Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 2
SERMON II.
TO proceed, I am yet upon this General Head, viz. That Spiritual Saving Bleſſings in the Goſpel, are Offered to various Sorts of Perſons; as they are Offered to Male and Female, to Perſons of various Nations (all Nations where the Goſpel comes) to Old and Young, ſo they are Offered,
4. To Perſons High and Low: To thoſe Incircled with Honour, and thoſe Cloathed with Contempt. Some Perſons are Much, and others Little Eſteemed or Honoured in the World. Men are Diſtinguiſhed into High and Low, Pſal. 62.9. Surely Men of low Degree are Vanity, and Men of high Degree a Lie. Well, both High and Low are Invited to accept of Saving Benefits in the Goſpel. Pſal. 49.1, — 3. Hear this all ye People, give ear, all ye Inhabitants of the World: both Low and High, Rich and Poor together; my Month ſhall ſpeak of Wiſdom. The Counſels of Wiſdom are given to High and Low: They are Invited to Walk in Wiſdoms Ways. Thoſe loaded with Honours among Men, have but a Flaſhy, Empty Enjoyment of it; yet ſuch Honours (and love to them) keeps ſome from accepting Goſpel Offers. They love the Praiſe of Men more than the Praiſe of God, Joh. 12.43. How can ye Believe, who receive Honour one from another, and ſeek not that Honour which cometh from God only? Joh. 5.44. But Miſerable will be the Caſe of thoſe, who for the ſake of Worldly Honours Reject Goſpel Invitations. If they now paſs for Gods, yet they ſhall Dye like Men; and hereafter come forth (of their Graves) to Shame and Everlaſting Contempt, Dan. 12.2. God Invites them to True Honours. Thoſe who Honour him, he will Honour, 1 Sam. 30. Our Lord ſaid, Joh. 12.26. If any Man ſerve me, him will my Father Honour. Tho' ſome who are highly Eſteemed and Honoured in the World, Reject theſe Invitations, yet all of them dont. 1 Cor. 1.26. Ye ſee your Calling Brethren, how that not many Wiſe Men after the Fleſh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are Called. When tis ſaid, not many ſuch are Called, it implies that ſome ſuch are And ſo we find when Paul Preached at Berea, many of them Believed, alſo of Honourable Women which were Greeks, and of Men not a few, Act. 17.12. Thus, ſome who are eſteemed Honourable among Men, do more abundantly Honour themſelves in accepting the Offers of the Goſpel. Where-ever the Goſpel comes, the Saving Benefits of it are Offered to the High, to thoſe moſt Eſteemed in the World; and they are alſo Offered to the Low, to thoſe never ſo meanly Eſteemed or greatly Deſpiſed. Not only thoſe in the Streets and Lanes of the City, but alſo thoſe mean Perſons, who had their abode in High Ways and Hedges (no Houſe to dwell in) were Invited to the Feaſt, Luk. 14.21, 23. Thoſe who are moſt Overlooked, Deſpiſed, Contemned among Men, (I ſay, thoſe as well as any others where the Goſpel comes) are Invited to accept of Spiritual Saving Benefits thro' Jeſus Chriſt. If any of you are meanly eſteem'd or greatly deſpis'd by Men, yet God wont over-look or reject you on that account. If Men count you the baſeſt abjects, the filth and off-ſcouring of all things; yet God offers great honours, dignities, benefits to you: He bids you believe in Chriſt, and if you heartily do ſo, then he'll pardon your Sins, make you his Adopted Children, this is a great honour. If you'll receive Chriſt on Goſpel-termes, then you ſhall be his Brethren. Heb. 2.11. He is not aſhamed to call them Brethren. You ſhall be the Temples of the Holy Spirit. The holy Angels, thoſe bright Courtiers of the heavenly World who wait around Gods Throne, ſhall be your Guardians. They are Miniſtring Spirits, ſent forth to Minister to the Heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. They encamp round about them that fear God, to deliver them, Pſal. 34.7. GOD Himſelf will honour you, love you, number you among his Special Friends and Favourites, count you as his Jewels, tender you as the Apple of his Eye; he'll make you his Heirs. Rom. 8.17. Heirs of God, and joynt Heirs with Jeſus Chriſt. He will hereafter beſtow on you, not ſmall honours but great ones, even a Kingdom, a Crown of Glory that never fades away: a far more exceeding and an Eternal Weight of Glory: an Inheritance Incorruptible, Undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in the Heavens for you. Thus (and much above what can be particularly expreſſed) ſhall all thoſe be honoured, that heartily Imbrace Chriſt Jeſus on Goſpel termes. The moſt precious Goſpel offers, are made both to High and Low.
Again, thoſe precious offers are made,
5. Both to the Rich and to the Poor. Men are often diſtinguiſh'd from one another, by their different condition as to Out-ward Poſſeſſions. Some have much of the World, they're fill'd with Plenty, they Increaſe in Wealth, they have more than heart can wiſh; while others are very Poor, empty-handed, in ſtrait circumſtances, ſcarce having any thing before hand. According to Perſons different circumſtances on theſe accounts, they're often differently eſteem'd and treated among Men. Prov. 14.20. The Poor is hated even of his own Neighbour, but the Rich hath many friends. But theſe different circumſtances of Wealth and Poverty, dont exclude any from the Offers and Invitations of the Goſpel. As for thoſe Rich in the World, they need a Chriſt as much as any: their Riches can't Save their Souls, can't Profit them in the Day of Wrath: they can't be Redeem'd with Corruptible things, ſuch as Silver and Gold. (Nothing but the Precious Blood of Chriſt can Redeem them) they'll be Miſerably of it for Ever, Damn'd Eternally in the Unquenchible Flames of Hell, notwithſtanding all their Riches, if they Die deſtitute of true Faith in Chriſt Jeſus. But the true Riches are Offered even to ſuch, even Durable Riches & Righteouſneſs. The Great GOD, commands all the Great and Rich under the Goſpel, to Believe in Chriſt, and if they do ſo He'll cauſe them to Inherit Subſtance: they ſhall be Rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom. You that are Proſper'd by Providence, and are Poſſeſs'd of Outward Plenty; Oh dont think that you have enough, that you have a Satisfying Portion in theſe things, dont truſt in them nor be proud of them. Miſerable will your Caſe be, if you ſhould have no other Portion but. Worldly Wealth. Your Riches are uncertain, you muſt part with them at Death if not before; and when GOD takes away your Souls, than whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which you have Provided. How Doleful and Dreadful will it be, to go from Rich, Proſperous, Flouriſhing Circumſtances in the World, into a Burning Hell for Ever? To be turn'd out of your Fine, well Finiſh'd, well Furniſh'd Houſes; your Bodies into the Rotting Grave, and your Souls into Outer Darkneſs, even the Priſon, the Dungeon of Hell? No heart can concieve the …orr…r of this change. You therefore that have Plenty of the World, Oh Hear and Obey the Calls of GOD. Lay not up for your ſelves T…eaſu…es on Earth, where Moth and Ruſt doth corrupt, and where Thieves break thro' and Steal: but lay up for your ſelves Treaſures in Heaven, where neither M…th …or Rust doth corrupt, and where Thieves do not break thro' nor Steal, Mat. 6.19, 20. Be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain Riches, but in the Living GOD, who giveth us all things richly to …njoy. Do Good, be Rich in Good Works, ready to Diſtribute, willing to Communicate, laying up in Store for your ſelves a good Foundation againſt the time to come, that ye may lay hold on Eternal Life, 1 Tim. 6.17 — 19. Behold, this is GOD's expreſs Call and Invitation, to you that are Rich in this World.
Well,
Unto the Poor alſo, are Spiritual Saving benefits offered; even the beſt and trueſt Riches. Mat. 11.5. Unto the Poor is the Goſpel Preached. No Man's Outward Poverty, ſhall ever keep him from heavenly Treaſures. Tho' a Perſon is not worth one …arthing in the World, he's yet In…ed to Accept that which is more worth …an the whole World. He's Invited to Accept that, which cannot be gotten for Gold, neither … …ilver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir, with the p…ec…us Onya, or the Saphir. The Gold and the Chryſtal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it … …ot be for Jewels of fine Gold, Job 28, 15 — 18. Tis Wiſdom, tis the true Fear of the Lord that is thus Precious, v. 28. New the Pooreſt as well as Others, are commanded to Fear God, to Depart from Evil, this is true Wiſdom. The Wretched, Miſerable, Poor, Blind and Naked; are Invited to buy Gold tried in the fire that they may be Rich, and white Raiment that the ſhame of their Nakedneſs may not appear, Rev. 3.18. This fine Gold tried in the fire, this white Raiment, ſignifie Spiritual Saving bleſſings. Well, but how ſhall the Poor buy them, thoſe who have nothing to give, no price to offer or lay down? Why they're Invited to Buy without Money and without Price, Iſai. 55.1. They're Invited to Accept Salvation freely offered thro' Chriſt, tho' they have nothing to offer as a price for it, tho' they are utterly unworthy of it. They ſhould indeed ſee themſelves filthy, guilty, unworthy, periſhing Sinners; and as Self-condemned, Self-loathing and abhoring for Sin, they ſhould come to Chriſt, truſting wholly & only in his Meritorious Righteouſneſs for Juſtification before God. This is the Call and Command of God in the Goſpel to them. This Invitation from the Great GOD, is made to the Meaneſt and Poorest wherever the Goſpel comes, as well as to the Rich. You that are Poor, that complain the Times are Hard & you ſcarce know how to live; behold the Great GOD calls to you, even to you, and offers to you the beſt Riches & Treaſures that can be: He offers CHRIST, and all Saving benefits, even Unſearchable Riches in and with Him. Are you Poor, have you no Houſe of your Own, nor any thing to buy one with? Why the Great GOD offers you an Houſe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens, whoſe Maker and Builder is God. Have you ſcarce Cloths to cover you, are you unable to buy any? God offers to you white Raiment, that the ſhame of your Nakedneſs may not appear. Are you Poor, not able to lay up a Stock or Store of Proviſion, ſcarce able to buy a Meals Meat? Why the Great GOD offers you that Meat that endures to Eternal Life. We Read of, the Poor in this World, rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom, Jam. 2.5. Notwithſtanding all your Outward Poverty, God Offers you that which is better than all the Wealth of the World. He bids you heartily to believe in Chriſt, to receive Him as Prince and Saviour; if you do it, your Faith will Inrich you, and make you Heirs of the Kingdom of Glory. Such Faith is more precious than Gold that periſheth, tho' it be tried in the Fire, 1 Pet. 1.7. You that are Poor in this World, hearken to theſe Offers of God. You have not wherewith to Buy and Sell, to Trade and Increaſe in Worldly Goods as others can; but if tis not your own Fault, you may grow Rich in Heavenly Treaſures, God freely Offers them to you: Oh accept them on His Terms. How Woful would your caſe be, if you ſhould neglect them? To Live a Poor, Indigent Diſtreſſed Life in this World; and to be Eternally Poor, Wretched, Miſerable, Damned in that which is to come, no Tongue can expreſs the horror of this. Be Exhorted therefore to mind your beſt Intereſt, to ſecure Heavenly Treaſures while you may. No doubt but if one ſhould ſay to a Poor Perſon,
Come Friend, I'll adviſe you how you may Gain, Thrive, grow Rich in the World; I ſay, no doubt but the Poor Perſon would diligently and reality hearken to what ſhould be propos'd to him. Well, tho' I can't tell you, how you may certainly grow Rich in this World, yet I can tell you of what's a Thouſand times more profitable: I can tell you, how you may certainly, without fail, obtain what's Infinitely preferable to all Riches, Honours, Pleaſures of this World, tis this, Sincerely Believe in Chriſt, Heartily Submit to Him as Prince and Saviour, and there GOD, the Infinite Unchangible Fountain of all Good will be your Portion. He wont Suffer you to want any thing which He knows to be good for you: He'll make all things work for your good: all ſhall be yours. What a Large Catalogue, what a Rich Invoice of Bleſſings and Benefits is there belonging to the Saints? 1 Cor. 3.21—23. Therefore let no man glory … men, for all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the World, or Life, or Death, or things preſent, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Chriſt's, and Chriſt is God's. Surely, the Free Offer of theſe Riches, Benefits, Bleſſings, ſhould Invite and Quicken you to an hearty ſpeedy acceptance of them. Why ſhould you neglect theſe Offers, or make any demur about accepting them? Iſai. 55.2, 3. Wherefore do you ſpend Money for that which is not bread? And your Labour for that which ſatisfieth not? Hearken Diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your Soul delight it ſelf in Fatneſs. Incline your ear, come unto me, hear and your Soul ſhall live, and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you, even the ſure Mercies of David. Again, Saving Benefits thro' Chriſt, are Offered,
6. Both to Bondmen and Freemen. So Gal. 3.28. There is neither Bond nor Free, for ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus. You that are Freemen, that are at your own diſpoſe, that are not in Servitude to Men; nay poſſibly are Maſters and Rulers among Men; even you are naturally the Servants of Sin, the Slaves of Satan, led Captive by him at his will; you're under Bonds to ſuſtain God's Wrath and Vengeance for ever, unleſs by Faith in Chriſt you are made Spiritually Free. Joh. 8.36. If the Son therefore ſhall make you free, you ſhall be free indeed. You cannot be Spiritual Freemen, but by becoming the Sincere Servants of Chriſt. 1 Cor. 7.22— He that is called being free, is Chriſt's Servant. You that are Free, poſſibly you prize your Freedom, would not be in Servitude to any: Well, ſee to it that you be not the Servants of Sin, the Slaves of Satan. For that which you Sow, that ſhall you alſo Reap. He that ſoweth to the Fleſh, ſhall of the Fleſh reap Corruption, Gal. 6.8. See to it therefore that you become the Sincere Servants of Chriſt, then you ſhall have the beſt Freedom, even Freedom from Spiritual Plagues, Curſes, Miſeries, and ſhall be happy for ever. So you that are Servants among Men, Spiritual Saving Bleſſings thro' Chriſt are Offered to you: Chriſt Invites you into His Service which is the beſt Freedom. 1 Cor. 7.22. He that is called in the Lord, being a Servant, is Chriſt's Freeman. You that are Servants, of what Nation ſoever you are, whether Servants by Indenture for a Term of Years, or Bought Servants, Indians or Negro's to Serve during Life; God calls upon you all to Submit Heartily unto Jeſus Chriſt, and tells you if you do, you ſhall be Sav'd for ever. God Offers you what is better than the greateſt Freedom from Humane Servitude, Imbrace Chriſt as Prince and Saviour, and you ſhall be Fre'd from the Guilt of Sin, the Curſe of the Law, the Tyranny of Satan, the Wrath of God, and Sin ſhall not have Dominion over you; but you ſhall Reign with Chriſt for ever and ever. Oh you Servants of Men, accept theſe Gracious Offers of the Great GOD. If you Heartily Submit to Chriſt, He'll now accept you, and hereafter graciouſly Reward you. Poſſibly when you ſerve your Maſters after the beſt manner that you can, they'l ſometimes be diſpleas'd with you (Maſters as well as others, have their failings) but the Great GOD will be pleas'd with you, if you Sincerely Fear Him and hope in His Mercy, Pſal. 147.11. See to it therefore, that you become the Sincere Servants of Jeſus Chriſt, Truſt in Him and Obey Him. And if you will put your Necks under Chriſt's Yoke, and Indeed take Him for your Lord and Maſter; then remember this is one thing He requires of you, namely that you ſhould be True, Faithful, Honest to your Masters according to the Fleſh, Your becoming Chriſt's Servants, Intitles you to as great Spiritual Privileges and Bleſſings as your Maſters can be intitled to; yet it does not at all free you from being Servants to your Maſters. No, Chriſt requires thoſe of His Subjects who are Servants to Men, to count their own Maſters worthy of all Honour, that the Name of God and His Doctrine be not Blaſphemed. 1 Tim. 6.1. That they be obedient to their own Masters, not anſwering again (not ſawcily contradicting) not purloining (not Pilfering, Stealing from them, or hurting their Intereſt) but ſhewing all good Fidelity, that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, Tit. 2.9, 10. You that are Servants, ſhould be Subject to your own Maſters, not only to the good and gentle, but alſo to the froward, 1 Pet. 2.18. You ſhould not be Eye-Servants, but ſhould be Obedient and Faithful in doing Service, when your Maſters are Abſent, as well as when they are Preſent and looking on you. And if you are thus True and Faithful to your Maſters, out of Hearty Conſcientious Obedience to Chriſt your Great Lord and Maſter, then He'll reward you hereafter in Heaven for it. Tis ſaid to Servants, with reference to their obeying of their Maſters, Col. 3.23, 34. Whatſoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to Men; knowing that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the Inheritance, for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt. So Eph. 6.8. Whatſoever good thing any Man doth, the ſame ſhall he receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free.
Thus I have gone thro' the Firſt Head of Compariſon or Similitude, ſhewing, That the Offering of Saving Benefits to Sinners in the Goſpel, may be Compar'd to A Great Man's Inviting many to a Suptuous Feaſt, Inaſmuch as various Sorts of Perſons are often Invited to ſuch a Feaſt. So, where-ever the Goſpel comes Saving Benefits are Offered to various Sorts of Perſons, they're Equally Offer'd to Men and Women, to Perſons of any … every Nation, to Old and Young, High and Low, Rich and Poor, Bond and Free, none are Excluded. This is God's Commandment to every one of you, that you ſhould believe in the Name of His Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Joh. 3.23. And whoſoever believes in Him, ſhall not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life, Joh. 3.16. I'll now proceed to another General Head of Compariſon or Similitude.
2. At a great Feaſt, there's commonly Variety of Entertainment; Things for Neceſſity and for Innocent Delight and Pleaſure. So there's Variety of Bleſſings, Offered in the Goſpel unto Sinners. The Goſpel Invites them to, or Requires and Commands of them, thoſe Things which are Abſolutely Neceſſary; and which if Complied with, will yield them the Trueſt, Greateſt Pleaſure and Comfort.
1. Thoſe Things which are Abſolutely Neceſſary. When Perſons are Invited to a Feaſt, tis in General to Eat and Drink. Cant. 5.1. Eat O Friends, Drink; yea Drink abundantly, O Beloved. As for Eating and Drinking, they are Abſolutely Neceſſary to Suſtain Life: If theſe Actions ſhould be Omitted, Perſons would ſoon Starve and Die. So what the Goſpel Invites or Requires Perſon to do, is Abſolutely Neceſſary in Order to the Life and Happineſs of their Souls: Abſolutely Neceſſary in order to their eſcaping Eternal Wrath, and obtaining Eternal Glory. Thus 'tis abſolutely Neceſſary for them,
1. To Repent of Sin. Saving Repentance Implies in it, Hearty Grief, Sorrow and Shame for Sin, a Turning from it with Loathing and Abhorrence. Ezek. 18.30. Repent and Turn from all your Tranſgreſſions, ſo In…quity …ha…l not be your Ruin. If Perſons do not thus Repent, even in Turning from all their Tranſgreſſions, then Iniquity will be their Ruin. Luk. 13.5. Except ye Repent, ye … …kewiſe Periſh. Men may Flatter and Deceive themſelves if they will, but unleſs they have ſuch Repentance as this they cannot be Saved. Tis not a meer Verbal Confeſſion that is Sufficient. 1 Joh. 1.9. If we Confeſs our Sins, he is Faithful and Juſt to Forgive us our Sins; and to Cleanſe us from all Unrighteouſneſs. But this Confeſſion of Sin Comprehends a Forſaking of it too; elſe there's No Mercy to be had, Prov. 28.13. It's only the Broken and Contrite Heart, that ſhall enter into the Strait Gate that leads to Life. Chriſt is Exalted at Gods Right Hand, to give Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins. Act. 5.31. There muſt be Repentance of Sin, elſe there is no Remiſſion of it. The Obſtinate Rebel goes Unpardoned. The Root and Principle of this Repentance Inſiſted on, is Implanted in the Soul when tis Regenerated and Born of the Spirit (without which there's no ſeeing the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3.3.) and is Created in Chriſt Jeſus. This Principle of Holineſs Implanted in the Soul in it's Regeneration, Exerts it ſelf (as in the Exerciſe of other Graces ſo) in the Exerciſe of the forementioned Repentance, nor is any Salvation to be expected without it.
2 To Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. As a Perſon muſt Repeat of his Sins, ſo he muſt Truſt in the Meritorious Righteouſneſs of Chriſt for Juſtification before God, elſe he cannot be Saved. Whoſoever Believeth in him, ſhall receive Remiſſion of Sins, Acts 10.43. But he that Believeth not, is Condem'd already — The Wrath of God abideth on him — He ſhall be Damned, Joh. 3.18.36. Mark. 16.16. Surely, Pardon of Sin is abſolutely neceſſary in order to the eſcaping of Wrath. Pardoned Ones are Bleſſed, and none elſe: Pſal. 32.1.2. Bleſſed is he whoſe Tranſgeſſion is Forgiven, whoſe Sin is Covered: Bleſſed is the Man to whom the Lord Imputeth not Iniquity. But ſuch Pardon of Sin is not to be obtained but by Truſting in the Merits of Chriſt for it. Tis nothing but the Blood of Chriſt that Cleanſeth from all Sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. Therefore the Apoſtle Paul deſired to be found, not having on his own Righteouſneſs which was of the Law; but that which was thro' the Faith of Chriſt; the Righteouſneſs which was of God by Faith. Phil. 3.9.
3. Sincerely to Obey God. The Soul that has the True Habit and Principle of Faith and Repentance; has alſo the True Habit and Principle of Sincere Obedience to God: This is all Comprehended in the new Nature Implanted in him. Faith Purifies the Heart, Woks by Love (Acts 15.9. Gal. 5.6.) For Faith without Works is Dead, Jam. 2.26. That Faith will never prove Saving, which is not Purifying; and does not Prompt the Soul Sincerely to Obey God. Well, Sincere O…ience to God as the Fruit of True Faith (… Life be ſpared after the Regenerating Change wrought) is Neceſſary in order to Eternal Happineſs. Without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. They who Obey not the Goſpel, ſhall be Puniſh'd with Everlaſting Destruction, 2 Theſ. 1.9. Thus we ſee, the Goſpel Invites, Commands Requires Perſons to Repent of Sin, Believe in Chriſt, Sincerely to Obey God; and Declares that if they do ſo they ſhall be Happy for ever, elſe they ſhall not. Therefore it Invites them to thoſe Things which are Abſolutely Neceſſary for them, as Neceſſary for the Welfare of their Souls, as Eating and Drinking are for the Welfare of their Bodies, Heb. 5.9. Chriſt became the Author of Eternal Salvation, to all them that Obey him. If they Heartily Obey Chriſt, they ſhall be Saved; if not, they ſhall be Damned. And as the Goſpel Invites Sinners, to thoſe Things Abſolutely Neceſſary for them; ſo if they Comply with this Invitation, it will Yield them: