Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Title page – Preface
Invitations TO THE Goſpel FEAST, OR, Free Offers of Salvation Through CHRIST. Eleven SERMONS, from Luke XIV. 16. — 24.
By Benj. Wadſworth, A.M. Paſtor of a Church of Chriſt in Boſton. N.E.
Prov. 9.1, 2, 4, 5, 6.
Wiſdom hath builded her houſe — She hath killed her beaſts, ſhe hath mingled her wine: She hath alſo furniſhed her table — whoſo is ſimple, let him turn in hither — Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forſake the fooliſh and live, and go in the way of Underſtanding.
BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, for Benj. Eliot at his Shop on the North ſide of King's-Street. 1715.
PREFACE.
VERY Wonderful and Aſtoniſhing is the Divine Love and Gra…e, in the Redemption of Sinners thro' Jeſus Chriſt. This Subject, juſtly calls for our highest Meditation & Admiration: we ſhould ſo contemplate on it, as heartily to comply with it's Invitations in the Goſpel. To move & quicken Sinners here-unto, is what's mainly aim'd at in the following Sermons. I hope every one who ſeriouſly Reads them, will (by Gods bleſſing) be clearly convinc'd, that Chriſt is fully able and willing to Save all Sorts of Sinners, that will Submit to Him on Goſpel Termes. It's the Wiſdom and Intereſt of all ſo to Submit, and Inexcuſable folly and wickedneſs in any to refuſe. I have Indeavour'd to anſwer ſeveral Objections, which Sinners are apt to make againſt coming to Chriſt: they'll ſurely be Self-condemn'd if they refuſe Him. And how ſhall any eſcape if they neglect ſo great Salvation! Here are offers of Salvation to Men and Women, to thoſe of Various Nations, to Old and Young, High and Low, Rich and Poor, Bond and Free. I have here treated on ſundry Subjects, I hope none Unprofitable to a diligent Reader. The Preaching of theſe Sermons, I hope was not fruitleſs; a number of the Hearers Speedily deſired the Printing of them, and readily Subſcrib'd to the doing it: I wiſh their Souls may be abundantly Profitted, by what they deſir'd ſhould be thus made Publick, the ſame I wiſh to the Souls of all that Heard them or may Read them. 'Tis my earneſt deſire, that my Poor Indeavours may be Inſtrumental to promote the Glory of Chriſt, and the goods of Souls; that theſe Sermons, and whatever elſe I have Printed, may be ſo, is what I Pray to God for, and hope I ſhall do ſo as long as I Live.
Benjamin Wadſworth.