Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
LUKE XIV. 18, 19, 20.
And they all with one conſent began to make Excuſe: The firſt ſaid unto him, I have bought a Piece of Ground, and I muſt needs go and ſee it: I pray thee have me Excuſed.
And another ſaid, I have bought Five Y…ke of Oxen, and I go to Prove them: I pray thee have me Excuſed.
And another ſaid, I have Married a Wife; and therefore I cannot come.
THESE Words contain a denial, or a Negative Anſwer made to the Invitation that was given them to the Feaſt, v. 16, 17. As theſe Objections againſt going to the Feaſt when Invited, or Deſires to be Excus'd from going, may intimate the Unbelief of the generality of the Jews, they Rejected Chriſt, Denyed the Holy One and the Juſt, and Deſired a Murderer, Act. 3.14. Chriſt came to His own (thoſe of His own Nation, His own by Covenant and Viſible Profeſſion) and His own received Him not, Joh. 1.11. I ſay, as theſe Objections may Intimate, the Unbelief of the Generality of the Jews; ſo they may Intimate alſo, the Backwardneſs, Unwillingneſs of all Men in General Naturally, to Accept Goſpel Offers and Invitations. Wherever the Goſpel is Faithfully Preached, God Invites all to accept of Chriſt and Salvation thro' Him; but they are Naturally backward to accept the Invitation. From the Objections and Excuſes here made, ſundry Doctrines might be obſerved, viz.
DOCTRINE I. Men are Naturally apt to make Objections against accepting Goſpel Invitations, Naturally backward and Unwilling to accept them.
An Invitation to Eat and Drink, is commonly acceptable to the Hungry and Thirsty: an Offer of Wealth, would be acceptable to the Poor and Beggarly: an Offer of Healing, would be acceptable to the Sick and Wounded. But, an Offer of Chriſt and Salvation to Poor Sinners, is more needful than all theſe Offers now mention'd; and yet Sinners are Naturally Backward and Unwilling to accept this beſt of Offers that can poſſibly be made. Our Lord Jeſus ſaid to the Wicked Jews, Joh. 5.40. Ye will not come unto me that ye might have Life. He ſaid to Jeruſalem, Mat. 23.37.—How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings; and ye would not? Tis thus with all Men Naturally, they're Unwilling to have Chriſt on Goſpel termes. Tis ſaid in our Text, They all with one conſent began to make excuſe. They all agre'd in this, that they were Unwilling to come, tho' they made various particular excuſes for not coming.
Here we may Inquire,
Queſt. Whence is it, that all Men are naturally backward and unwilling to Accept of Goſpel Offers and Invitations?
Anſw. 1. It proceeds from the depravation and corruption of their Natures, from the prevalency of Sin in them. Our Lord Redeemer is call'd Jeſus, becauſe he Saves his People from their Sins, Mat. 1.21. He was ſent on this great errand, to Bleſs Men in turning them from their Iniquities, Act. 3.26. Therefore when Perſons are call'd upon to accept of Chriſt and Salvation with him; they're Indeed requir'd, not only to truſt in his Meritorious Righteouſneſs for Juſtification before God, but alſo to deny themſelves, take up their Croſs and follow Chriſt whetherſoever he goes. They're requir'd to conform to Gods Preceptive Will, as the only unalterable Rule and Meaſure of all their Thoughts, Words and Deeds. They're requir'd, to yield up themſelves Intirely, Univerſally, Continually, and without reſerve to God, to Chriſt, to be for Him and for none other; to make his Word their Rule and his Glory their end in all they do. Now nothing can be more contrary than this is, to the depraved, corrupted Nature of fallen Man. Adam in his firſt Apoſtaſie, turn'd away from God a… his Sovereign Lord and his Supream Portion. He practically deſpis'd and trampled on Gods Authority, and this curſed temper and diſpoſition is natural to all his Poſterity as they proceed from him. They're ſhapen in Iniquity and conceiv'd in Sin, Pſal. 51.5. Their hearts we deceitful above all things, and deſperately wicked, J…. 17.9. In them, that is in their Fleſh (their corrupt part, and they have nothing elſe naturally) there dwells no good thing. They're prone to back ſlide, to hold faſt deceit and not to let it go. Their carnal Minds are enmity againſt God, not ſubject to his law, nor indeed can be, Rom. 8.7. So that all meer Men as coming from fallen Adam, have in them a root and principle of enmity againſt God & contempt of Him. Now this Root principle & habit of Sin Natural unto them, is a contrary to the calls, commands, offers & invitations of the Goſpel as any thing can be. This root and habit of Sin, is a Principle & Spring of Unbelief (an evil heart of Unbelief in departing from the Living God, Heb. 3.12.) that's quite contrary to Faith. It's a Principle of Hating God▪ that's quiet contrary to the Loving of Him: a Principle of Rebellion, that's quite contrary to Obed…ence: This corrupt depraved Principle reigning in the Soul, is in general the cauſe of Mens backwardneſs and unwillingneſs to accept of Goſpel Invitations. This depraved diſpoſition of Soul, is it ſelf very Sinful; and is the root and ſpring from whence all Actual Sins in Thought, Word and Deed do flow, Out of the heart do proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adulteries, Theifts, falſe Witneſs, Blaſphemies, &c. More particularly, this backwardneſs and unwillingneſs in Men, to accept of Goſpel Invitations, does proceed:
1. From their Blindneſs and Ignorance. All the faculties of the Rational Soul, are wonderfully deprav'd & vitiated by Sin. The Underſtanding is wonderfully weaken'd, darkned, blinded. The Holy Ghoſt in deſcribing the depravation of fallen Men, ſays, Rom. 3.11, 17. There is none that Underſtandeth, there is none that Seeketh after God — the way of Peace have they not known. And ſo Unregenerate men are ſaid to be in darkneſs; and Converſion is call'd an Opening of their Eyes, a turning them from darkneſs to light: a calling them out of darkneſs into marvellous light, Act. 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.9. Unregenerate Perſons are ſo in the dark, that they have not a right view and underſtanding of things: they have not a right view and ſenſe of the curſed nature and tendency of Sin, of their own Slavery to it, and liableneſs to miſery for it. They dont rightly ſee and conſider their own danger and hazard, the Suitableneſs and All-ſufficiency of Chriſt to Save them, their abſolute need of an Intereſt in Him by heart-purifying Faith. If they had a right underſtanding of theſe things, they would not be ſo eaſy, quiet, joyful in their Sinful Periſhing Condition, as they often are. If they had a right, clear, realizing view of the endleſs Torments of Hell which wait for the Impenitent, and of the endleſs Matchleſs Glories which ſhall be the Portion of Sincere Saints; then they would not be ſo eaſy and quiet while liable to the former and uninterreſted in the latter, as they often are. Tis ſaid, Pſal. 9.10. They that know thy Name will put their truſt in thee, for thou Lord haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee. Therefore tis very much from an Ignorance of God and Chriſt, and the abſolute need of an Intereſt in his favour, that Sinners are ſo backward and unwilling to accept of Goſpel Offers and Invitations.
2. From the Hardneſs of their Hearts. They not only have a great Ignorance of God, and of the things of God, of the duties they owe to him, and the need they have of his favour; but there's alſo in them a baſe, vile contrariety of heart to that which they do know of God. Their hearts are ſo hard, ſo ſtrongly ſet againſt Gods Authority, ſo bent to wickedneſs; that they often neglect to do what they know is Duty, and commit what they know is Sin. And ſo they are ſaid to Love darkneſs rather than light — to hate the light, Joh. 3.19, 20. They hold the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs — when they knew God, they glorified him not as God — Tho' they know that ſuch and ſuch things are worthy of Death, yet they not only do them, but take pleaſure in thoſe that do them, Rom. 1.18, 21, 32. They ſay unto God, depart from us; for we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways, Job 21.14. Tis after their hardneſs and impenitent heart, that they treaſure up to themſelves wrath againſt the day of wrath, and the revelation of Gods righteous Judgment, Rom. 2.5. This backwardneſs to accept of Goſpel Invitations, is often furthered:
3. By their accuſtoming themſelves to Sin. The root, habit, principle of Sin in the Soul, which is commonly call'd Original Sin: is often ſtrengthen'd, increas'd, confirm'd and eſtabliſh'd (as it were) by a continued cuſtomarineſs in Sinning. The longer men live in Sin, the more they uſe and accuſtom themſelves to it: ſo much the more they commonly love it: ſo much the more unwilling they uſually are to leave and forſake it. He that has been long us'd to Drunkenneſs, is not eaſily brought to forſake it. He that has been long us'd to filthy Unclean Practices, is not eaſily brought to be chaſt and pure. So thoſe habituated to Lying, …tealing, Cheating, Defrauding, Blaſpheming, &c. are not eaſily brought to forſake ſuch Helliſh Practices. Jer. 13.23. Can the Ethiopian change his ſkin, or the Leopard his ſpots? then may ye alſo do good, that are accuſtomed to do evil. So that in general, Mens backwardneſs and unwillingneſs to accept of Goſpel Offers and Invitations. proceeds from the depravation and corruption of their Nature by the Fall, by Adam's Apoſtaſie from God. It's a great evil, to refuſe Goſpel Offers; but the depravation of Man's Nature is the cauſe of all Moral evils, both of Omiſſion and Commiſſion. Indeed tis great part of the work of Goſpel Grace, to cure this depravation in the Soul; but this Malady naturally reſiſts the remedy, till conquer'd, and ſubdu'd by Sovereign Almighty Grace. And again, this backwardneſs & unwillingneſs:
2. Is often much furthered by Satan. All the fallen, Apoſtate Angels are often comprehended in this Collective Name, Satan, or the Devil. The Devil was the firſt Sinner. By his Temptations he drew Mankind into Sin which deſerves Death; and ſo he's juſtly call'd a Murderer from the beginning, Joh. 8.44. And as at firſt, Satan thus drew Mankind into Sin and Miſery; ſo he does all he can to obſtruct their Recovery and Salvation. He's an Enemy of all Righteouſneſs, ſtrives to pervert the right ways of the Lord. He does all he can to blind and darken the Minds of Men, to fill them with Errors, and with Prejudices againſt the Truths and Ways of God which lead to Salvation: 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. But if our Goſpel be hid, tis hid to thoſe that are loſt; in whom the god of this World (that is, the Devil) hath blinded the Minds of thoſe that believe not, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Christ, who is the Image of God, ſhould ſhine into them. When the Seed of the Goſpel is Sown, — when the holy Saving Truths of God are Preached; Satan catches them away as much as poſſibly he can: he does his utmoſt to hinder the good efficacy of them, Luk. 8.12. He is the Tempter, the Enemy, the Wicked one, the Abaddon and Apollyon (that is, Deſtroyer) emphatically ſo; who uſeth all his Subtlety, Power and Unwearied Malice, to hinder Perſons from underſtanding the one only way of Salvation, and from walking in it.
USE. We may hence infer,
1. We ought to conſider and deeply bewail the Depravation and Corruption of our Nature. As we come from fallen Adam, we're wofully depraved in all the Faculties of our Souls; our Underſtandings wofully darkened, our Wills perverted, our Affections diſordered. We're prone to put light for darkneſs and darkneſs for light, good for evil and evil for good, ſweet for bitter and bitter for ſweet: and God denounceth a Wo againſt thoſe that do thus, Iſai. 5.20. We're Naturally prone to hate God, whom we ſhould love above all things; and to chuſe and love the ways of Sin, which we ſhould hate above all things. Indeed we're Naturally in a very depraved, woful, degenerate Condition. And tho' God of His Infinite Grace, has given His Son to ſave Sinners, and Invites us to accept this Salvation; yet ſuch it our Ignorance and Wickedneſs Naturally, that we are prone to neglect and reject this great Salvation. We are prone to reject this only and All-ſufficient Remedy which is Offer'd us. We are Naturally Dead in Treſpaſſes and in Sins. Surely we have abundant cauſe, to bewail and lament our wretched depraved ſtate by the Fall. If Men loſe their Credit, their Eſtate, their Buſineſs; if they loſe their Health and Strength, eſpecially if they loſe the uſe of their Limbs, their Sight, their Hearing, they're apt greatly to bewail theſe Loſſes. But the loſs of the Image of God in our Souls, and to have our Souls ſo darkened and corrupted by Sin as they are, is a much greater loſs and much more to be lamented and bewailed.
2. Thoſe ſhould be very thankful to God, who are made willing to come to Chriſt. Has Powerful, Victorious Light broke into your Souls, ſhowing you your ſin and miſery; convincing you of your Guilty, Periſhing, Undone Condition; bringing you to grieve and mourn for your paſt Tranſgreſſions, heartily to hate, loath and ſtrive againſt all known ſin? Have you been perſwaded and enabled to caſt the burden of your Souls on Chriſt, to truſt wholly and only in His Meritorious Righteouſneſs for Juſtification before God; to give up your ſelves to Him, ſincerely and conſtantly to Obey all His Commands? Has it been thus with you? If ſo, tis God of His Infinite Sovereign, Almighty Grace has done theſe things for you. By Grace ye are Saved, thro' Faith, and that not of your ſelves, it is the Gift of God: not of Works leſt any Man ſhould boaſt, Eph. 2.8, 9. Tis the exceeding greatneſs of Gods Power, the working of His Mighty Power, that has enabled you to believe, Eph. 1.19. You have nothing of your own to boaſt of in the matter, you are wholly Indebted to Sovereign Grace. Oh be thankful for this wonderful Gift of God. For deliverance from diſtreſſing, dangerous Bodily Sickneſs, tis ſaid, Pſal. 107.21. Oh that Men would Praiſe the Lord for His Goodneſs, and for His Wonderful Works to the Children of Men. How thankful then ſhould you be, for deliverance from the Reigning Power and Damning Guilt of Sin? This is a greater deliverance, than any outward deliverance whatſoever; and loudly calls for the greateſt and moſt conſtant Gratitude.
3. Sinners ſhould Pray to God for Converting Grace. Tho' Unregenerate ones, have not ſuch Knowledge and Underſtanding of Spiritual things, as true Converts have; yet by ſeriouſly Reading and Hearing Gods Word, and conſidering what that ſays, they may by the help of God's common Grace be convinc'd that they are Sinners, that they deſerve Eternal Vengeance in Hell Fire, that Chriſt is the only Saviour of Sinners, that they muſt heartily believe in Him and obey Him as ever they expect Happineſs: theſe things they may come to be convinc'd of, and being ſo, they ſhould Pray that God would help them to truſt in Chriſt and live unto Him. God can do what He will, nothing is to hard for Him. He's the Fountain of all Good and Grace, can inlighten the blindeſt Minds, humble and ſoften the proudeſ… and hardeſt Hearts. He open'd the Heart of Lydia, to give heed to the things ſpoken by Paul, Act. 16.14. He can open the Hearts of whom He will, to underſtand, approve and conform to His Holy Revealed Will. He can give unto Perſons to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, Mat. 13.11. He can by the exceeding Greatneſs of His Power, according to the working of His Mighty Power, beget Faith in whom He pleaſeth, Eph. 1.19. And ſuch Faith is abſolutely neceſſary in order to Eternal Salvation, for he that Believeth not ſhall be Damned. Since theſe things are ſo, ſurely Sinners ſhould Earneſtly Pray to God for Converting Grace, they ſhould Pray that He would cure their Spiritual Maladies, take away their Blindneſs of Mind, their Hardneſs of Heart: that He would Open their Eyes to behold wondrous things in His Law; Open their Underſtandings more clearly to underſtand the Scriptures, and that He would Conform their Hearts to His Holy Revealed Preceptive Will therein: that He would create a Clean Heart, and Renew a R…ght Spirit within them. They ſhould Pray that God would renew His Holy Image in them, in Knowlegde, Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs; that He would draw them to Chriſt; turn them and they ſhall be turned. They ſhould Pray, that He would ſave them from Sin and Miſery, make them Holy and Happy forever. If you were in Great, Eminent Outward Dangers, by reaſon of Enemies, Sickneſs or the like; would you not Cry Mightily to God for Deliverance? How Earneſtly will many Cry and Pray in Dangerous Storms at Sea? But ſurely you ſhould be yet more Earneſt and Sollicitous, in Praying for Converting Saving Grace. Make that Prayer, Hoſ. 14.2— Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly— Pſal. 116.4 — O Lord, I beſeech the deliver my Soul.
We now proceed to a
DOCTRINE II. When Perſons Neglect and Reject Goſpel Invitations; it is commonly becauſe they are more Deſirous of, and Affected to, ſome other Things.
So in our Text, thoſe who Refus'd coming to the Feaſt when bidden, did not Directly and Abſolutely ſay, I will not come; they were not thus Peremptory, but pretended they had other Affairs which they muſt attend to, and would be Excuſed from coming. One had Bought a Piece of Land, and muſt needs go ſee it. Another had Bought Oxen, and would go and Prove them. Another had Married a Wife, and ſaid he could not come. Their Minds were more taken up about other Things, than about the Invitation given them … the Feaſt. They prefer'd other Things to the Feaſt they were Invited to. 'Tis not here mentioned as Criminal for Men to Buy Land, Oxen, or to Marry Wives; but the Fault was, their Minds were ſo taken up with theſe Matters, as that on the Account of them they Neglected the Invitation given them to the Feaſt. So under the Goſpel, many have their Minds ſo ſet upon, ſo taken with, ſome Things in themſelves Lawful to be Regarded, that thereby they are Hindred from Accepting Goſpel Offers. They have a much greater Fondneſs for, Love to, and Deſire after, Worldly, Temporary Injoyments, than they have to thoſe Things the Goſpel Invites them to. Some are ſo much Concern'd about their Lands, Fields Meadows, their Farming Affairs; about their Oxen, their Cattel, about Proving and Improving them to their Worldly Profit; ſome about their Trade and Merchandize, that they Neglect the Great Salvation Offered them in the Goſpel. Some are ſo Concerned about being Married, about the Comforts and Pleaſures they Propoſe to themſelves in that State, that they Neglect getting an Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt. Union to Chriſt by True Faith, is the Beſt Match that any Soul can ever make. All thus United to the Son of God, are fre'd from the Tyranny and Guilt of Sin, the Slavery of Satan, the Wrath and Curſe of God: They are brought into the Liberty of the Sons of God, Advanced to High Honour and Dignity, Intitled to an Eternal Crown, Kingdom and Inheritance. Yet many are ſo taken with Senſual Pleaſures and Delights, as to Reject an Invitation to, and Offer of, theſe Beſt of Bleſſings. Many Reject Goſpel Invitations, becauſe their Hearts are more taken up with, and deſirous of, other Things.
1. Some have their Hearts more taken up with Worldly Profits. They eſteem Earthly Treaſures above Heavenly, Gold above Grace and Holineſs. Some have their Minds ſo Hurried and Concerned to get and manage Lands, Oxen, Ships, Shops or other Matters of Worldly Profit; that they can ſpare no Time, get no Leiſure ſeriouſly and thro'ly to mind their Souls, and ſecure to themſelves a Durable Subſtance, an Incorruptible Inheritance. Thus it was with the Thorny-Ground Hearers; Mat. 13.22. The Cares of the World and the Deceitfulneſs of Riches, choke the Word, and it becometh Unfruitful. Their Hearts and Minds are ſo chok'd, ſtuff'd, fill'd with Worldly Cares and Concerns; that they Neglect the Welfare of their Precious Immortal Souls. They mind Earthly Things. Phil. 3.19. They ſo mind Earthly Things▪ as to neglect Heavenly Ones. Love to the World Ruins them: Their Hearts are ſo Glu'd to Worldly Things, that they Neglect Salvation, and Hurry themſelves into Endleſs Deſtruction. 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. They that will be Rich, fall into Temptation and a Save, and into many fooliſh and hurtful L…ſts: which drown Men in Destruction and Perdition. For the Love of Money is the Root of all Evil, which while ſome have coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and Pierced themſelves through with many ſorrows.
2. Some have their Hearts more taken up with Worldly Honours. Some eſteem the Honour which comes from Men, above that which comes from God. It ſeems in our Saviour's Time, ſome were Convinced that He was the Meſſiah, the promiſed Saviour, and ſo are ſaid to Believe on Him; yet they did not Heartily Receive Him by Faith Unfeigned; nor did they openly Own and Acknowledge Him, becauſe their ſo doing would have been Inconſiſtent with that Worldly Honour, which they eſteemed above an Intereſt in Chriſt. Joh. 22.42, 43. Nevertheleſs, among the chief Rulers alſo, many Believed on him: but becauſe of the Phariſees they did not Confeſs him, leſt they ſhould be put out of the Synagogue: for they loved the Praiſe of Men more than the Praiſe of God. So our Lord ſaid to ſome; Joh. 5.44. How can ye Believe, which receive Honour one of another, and ſeek not the Honour that cometh from God only? They had an higher eſteem for Honour and Reputation among Men, than for that Honour that comes Only from God and is Peculiar to the Saints. Pride, Ambition, Deſire of Humane Applauſe, is the Tyrannizing, Domineering Lust in ſome, and therefore all their other Affairs muſt buckle, bend and give way to the Gratifying of that Luſt. If any Duties of Religion ſtand in the way of their Ambition, they ſhall for that Reaſon be Neglected and Diſcarded. Nay, Religion it ſelf ſhall be uſed as a Tool or Medium, to Gratify their Ambition. So the Phariſees Fasted, Prayed, gave Alms, when their main Aim and Deſign in all was, to be ſeen of Men, and obtain Humane Applauſe. Mat. 23.5. All their works which they do, they do to be ſeen of Men. Some are ſo ſet upon Pleaſing Men to be Applauded by them, that they Neglect God, Chriſt, their Souls and Eternity, rather than forego any of their Ambitious Deſigns. They are more Deſirous to pleaſe Men than God, and to Injoy the Good Will of Men than the Reconciled Favour of their Glorious Maker and Judge.
3. Some have their Hearts more taken up with Worldly Pleaſures. True Religion, yields the truest and greateſt Pleaſures that can be; even Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. But many prefer Worldly, Carnal, Senſual Delights to all the Comforts and Pleaſures to be Injoyed in the Favour of God. We Read of ſome, 2 Tim. 3.4. That are Lovers of Pleaſures more than Lovers of God. They prefer the Pleaſures of Sin, which are but for a Seaſon, to the Pleaſures of Piety, that laſt forever. Therefore they will not quit their Pleaſures of Intemperance, Uncleanneſs, Bad Company, &c. No, though they Damn their Souls in purſuing of them. Thus 'tis evident, that many Refuſe to Accept Goſpel Offers and Invitations, becauſe their Hearts are more Earneſtly ſet upon, and deſirous of, other Things. But herein they ſhow Unutterable Folly and Wickedneſs: They Prefer Lying Vanities to their own Mercies. They have a Price in their Hands to get Wiſdom, but have no Heart to it: They Feed on Aſhes, a Deceived Heart turns them aſide. They Prefer broken Ciſterns, to the Inexhauſtable, Unchangible Fountain of all Good. They're for the Fallacious flaſhes of Temporary Deceitful Honours, Profits, Pleaſures; rather than for Solid, Subſtantial Realities of Eternity Let none of us be ſo Fooliſh and Wicked; nor ſuffer any of the ſhort liv'd empty Injoyments of time, to obſtruct our purſuing and ſecuring a better and an enduring Subſtance. Let us therefore make it our chief care, to ſecure Treaſures, that can't be loſt, and to lay a good Foundation againſt the time to come that we may lay hold on Eternal Life. This is the Grand Affair, which our Souls ſhould be moſt Earnestly and Conſtantly concern'd about. Phil. 2.12— Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling.