Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
WE may now proceed to another General Head of Compariſon, God's Offering Spiritual Saving Benefits to Sinners in the Goſpel, may be compar'd to a Great Man's Inviting many to a Sumptuous Feaſt.
3 Becauſe in a Great and Sumptuous Feast, there's commonly Plenty, a Sufficiency for all that come. In ſuch a Feaſt there's commonly Store and Plenty, enough for all that come: enough and to ſpare; ſo that it may be ſaid as, Cant. 5.1— Eat, O Friends, Drink, yea Drink abundantly, O Beloved. So there's Saving Mercy enough in the Goſpel, for all that will come and accept it as Offered to them. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt with His Saving Benefits, is the Subject Matter of the Goſpel Feaſt to which Sinners are Invited. There is Salvation in none other, neither is there any other Name given under Heaven among Men whereby we can be Saved, Act. 4.12. And as Chriſt is the only Saviour of Sinners, ſo He is an All-Sufficient Saviour of them. He's able to Save to the uttermoſt them that come unto God by Him, Heb. 7.25. None that came to Chriſt Hungring and Thirſting after Righteouſneſs, were ever ſent Empty away. There's a Fulneſs, a Sufficiency of Merit, Vertue, Power, Willingneſs in Jeſus Chriſt, to Save all that come to Him and accept of Him on Goſpel Terms. Here I might ſay—
1. There's enough in Chriſt to Save thoſe of all the VARIOUS AGES of the World, that Believe in Him and Accept of Him as Reveal'd and Offer'd to them. Soon after our Firſt Parents had Sinned, God made a Promiſe, Gen. 3.15. That the Seed of the Woman ſhould break the Serpent's head. This was a Promiſe of Chriſt the Saviour of Sinners, He is the Promiſed Seed of the Woman, Gal. 4.4. All that were Pardoned and Sav'd under the Old Teſtament Diſpenſation, were Sav'd by the Fulneſs and Sufficiency of Chriſt who then was to come; for there is Salvation in none other. All the Explatory Sacrifices appointed by God before Chriſt's coming, were but Types, Shadows, Repreſentations of Chriſt, who is (therefore call'd) The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. The Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World, Joh. 1.29. For it is not poſſible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats ſhould take away Sin, Heb. 10.4. Tho' the Blood of Beaſts Slain in Sacrifice could not take away Sin, yet the Blood of Jeſus cleanſeth from all Sin, 1 Joh 1.7. Therefore all that Pardoning Saving Mercy which Old Teſtament Believers obtain'd, was in and thro' Chriſt who was then to come. All the Prophets of the Old Teſtament (as well as the Apoſtles of the New) bare Witneſs of Chriſt, that thro' His Name, whoſoever believeth in Him ſhall receive Remiſſion of Sins, Act. 10.43. This was the Unanimous concurrent Teſtimony of all the Old Teſtament-Prophets. There is Redemption tho' Jeſus Chriſt, whom God hath ſet forth for a Propitiation thro' Faith in His Blood, to declare His Righteouſneſs for the Remiſſion of Sins that are paſt, thro' the forbearance of God, Rom. 3.24, 25. Chriſt by one Offering, hath perfected forever them that are Sanctified, Heb. 10.14. All the Sins of Old Teſtament Believers were forgiven, for the ſake of that One Offering which according to God's Promiſe, Chriſt was afterwards to Offer. So all the Sins of Believers under the New Teſtament hitherto, have been forgiven for Chriſt's Sake. In whom we have Redemption thro' His Blood, the forgiveneſs of … according to the Riches of His Grace, Eph. 1.7. He lo…ed us, and waſhed us from our ſins in His own …lood, Rev. 1.5. And the Blood of Chriſt ſtill continues of as much Force, Merit, Worth and Vertue for the Pardoning of Sin, as ever it was: …ea and ſo it will continue as long as the World ſtands. There will never need any other Sacrifice beſides what Chriſt has already Offer'd, to Redeem and ſave Sinners even to the End of the World. Chriſt has Inſtituted a Goſpel-Miniſtry, to continue to the End of the World. Mat. 28.19, 20. The comprehenſive Sum and Subſtance of their Proaching ſhould be this, …e that Believeth and is Baptized, ſhall be Saved: he that believeth not ſhall be Damned, Mark 16.16. So that whoſoever Believes in Chriſt, even in any Age or Generation of the World yet to come, ſhall certainly be Saved. Joh. 3.16. Whoſoever Believeth in Him, ſhall not Periſh, but ſhall have Everlaſting Life. There are Unſearchable Riches in Chriſt, (Eph. 3.8.) Inexhauſtible Treaſures of Saving Mercy that can never be drawn Dry. He is a Fountain Opened for sin and for Uncleanneſs, Zech. 13.1. He is not a Cistern but … Fountain, a Living Spring that never fails; but from Age to Age, from one Generation to another (from the Fall of Adam to the World's End) has Power and Vertue ſufficient, to Save all that come to Him. He's thus able to Save all that come, becauſe He ever Lives to make Interceſſion for them, Heb 7.25, 26. Chriſt is the sun of Righteouſneſs, …al. 4.2. The Sun has inlighten'd the World from the beginning of it, and thro' all Generations hitherto, and will do ſo to the World's End (for Day and Night ſhall not ceaſe) it's Inlightening Warming Vertue, is nothing diminiſh'd by Time or Age. So Jeſus Chriſt from the Fall of Adam to the End of the World, retains full ſaving Vertue and Power; it never has been Diminiſh'd in any Meaſure, nor ever ſhall it be. As to His Ability and Willingneſs to Save Sinners, He is the ſame yeſterday, to day▪ and for ever, Heb. 13.8.
2. There's enough in Christ to ſave Sinners of every Nation, Rank, & Quality whatſoever. This has been ſpoken to, under the Firſt General Head of Compariſon, whether Men or Women, Jews, Greeks, Barbarians, Scythians, Young or Old, High or Low, Rich or Poor, Bond or Free; there is enough in Chriſt to ſave them all if they will Accept Him on Goſpel Terms. For He has ſaid, Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Having ſaid ſo much before, I ſhall not Inlarge under this Head.
3. There's enough in Chriſt to Save the Greateſt, Worſt, Vileſt Sinners if they'll come to Him by Faith. Some can pay ſmall Debts, that cannot pay great Ones. Some poſſibly may Cure Slighty Superficial Wounds, that cant Cure ſuch as are more Inveterate, Deep and Dangerous. But as to the Saving of Sinners, there is no Caſe too Hard or Difficult for Jeſus Chriſt: if the Vileſt Sinner on Earth Heartily comes to Chriſt, He has Vertue enough to Save him, and will moſt certainly do it. When a Woman for the Cure of a Bodily Malady, had ſpent all her Subſtance on Phyſicians in vain, even growing Worſe after all; yet upon one touch of Chriſt's Garment, Vertue went out of Him and Perfectly Cured her, Mark 5.25,—29. It is ſaid of Chriſt, He went about — healing all manner of Sickneſs, and all manner of Diſeaſe among the People — and they brought unto him all Sick People, that were taken with diverſe Diſeaſes, and Torments, and thoſe which were poſſeſſed with Devils, and thoſe which were Lunatick, and thoſe which had the Palſie, and he Healed them, Mat. 4.23, 24. He met with no Caſe too Hard or Difficult for his Divine Almighty Power. As it was thus in His Helping and Relieving the Bodies of Men; ſo he is as able as Allſufficient to Relieve & Save the Souls of all that come unto Him. Though all Perſons are equally Sinful and Guilty by Nature, as coming from Fallen Adam; yet ſome are Greater Sinners than others in Practice. Some have lived more Years and Sinned a longer Time than others; Some have been Guilty of more Open, Groſs, Scandalous Tranſgreſſions than others; Some have Sinned againſt more Light, higher Means, better Advantages, greater Awakenings and Convictions than others; but whatever have been the Sins of any, how many or great ſoever, how long ſoever continued in, how greatly ſoever Aggravated; yet if they Heartily Repent of their Sins and Believe in the Lord Jeſus, there is enough in Him to Save them, and they ſhall be Saved. Chriſt came to ſeek and to Save thoſe that were Loſt. He came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance, Mat. 9.13. The Blood of Jeſus Cleanſeth from all Sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. There is no Sin if Truly Repented of, and Turned from, but it ſhall be Pardoned through the Blood of Chriſt. Indeed the Scripture mentions a Sin against the Holy Ghoſt which ſhall never be Forgiven, Mat. 12.31. This is not for want of Sufficient Saving Vertue in the Blood of Chriſt, but thoſe Guilty of that Sin, will never Truly Repent and Believe in Chriſt Jeſus. But the greateſt Sins whatever, Truly Repented of and Turned from ſhall be Forgiven. Whoſoever Confeſſeth and Forſaketh ſhall have Mercy, Prov. 28. 13. The Apoſtle mentions a Black and Large Catalogue of Groſs Tranſgreſſions, viz. Fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate, Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind (that is, Sodomites) Thieves, Covetuous, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners. (Here is a Black Liſt of Satan's Followers, they were his Children doing his Luſts, they lived in Contempt of God that made them, Trampled on His Authority, were great and High-Handed Tranſgreſſors indeed,) yet ſays he to the Corinthians, Such were ſome of you, but ye are Waſhed, but ye are Sanctified, but ye are Justifyed in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. 6.9,—11. Their Greateſt Abominations had Contracted no Stain too Deep for the Blood of Jeſus to Waſh out. God's People of Old were very Vile, They had Rebelled against him, were a Sinful Nation, a People laden with Iniquity, they had forſaken the Lord, provoked the Holy One of Iſrael to Anger, had gone away Backward: the whole Head was Sick, the whole Heart Faint. They were for their great Wickedneſs, called, Rulers of Sodom and People of Gomorrah — Their Hands were full of Blood (Murder.) They were ſo Hypocritical in their Religious Performances, that God ſaid, Your New Moons, and your appointed Feaſts my Soul hateth: they are a Trouble to me, I am neary to bear them, Iſa. 1.1,—15. This ſurely was a very Wicked People, what might one think that God would do to them? Might one not expect, that Terrible, Deſtructive Vengeance would preſently fall upon them? Yet behold what God ſays, v. 16, 18. Waſh ye, make you Clean: put away the evil of your Doings from before mine Eyes, ceaſe to do evil; learn to do Well, &c. Come now, and let us reaſon together ſaith the Lord; tho' your Sins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow; tho' they be Red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool. Such is the Wondrous Mercy of God through the Merits of Chriſt; therefore let none of you be Diſcouraged from coming to Chriſt for Salvation, becauſe of the Greatneſs or Number of your ſins. Whatever your ſins be, yet they are but the Sins of Men, the ſins of Finite Creatures. But the Blood of Chriſt is the Blood of GOD. Act. 20.28. — The Church of God which he hath purchaſed with his own Blood. The Blood of Chriſt is the Blood of GOD, of a Divine Perſon, and ſo of Infinite Merit, Worth, Value and Efficacy. Do any of you Doubt or Fear, that there is no Pardon to be Obtained for ſo great and vile Sinners as you are? Do you think there is no Hope for you? O dont Deſpair, your ſins are not ſo Many, Great or Vile, but that if you Heartily Repent of them, they ſhall be Fully and Freely Pardoned through the Blood of Jeſus. Dont take this upon my Word, dont believe it meerly becauſe I ſay it; but hear what the Infallible Word of GOD ſays: 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a Faithful Saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave Sinners, of whom (ſays the Apoſtle Paul) I am Chief. Chriſt came to ſave even Chief Sinners, this God aſſures us of; 'tis a True and Faithful Saying, worthy of all Acceptation, worthy to be Believed, Credited, Relied on by all that hear it. Whoſoever (though the Greateſt Vileſt Sinner in the World) Believeth in him, ſhall not Periſh, but have Everlasting Life, Joh. 3.16. Whoſoever comes to Chriſt by Faith, ſhall eſcape Future Wrath and obtain Future Glory; his own Repented Forſaken Wickedneſs (though it has been never ſo Great) ſhall not Damn him. Iſai. 55 7. Let the Wicked forſake his Way, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts; and turn to the Lord, and he will have Mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly Pardon. If Men have been Abundantly Wicked, Unrighteous, have Abounded Greatly in Sin; yet there is Abundance of Pardoning Mercy for them, if they will Turn from their Wickedneſs, Pſal. 51.1. —According to the Multitude of thy tender Mercies, blot out my Tranſgreſſions. There are Mercies, yea a Multitude of Mercies of Tender. Mercies with God; to Pardon all the Iniquities of Penitent returning Sinners. Oh Sinners, ſeriouſly conſider theſe true ſayings of God; heartily and ſpeedily ſubmit your ſelves to Chriſt, there's enough in Him to Save you all if you'll heartily believe in Him. I might here ſay:
1. There's vertue enough in Chriſt's blood to Pardon all your Sins. For, as was ſaid but now, His blood cleanſeth from all ſin, 1 Joh. 1.7.
2. There's might and ſtrength enough in Chriſt to Save you. He's the Lord Almighty, has all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to Him. All things are put under his feet, He's head over all things to the Church, Eph. 1.22.
3. There's willingneſs enough in Chriſt to Save you, if you come. He has given his Infallible Divine Word for it ſaying: Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Matt. 11.28. Come unto me, all ye that Labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reſt.
There's enough in Chriſt to Save you from all following aſſaults of your Spiritual Enemies, if you heartily give up your ſelves to Him. Chriſt is ſtronger than Satan that ſtrong man armed, and is able to defend and protect from Satan's deſtructive Rage, all that truſt in him. He has ſaid: Joh. 10.27, 28. My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them; and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand. And as no Man, ſo neither ſhall Devils be able to pluck Chriſt's Sheep out of his hand. For Chriſt has Suffered death, to deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil, Heb. 2.14. Thus we ſee, there's every way enough in Chriſt, to Save all that come to Him and truſt in Him as offered in the Goſpel. As there's commonly Plenty at a great Feaſt, enough for all that come; ſo there's Saving Mercy in Chriſt, and enough of it for all that ſincerely come unto him. We may now proceed to another general head of Compariſon.
4. When a Perſon makes a great Feaſt and Invites many, It's commonly matter of conſiderable Coſt and Charge to him. The Feaſt-maker, has commonly Plenty and Variety of Proviſions. Mat. 22.4. I have prepared my Dinner, my Oxen and my Fatlings are Killed, all things are rea…y. Here's matter of coſt and charge, to him that makes the Feaſt and gives the Invitation. So the Great GOD, the bleſſed Lord Jeſus Chriſt, have been and are at great coſt and charge (if we may ſo term it) to provide and beſtow thoſe Matchleſs bleſſings, which Sinners in the Goſpel are Invited to.
1. It has cost God his only begotten Son. What has the Great GOD given, to prepare, and make way for, that Proviſion (Soul-ſaving Proviſion) which Sinners in the Goſpel are invited to? Why He has given his only bogotten Son. Joh. 3.16. God ſo loved the World, as to give his only begotten ſon, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh but have everlasting Life. Rom. 8.32. He ſpared not his own ſon, but delivered him up for us all. God laid the whole Scheme of Man's Salvation, in his Eternal Wiſdom and Love. According to the Eternal Purpoſe which he purpoſed in Christ Jeſus our Lord, Eph 3.11. God commendeth his Love to us, in that while we were yet Sinners Chriſt Died for us, Rom. 5.8. As God laid the Scheme of the Salvation … Sinners; ſo He Called, Commiſſioned, Authorized his Only Begotten Son to Die for their Salvation, Prepared Him a Body (that He might Die in our Nature to Redeem us, Heb. 10.5. and 2.14.) and gave Him his Holy Spirit not by (but above) Meaſure, Joh. 3.34. God ſent His Son into the World, to Die for the ſaving of Sinners. Hence, in this Affair of ſaving Sinners, Chriſt is called God's Servant, Iſa. 42.1. And is ſaid to be Appointed by God, Heb. 3.2. For Chriſt came not to do his own will, but the will of him that ſent him, Joh. 6.38.
2. It has coſt the Son of God His own Life and Blood. The wages of Sin is Death, Rom 6.23. Chriſt came to ſave Sinners, the Sons of Death, the Children of Wrath; and if He would ſave ſuch, He muſt ſuffer Death in their room and ſtead, Satisfie Gods Juſtice for their Offences, and ſo Purchaſe Pardon and Salvation for them: And this He has done. He gave himſelf a Ranſom, 1 Tim. 2 6. He once ſuffered for ſins, the Just for the Unjuſt that he might bring us to God. He has bought his People with a Price, (1 Cor. 6.20.) and a Dear, Coſtly Price it was to Him, even His own Blood, Act. 20.28. He ſuffered the Weight of that Divine Wrath and Vengeance, which the ſins of His People Deſerved. He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our Iniquities: the Chaſtiſement of our Peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed. All we like ſheep have gone aſtray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all. — He made his ſoul an Offering for ſin, Iſa. 53, 5, 6, 10. Unutterably great were the Sufferings of our Holy Lord Jeſus, and why did He Undergo them? Why to Redeem and Save Sinners from that Wrath and Curſe they had Deſerved. Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath Redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us. Tit. 2.14. He gave himſelf for us, that he might Redeem us from all Iniquity, and Puri…e unto himſelf a Peculiar People Zealous of Good Works. Surely then, it has coſt our Bleſſed Redeemer very Dear, in making Proviſion to ſave Sinners, even in Purchaſing their Salvation.
3. Chriſt is ſtill continually Employed to Promote the Salvation of Sinners. As to the Meriting and Purchaſing Salvation for Sinners, our Lord finiſhed that Work while He was here on Earth; He Purchaſed His Church with His own Blood which He ſhed on the Croſs. But though the whole of their Salvation is fully Purchaſed and Paid for already; yet our Lord ſtill Buſies and Imploys Himſelf for the Applying of, and Giving forth Saving Benefits. He is Interceeding with God for the Giving forth of Purchaſed Saving Bleſſings. Our Lord Jeſus is now Exalted in Honour, Dignity, Authority, Power above all Creatures, Eph. 1.21, 2…. Yet He is not ſo taken up with all that Matchleſs Glory that Surrounds Him, as to be Unconcern'd about the Salvation of His People. No, their Caſe lies near His Heart, their Names are Written on His Breaſt-Plate. He appears in the Preſence of God for them. He went to Prepare a Place for them. As their Forerunner He entred within the Vail, even into Heaven, Heb. 6.19, 20. And there He over lives to make Interceſſion for them, Heb. 7.25. This is the Work and Buſineſs our Saviour is continually Managing in Heaven, even making Interceſſion for the giving forth Purchaſed Benefits to Sinners. He is with the Father, as a Righteous Advocate, 1 Joh. 2.2.
4. Christ has appointed the Goſpel Miniſty, and Goſpel Ordinances to further the Salvation of Sinners. Chriſt has appointed a Goſpel Miniſtry, to continue to the End of the World, Mat. 28.19, 20. Goſpel Miniſters are His Ambaſſadors, and ſhould Pray Sinners in His ſtead, to be Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.20. Tis Chriſt by His Holy Spirit (ſucceeding Ordinarily the uſe of Proper Means) that with Gifts and Graces Qualifies Perſons for the Miniſtry. 1 Cor. 12.7. The Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to Profit withal. Miniſters are made Overſeers, by the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 20.28. Now tis the Lord Jeſus (to whom all Power in Heaven and Earth is Committed, Mat. 28.18.) that in His Providence Raiſeth up Men from one Generation to another, and Fits and Qualifies them with Gifts and Graces for the Work of the Miniſtry: That holds the Stars in His Right Hand; that ſends them forth to Intreat Sinners to be Reconciled to God, and that gives them all the Succeſs they have in Preaching, 1 Cor. 3.6, 7. The Preaching of the Goſpel, is a Means appointed by Chriſt both for the Converting of Sinners and Edifying of Saints
1. For the Converting of Sinners. Tis therefore called the Word of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.19. Tis the Power of God to Salvation to every one that Believeth, Rom. 1.16. Of His own Will Begat He us, by the word of Truth, Jam. 1.18. I have Begotten you by the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 4.15.
2. For the Edifying of Saints. Acts 20.32. — I commend you to God, and to the word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctifyed. 1 Tim. 4.6. Nouriſhed up in the words of Faith, and of good Doctrine. 1 Pet. 2.2. Deſire the ſincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby. Preaching of the Goſpel is Inſtrumental to make the Saints grow in Spiritual Knowledge, Grace and Holineſs. Tis the Lord Jeſus that has Appointed, and does in His All-governing Providence Continue and Maintain a Goſpel Miniſtry, to further the Salvation of Sinners. So the Sacraments of the New-Teſtament, Baptiſm and the Lord's-Supper; are Appointed by Chriſt to Promote the Spiritual Welfare of Poor Sinners. Mat. 28.19. Go and Teach all Nations, Baptizing them, &c. Of the Lord's-Supper He ſaid, Luk. 22.19. This do in Remembrance of Me. And theſe Ordinances are to continue to the End of the World, as Means to further the Salvation of Sinners. And though theſe Means Appointed by Infinite Wiſdom and Love, are Imployed and Applyed after the beſt Manner that can be; yet no ſaving Good can be wrought by them, unleſs the Spirit of Chriſt ſets in to do it. 2 Cor. 10.4. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong Holds, caſting down Imaginations, and every High Thing that exalts it ſelf againſt the Knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every thought to the Obedince of Chriſt. Thoſe that are Converted, they have the waſhing of Regeneration, and the Renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, Tit. 3.5. Tis the exceeding greatneſs of Gods power, according to the working of his mighty power, that begets Faith in any Soul, Eph. 1.19. And tis nothing leſs than the ſame Almighty Power, that Maintains true Grace in the Soul, when tis there Implanted. They are kept by the power of God thro' faith unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1.5.
Thus there has been (and is) Coſt and Charge (if we may ſo term it) on the part of God, of Chriſt, to Provide and apply that great Salvation, that glorious endleſs bleſſedneſs, which Sinners in the Goſpel are Invited to accept of. It's often matter of great coſt and charge to thoſe, who make a Sumptuous Feaſt and Invite many to it; but never was any at ſuch Coſt for a Feaſt, as Chriſt has been at to purchaſe the Salvation Sinners are Invited to: this Salvation coſt him His own moſt precious Blood for the purchaſing of it. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold — but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. We may now proceed to another general head of Compariſon, viz.
5. What Perſons are Invited to at a Feaſt, is at free cost as to them. Tho' its commonly matter of coſt and charge to him that makes the Entertainment, yet it coſts nothing to the Gueſts themſelves; its kindneſs freely granted to them. Its given them, given freely, what they're Invited to eat and drink coſts them nothing, they pay nothing for it. The Inviter has a Mind to ſhow his Love, Kindneſs, Bounty, in freely communicating his good things to thoſe whom he Invites. So the ſaving benefits offer'd to Sinners in the Goſpel, are offer'd freely. Whatever coſt or charge there may have been, on the part of God or Chriſt, to provide or procure theſe ſaving benefits; yet there's no coſt or charge on the part of Sinners that are Invited to receive them. Sinners as ſuch are worthy of Death, Children of Wrath, deſerve Hell and everlaſting Vengeance: this is all they're worthy of at God's hand. They are utterly and altogether unworthy of all that ſaving Mercy, that's offer'd to them in the Goſpel. Therefore tho' they're bid to buy tryed gold, and white raiment, Rev. 3.18. Yet they're bidden to buy without money and without price, Iſai. 55.1. That is, they're Invited to accept Spiritual Saving bleſſings, moſt freely offer'd to them. Tho' they have no price, no money to lay down; that is, no Merits, Worthineſs, Righteouſneſs of their own, nothing of their own to recommend them to Divine favour, yet they're Invited to accept full compleat Salvation freely offered to them. The gift of God is eternal Life, Rom. 6.23. Tis your Father's good pleaſure to give you the Kingdom, Luk. 12.32. Whoever obtains Salvation, Eternal Life, will obtain it by way of free gift as from God, from Chriſt; and what can be freer than a gift? Nothing can be more freely offered, than Salvation is to Sinners in the Goſpel. Here we may conſider:
1. GOD needs not the Salvation of Sinners. Men will ſometimes Ingage in great, coſtly, difficult affairs; when they think their own real welfare calls for it: very often neceſſity will make them venture hard. But God had no neceſſity at all, to concern Himſelf about the Salvation of Sinners. God's Compleat Eſſential Bleſſedneſs, is Unchangible. With Him there is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of turning, Jam. 1.17. God's happineſs can't be diminiſh'd by Mens Wickedneſs or Miſery, nor be increas'd by their Holineſs or Felicity. Job 35.6, 7. If thou ſinneſt, what doeſt thou againſt Him? Or if thy Tranſgreſſions be multiplied, what doeſt thou unto Him? If thou be righteous, what giveſt thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thine hand? If all Men had periſhed Eternally for their Wickedneſs, as all the fallen Angels ſhall; God's Eſſential Compleat Bleſſedneſs would not have been at all impaired thereby.
2. From all Eternity, God of His own heart contriv'd the Scheme and Method of Sinners Salvation. Tis His Eternal Purpoſe, Eph. 3.11. Men could not be first movers in this Scheme, twas laid long before they had any being. The Motion therefore was intirely, wholly, only from God, of His own heart, of His own meer good Will and Pleaſure.
3. Twas of meer Love, that God gave Chriſt to Save Sinners. Joh. 3.16. God ſo loved the World, as to give His only Begotten Son, that whoſoever Believeth in Him, ſhould not periſh but have Everlasting Life. Twas meer Love, Grace, Bounty, Good Will in the Heart of God towards Sinners (and not any need of them, or foreſeen worthineſs in them) that put Him on ſending His Son on this Errand.
4. Twas of meer Love, that Chriſt Died for Sinners. In themſelves conſider'd they were Rebels, Traytors, Enemies, Children of the Devil, Heirs of Hell; yet from a free Love to, and Deſire of, their Salvation, Chriſt Dyed for them. He loved us, and gave himſelf for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God, Eph. 5.2. Rev. 1.5. So that this great Salvation Offer'd in the Goſpel, is the moſt Gratuitous and Free that can be, with reſpect to thoſe to whom tis Offer'd. There's no worthineſs, merit, or good deſerving requir'd in Sinners, in order to their accepting of it. Indeed both from the Nature of the thing, and from the Divine Conſtitution, it's neceſſary that they ſhould be Sick of their Sins, Weary and heavy Laden with them, ſee their periſhing undone Condition, their need of Christ in order to their obtaining Salvation by Him. But if they ſee, confeſs, bewail their own Sinful▪ Guilty, Periſhing Undone Condition; and ſo ſee their need of Chriſt; they may then come empty-handed, in their Naked Forlorn ſtate to Chriſt for the healing and ſaving of their Souls, and they ſhall be welcome to Him. Whoſoever is athirſt let him come, let him take the Water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17 If any Man thirſt (be he who he will,) let him come unto me (ſays Chriſt) and drink, Joh. 7.37.
USE.
1. We ſhould admire this Divine Love and Grace appearing to Sinners in the Goſpel. Lord, what is Man, Vile, Sinful, Periſhing Man; that thou ſhouldſt be thus mindful of him. When the Apoſtle conſiders poor Sinners as United to Chriſt, and ſo made the Adopted Children of God and Heirs of Glory; he admires at the Divine Grace herein manifeſted. 1 Joh. 3.1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God. Behold this, Look, Gaze, Wonder, be ſurpriz'd at this Unparrallel Love and Grace.
2. Sinners ſhould never ſuffer the ſenſe of their own unworthineſs, to hinder them from coming to Christ for Salvation. Tho' you are never ſo mean, baſe, vile unworthy in your own ſight; yet be not diſcourag'd on this account (nor indeed on any other) from coming to Chriſt. Chriſt came to ſave none but the Unworthy, none but Sinners, (1 Tim. 1.15.) and all Sinners are worthy and deſerving of Damnation, but not of any Good or Benefit from God. Your Unworthineſs can never Damn you, if you'l accept the Salvation freely Offer'd you.
3. Terrible will be the Condition of thoſe, who reject this Salvation freely Offered to them. Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation? Is Salvation brought to our very Doors, as it were, and moſt Freely Offered to us; and yet we neglect and reject it, what Puniſhment can be too great for ſuch ungrateful Rebels? Thoſe who Obey not the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall be Puniſh'd with Everlaſting Deſtruction, 2 Theſ. 1.9. We may now go on to another General Head of Similitude, and ſay: