offer unto Sinners Salvation thro' Chriſt. p. 156.
DOCT. IV. Miniſters ſhould be SPEEDY and URGENT, in Inviting Sinners to Chriſt. p. 159.
Eight Reaſons why they ſhould be SPEEDY in this. p. 160.
They ſhould be URGENT too, Compel them to come in; therefore they ſhould ſhow them the Abſolute Neceſſity of coming to Chriſt, and think no Pains too great in Inviting them. p. 165.
DOCT. V. No meaneſs of Outward Circumſtances, can exclude or hinder any from Goſpel Benefits. p. 172.
They can't be hindered by Poverty, Blindneſs, Lameneſs, or want of a Setled Habitation. p. 173.
Applyed in three Articles. p. 175.
DOCT. VI. Miniſters of the Goſpel ſhould be well Acqainted with the Fulneſs and Alſufficiency of Chriſt. p. 176.
DOCT. VII. God would have MANY Sinners come to Chriſt. p. 180.
DOCT. VIII. Thoſe who Refuſe to come to Chriſt, ſhall Periſh for ever. p. 182.
Their Miſery muſt needs be great if we Conſider,
1. How 'tis Deſcribed in Scripture. p. 184.
2. The Damned in Hell will be deſtitute of all Good and Comfort. p. 185.
3. They will have the worſt Companions that can be in their Miſery. p. 186.
4. They ſhall be Tormented in their Whole Man, both Body and Soul. p. 188.
5. God will Glorify Himſelf in Tormenting of them. p. 189.
6. Their Miſery will be Eternal. p. 191.
End of the text · Benjamin Wadsworth, Invitations to the Gospel Feast (1715)