Five Sermons, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
The GOSPEL SUPPER.
LUKE xiv. 22, 23.
And the Lord ſaid unto the Servant, Go out into the High-ways and Hedges, and compel them to come in, that my Houſe may be filled—For I ſay unto you, that none of thoſe which were bidden, ſhall taſte of my Supper.
THOUGH here is a large and awful Aſſembly, yet I ſuppoſe, you are all convinced, that you are not to live in this World always—May I not take it for granted, that even the moſt Prophane amongſt you, do in your Hearts believe, what the ſacred Oracles have moſt clearly revealed, viz.—That as it is appointed for all Men once to die, ſo after Death comes the Judgme…t? Yes, I know that you believe, that nothing is more certain, than that we are to appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt, to be rewarded according to the Deeds done in the Body, whether they have been good, or whether they have been Evil.—And, however hard the Saying may ſeem to you at the firſt Hearing, yet I cannot help informing you, that I am thoroughly perſuaded, that as many will be driven from that Judgment-ſeat, with a, Depart ye curſed into everlaſting Fire, for purſuing things in themſelves lawful▪ out of a wrong Principle, and in too intenſe a Degree, as for Drunkenneſs, Adultery, Fornication, or any other groſs Enormity whatſoever—Bad as the World is, bleſſed be God, there are great Numbers yet left amongſt us, who either thro' the Reſtraints of a religious Education; or Self-love, and outward Reputation, both abſtain from groſs Sin themſelves▪ and look with Deteſtation and Abhor… upon others, that indulge themſelves …—But then, thro' an over eager Purſuit▪ after the Things of Senſe and Time, their Souls are inſenſibly lulled into a ſpiritual …lumber, and by Degrees become as dead to God▪ and as deaf to all the gracious Invitations of the Goſpel, as the moſt abandoned Prodigals.—It is remarkable, therefore, that our Saviour, knowing how deſperately wicked and treacherous the Heart of Man was in this, as well as other Reſpects, after he had caution'd his Diſciples, and us in them, to take heed that their Hearts were not at any time …charged with Surfeiting and Drunkenneſs, immediately adds▪ and the Cares (i. e. the immoderate anxious Cares) of this Life.—For they are of a diſtracting, intoxicating Nature, and ſoon overcharge and weigh down the Hearts of the Children of Men:—To prevent or remedy this Evil, our Lord, during the Time of his tabe…acling here below, ſpake many Parables; but not one more pertinent, not one, in which the Freeneſs of the GoſpelC…ll, the frivolous Pretences Men frame to excuſe themſelves from embracing it, and the dreadful Doom they incur by ſo doing, is more diſplayed, or ſet off in livelier Colours, than that to which the Words of the Text refer: And the Lord ſaid unto the Servant, go out into the Highways and Hedges, and compel them to come in, that my Houſe may be filled: For I ſay unto you, that none of thoſe that were hidden, ſhall taſte of my Supper.—In order to have a clear View of the Occaſion, Scope, and Contents of the Parable, to which theſe Words belong, it is neceſſary for us to look back to the very Beginning of this Chapter.—And it came to paſs, ſays the Evangeliſt, Verſe 1ſt, as he went into the Houſe of one of the chief Phariſees to eat Bread, on the Sabbath Day, that they watched him. The Perſon here ſpoken of, as going into this Phariſee's Houſe, is our bleſſed Saviour—For as he came eating … drinking, agreeable to his Character, he … free, courteous and affable to all;—And therefore, tho' it was on the Sabbath Day, he accepted an Invitation, and went into the Houſe of one of the chief Phariſees, to eat Bread notwithſtanding he knew the Phariſees were his profeſſed Enemies, and that they … him, hoping to find ſome Occaſion to … him, either for his Diſcourſe or Behaviour.▪ If the Phariſee, into whoſe Houſe our … went, was one of this Stamp, his Invitatio… beſpeaks him to be a very ill Man, and may ſerve to teach us, that much Rancour, and Heart-enmity againſt Jeſus Chriſt, may be concealed and cloaked under a great and blazing Profeſſion of Religion.—However, our Saviour was more than a Match for all his Enemies, and by accepting this Invitation, hath warranted his Miniſters and Diſciples, to comply with the like Invitations, and converſe freely about the Things of God, tho' thoſe who invite them, may not have real Religion at heart.—For how knoweſt thou, O Man, but thou mayeſt drop ſomething, that may benefit their Souls, and make them religious indeed? And ſuppoſing they ſhould watch thee, watch thou▪ unto Prayer, whilſt thou art in their Company, and that ſame Jeſus, who went into this Phariſee's Houſe, and was ſo faithful and edifying in his Converſation when there, will enable thee to go and do likewiſe.—That our Lord's Converſation was not trifling, but ſuch as tended to the Uſe of Edifying, and that he behaved among the Gueſts as a faithful Phyſician, rather than as a careleſs, indifferent Companion, is evident from the 7th Verſe of this Chapter, where we are told, that he marked how they choſe the chief Rooms; or, to ſpeak in our common Way, were deſirous of ſitting at the upper End of the Table—For whether we think of it or not, the Lord Jeſus takes notice of our Behaviour, even when we are going to ſit down only at our common Meals.—And would to God, all that make a Profeſſion of real Chriſtianity, conſidered this well!—Religion then would not be ſo much confined to Church, or Meeting, but be brought home to our private Houſes, and many needleſs unchriſtian Compliments be prevented.—For (with Grief I ſpeak it) is it not too true, that abundance of Profeſſors love, and are too fond of the uppermoſt Places in Houſes, as well as Synagogues? And are not many, who cry out againſt all Ceremonies in the Church, too ſtudious of Ceremony in their Parlours? This was what our Lord blamed in the Gueſts where he now was.—He marked, he took notice, he looked before he ſpake (as we ſhould always do, if we would ſpeak to the Purpoſe) how they choſe out the chief Rooms,—Therefore, tho' they were rich in this World's Goods, and were none of his Gueſts▪ yet unwilling to ſuffer the leaſt Sin upon them, or loſe any Opportunity of giving Inſtruction, he gave them a Lecture upon Humility, ſaying unto them, that is, directing his Diſcourſe to all in general, tho' probably, he ſpake to one in particular, that ſat near him, and whom it may be, he took notice of, as more than ordinarily ſolicitous in chooſing a chief Room, or Couch, on which they lay at Meals after the Cuſtom of the Romans; When thou art …idden (Verſe 8.) of any Man to a Wedding, which ſeems to intimate that this was a Wedding-feaſt) ſit not down in the higheſt Room, l…t a more honourable Man than thou …e …idden of Him; And he that …ade thee and him (Verſe 9th) come and ſay to thee, give this Man Place, and thou begin with Shame to take the loweſt Room. But when thou art …idden (Verſe 10th) go and ſit down in the loweſt Room; that where …e that …ade thee cometh, be may ſay unto thee, Friend, go up higher; then ſhalt thou have Worſhip (or Reſpect) in the Preſence of them that …it at Meat with thee. O glorious Example of Faithfulneſs and Love to Souls! How ought Miniſters eſpecially to copy after their bleſſed Maſter, and, with Simplicity and godly Sincerity, mildly and opportunely rebuke the Faults of the Company they are in, tho' ſuperiour to them in outward Circumſtances? What rightly informed Perſon, after reading this Paſſage, can think they teach right and agreeable to the Word of God in this Reſpect, who ſay, we muſt not, at leaſt need not, reprove natural Men? Surely ſuch Doctrine cometh not from above! For are we not commanded, in any wiſe to reprove our Neighbour (whether he be a Child of God or no) and not to ſuffer Sin upon him? Is it not more than probable, that all theſe Gueſts were natural Men? and yet our Lord reproved them.—Help us then, O Saviour, in this and every other Inſtance of thy Moral Conduct, to walk as thou haſt ſet us an Example.—Neither did our Lord ſtop here; but, obſerving, that none but the Rich, the Mighty, and the Noble, were called to the Feaſt, he took occaſion alſo from thence, to give even his Hoſt (for the beſt Return we can make our Friends for their Kindneſs, is to be faithful to their Souls) one of the chief Phariſees, a wholſome Piece of Advice.—Then ſaid he alſo to him that …ade him (Verſe 12th) when thou makeſt a Dinner or a Supper, call not thy Friends, nor thy Brethren, neither thy Kinſmen, nor thy rich Neighbours; left they alſo …id thee again, and a Recompence be made thee.—But when thou makeſt a Feaſt (Verſe 13th) call the Poor, the Maimed, the Lame, the Blind: And thou ſhalt be bleſſed; (Verſe 14th) for they cannot recompence thee: For thou ſhalt be recompenced at the Reſurrection of the Juſt.—Thus did our Lord entertain the Company. Words ſpoken in ſuch due Seaſon, how good are they▪ Would Chriſt's Followers thus exert themſelves, and▪ when in Company, begin ſome uſeful Diſcourſe for their great Maſter, they know not what Good they might do, and how many might be influenced by their good Example, to ſecond them in it! An Inſtance of this we have in the 14th Verſe of this Chapter—And when one of them, ſays the Evangeliſt, that ſat at Meat with him, heard theſe Things, he ſaid unto him, bleſſed is he that ſhall eat Bread in the Kingdom of God. Happy they that ſhall be recompenced at that Reſurrection of the Juſt, which thou haſt been ſpeaking of.—A very pertinent Saying this! Every way ſuitable to Perſons ſitting down to eat Bread on Earth, which we ſhould never do, without talking of, and longing for that Time, when we ſhall ſit down and eat Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven—This opened to our Lord a freſh Topick of Converſation, and gave Birth to the Parable, which is to be the more immediate Subject of your preſent Meditation—As tho' he had ſaid to the Perſon that ſpoke laſt, "Thou ſayeſt right; bleſſed are they indeed, who ſhall ſit down to eat Bread in the Kingdom of God; But alas! moſt Men, eſpecially you Phariſees, act …s if you did not believe this, and therefore (verſe 16) he ſaid unto him, A certain Man made a great Supper, and …ad many; by the certain Man making … a great Supper, we are to underſtand, God the Father, who has made Proviſion for …i…hing Souls, by the Obedience and Death, …f his beloved So… Chriſt Jeſus—This Proviſi… is here repreſented under the Character of Supper, becauſe the C…a or Supper, a…ong the Ancients▪ was their grand Meal: It …here ſaid that a certain Man made it, to ſhew …hat it is God and not Man, that has made a Way, for the Salvation of Sinners; Men …ould never have made it for themſelves▪ …r Angels for them—No, our Salvation is all from God, from the Beginning to the …nd—He made it, and not we our ſelves, and it is wholly owing to the divine Wiſdom, and not our …wn, that we are become God's People, and … Sheep of his Paſture.—This Proviſion for …riſhing Souls, may be juſtly called Great▪ …cauſe it was made by the Great God, th… …ſſed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, … the Lord of Lords—It is alſo called Great, cauſe there is a rich and ample Proviſion… …ade in the Goſpel, for a great many Souls For however Chriſt's Flock may be but a …tle Flock, when aſunder, yet when they …ome altogether, they will be a Multitude▪ which no Man can number.—And it is eſpecially called Great, becauſe it was purchaſed ſo great a Price, viz. The Price of Chriſt's …ſt precious Blood—And therefore, when … Apoſtle would exhort the Chriſtians …o glorify God in their Souls and Bodies, he makes uſe of this glorious Motive, viz. That they were bought with a Price—He does not ſay what Price, but barely a Price, emphatically ſo called; as tho' all the Prices in the World were nothing (as indeed they are not) when compared to this Price of Chriſt's moſt precious Blood—For theſe Reaſons, Jeſus ſaid in the Parable, A certain Man made a great Supper, and bade many, and ſent his Servant … Supper-time (verſe 17.) to ſay to them that were …idden, Come, for all Things are no… ready.—He …ade many, i. e. The eternal God took the Jews to be his peculiar People, under the Moſaick Diſpenſation; and by Types, Shadows, and Prophecies of the Old Teſtament, invited them to partake of the glorious Priviledges of the Goſpel.—But at Suppertime, i. e. In the Fulneſs of Time, which God the Father had decreed from Eternity, in the Evening of the World (for which Reaſon the Goſpel Times are called the laſt Times) he ſent his Servant, i. e. Chriſt his Son, here called his Servant, becauſe acting as Mediator, he was inferior to the Father—Therefore ſays the Prophet Iſaiah, Behold my Servant whom I have choſen—To them that were bidden, viz. To the profeſſing Jews, called by St. John, his own, that is, his peculiar profeſſing People—With this Meſſage, Come—Repent and believe the Goſpel▪ Nothing is required on Man's Part, in order to convey a Title to Salvation; but to come and accept of the Goſpel Offer. It is not according to the Old Covenant,▪ Do and live▪ but only Come, Believe, and thou ſhalt be ſaved—All Things are ready—Nothing is wanting on▪ God's Part—All Things are now ready—There ſeems to be a particular Emphaſis to be put upon the Word NOW, implying, this was an eſpecial Seaſon of Grace, and God was now exerting his laſt Efforts, to ſave loſt Man.—Well then! If the great God be at ſo great an Expence, to make ſo great a Supper for periſhing Creatures, and ſends ſo great a Perſon as his own Son, in the Form of a Servant, to invite them to come to it; one would imagine, that all who heard theſe Glad Tidings, ſhould readily ſay, Lord, L… we come—But inſtead of this, (verſe 18▪) we are told, They all, i. e. the greateſt Part of the Jews, with one Conſent began to make Excuſe—Conſcience told them they ought to come, and, in all Probability, they had ſome …aint Deſire to come; and they had nothing, as we hear of, to object either againſt the Perſon that prepared the Supper, the Perſon that invited them, or the Entertainment itſelf; neither do we hear that they treated either with Contempt, as is the Cuſtom of too many in the Days wherein we live. In all Probability, they acknowledged all was very good, and that it was kind in that certain Man, to ſend them ſuch an Invitation. —But being very buſy, and as they thought very lawfully engaged, they began to make Excuſe—But the Excuſes they made, rendered their Refuſal moſt inexcuſable—The Firſt ſaid unto him, I have bought a Piece of Ground, and I muſt needs go and ſee it: Thou Fool, buy a Piece of Ground, and then go ſee it! A prudent Man would have gone and ſeen the Ground firſt, and bought it afterwards—"I have bought a Piece of Ground, and I muſt needs go ſee it" Why muſt he needs go? At leaſt, why muſt he needs go NOW? The Land was his own, and could he not therefore have accepted the Invitation to Day, and gone and ſeen his Eſtate, or Plantation, on the Morrow? Now he had bought it, he need not fear loſing his Bargain, by another's buying it from him—But notwithſtanding all this, there is a needs muſt for his going, and therefore ſays he▪ I pray thee, have me excuſed, and improve thy Intereſt with thy Maſter in my behalf—This was a bad Excuſe. The ſecond was rather worſe.—For what ſays the Evan…eliſt, Verſe 19th? And another ſaid, I have bought five Y…ke of Oxen, and I go to prove them: One, it ſeems, had been buying an Eſtate; another, Cattle, to ſtock an Eſtate already bought; and both equally fooliſh in making their Bargains. For here, this Second had bought five Yoke of Oxen, which muſt … coſt him a conſiderable Sum, perhaps all he had in the World, and now he muſt go and prove …hem.—A wiſe Dealer would have proved the Oxen firſt, and bought them afterwards: But our Saviour ſpeaks this to ſhew us, that we will truſt one another, nay I may add, the Devil himſelf, more than we will truſt God.—The Excuſe which the Third makes is worſt of all.—I have married a Wife, (ſays he, Verſe 20th) and therefore I cannot come.—Had he ſaid, I will not come, he had ſpoken the real Sentiments of his Heart; for it is not ſo much Mens Impotency, as their Want of a Will, and Inclination, that keeps …m from the Goſpel-feaſt.—But why cannot he come? He has married a Wife—Has he ſo? Why then, by all Means he ſhould come—For the Supper, to which he was invited, as it ſhould ſeem, was a Wedding-ſupper, and would have ſaved him the Trouble of a nuptial Entertainment.—It was a great Supper, and conſequently there was Proviſion enough for him, and his Bride too.—And it was made by a great Man, who ſent out his Servant to bid many, ſo that he need not doubt of meeting with a hearty Welcome, tho' he bring his Wife with him.—Or ſuppoſing his Wife was unwilling to come, yet as the Huſband is the Head of the Wife, he ought to have laid his Commands on her, to accompany him.—For we cannot do better for our Yoak-fellows, than to bring them to the Goſpel-feaſt,—Or, ſuppoſing after all, ſhe would not be prevailed upon, he ought to have gone without her; …r thoſe that have Wives, muſt be as tho' they had none, and we muſt not let carnal … get ſuch an Aſcendancy over us, as to be kept thereby from ſpiritual Entertainments.—Adam paid dear for hearkening to the Voice of his Wife; and ſometimes, unleſs we for…ake Wives, as well as Houſes and Lands, we cannot be the Lord's Diſciples.—This then was the Reception the Servant met with, and …ch were the Excuſes, and Anſwers, that were ſent back—And what was the Conſequence… So that Servant came (Verſe 21st, no doubt with a ſorrowful Heart) and ſhewed his Lord theſe Things. For however little it be thought of, yet Miniſters muſt ſhew the Lord, of what Succeſs their Miniſtry meets with—We muſt ſhew it to our Lord here—We muſt ſpread the Caſe before him in Prayer.—We muſt ſhew it to our Lord hereafter, before the General Aſſembly of the whole World—But Oh! how dreadful is it when Miniſters are Obliged to go upon their Knees, crying, Oh! my Leanneſs, my Leanneſs! and Elias-like, to intercede as it were, againſt thoſe, to whom they would not only have imparted the Goſpel, but even their own Lives.—It is a Heartbreaking Conſideration—But thus it muſt be; The Servant came and ſhewed the Lord theſe Things; ſo muſt we.—Well, and what ſays the Lord?—Why we are told, Verſe 21ſt, that the Maſter of the Houſe was angry; as well, he might, to ſee himſelf, his Son, and Supper, thus trampled under Foot.—But with whom was he angry? Not with the Servant; for tho' Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſhall Chriſt be glorious; and faithful Miniſters ſhall be rewarded, whether People obey the Goſpel or not.—We are a ſweet Savour unto God, whether the Word be a Savour of Life, unto Life, or a Savour of Death unto Death.—The Maſter of the Houſe therefore was angry, not with the Servant, but with theſe worldly-minded, pleaſure-taking Refuſers of his gracious Invitation, who, in all probability, went to ſee and ſtock their Eſtates, and attend upon their Brides; not doubting, but their Excuſes would be taken, becauſe they were lawfully employed.—And indeed, in one Senſe, their Excuſes were accepted—For I do not hear that they were eve… invited any more—God took them at their Word, tho' they would not take him at his—They begged to be excuſed, and they were excuſed, as we ſhall ſee in the Sequel of this Parable—Let us not therefore harden our Hearts, as in the Day of Provocation; Now is the accepted Time, now is the Day of Salvation—But muſt the Feaſt want Gueſts? No, … they cannot, or will not come, others ſhall, …d will—The Maſter of the Houſe therefore …ing angry, ſent the Servant upon a ſecond Errand—Go out quickly into the Streets, and Lanes of the City, and bring in hither the Poor, and the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind. Every Word beſpeaks a Spirit of Reſentment and Importunity—Go out quickly, make no Delay, dread no Attempt or Danger, into the Streets, and Lanes of the City, and bring in hither, not only call them, but bring them in (for the Maſter here, to encourage the Servant, aſſures him of Succeſs) the Poor, and the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind.—This was fulfilled, when Jeſus Chriſt, after the Goſpel was rejected by the Jews, went, and called, and invited the Gentiles, and when the Publicans and Harlots took the Kingdom of God, by a holy Violence, whilſt the Self-righteous Scribes and Phariſees rejected the Kingdom of God againſt themſelves.—This was alſo a Home. Reproof to the rich Phariſee, at whoſe Houſe the Lord Jeſus now was, as well as a cutting Leſſon to the other Gueſts—For our Saviour would hereby ſhew them, that God took a quite different Method from his Hoſt, and was not above receiving the Poor, and Halt, and Blind, and Maimed, to the Goſpel-Supper, tho' He had called none ſuch to ſit down at his Table.—Whether the Gueſts reſented it or not, we are not told—But if they were not quite blind, both Hoſt and Gueſts might eaſily ſee that the Parable was ſpoken againſt them. But to proceed—The Servant, Verſe 22d, again returns, but with a more pleaſing Anſwer than before, Lord, it is done as thou haſt commanded, and yet there is Ro…. The Words beſpeak the Servant to be full of Joy at the Thoughts of the Succeſs he had met with—For none can tell, but thoſe that experience it, what Comfort Miniſters have in ſeeing their Labours bleſt.—Now I live, ſays the Apoſtle, if you ſtand faſt in the Lord.—Ye are our Joy and Crown of Rejoicing in the Day of the Lord Jeſus—Lord, it is done as thou haſt commanded—The Poor, and Maimed, and Halt, and Blind, have been called, and have obeyed the Summons, and I have brought them with me; yet, Lord, thy Houſe, thy Supper is ſo great, there is room for more.— Hereby he would inſinuate, that he wanted to be employed again, in calling more Souls: For the more we do, the more we may do for God: To him that hath, ſhall be given; and preſent Succeſs, is a great Encouragement to future Diligence. Such Hints are pleaſing to our Saviour.—He delights to ſee his Miniſters ready for new Work, and waiting for freſh Orders.—The Lord, therefore, we are told, Verſe, 23d, ſaid unto his Servant, i. e. the ſame Servant, Go out into the Highways, and Hedges, and compel them to come in, that my Houſe may be filled; 24th, For I ſay unto you, that none of thoſe which were …idden, ſhall taſte of my Supper. Oh cutting Words to thoſe that ſ…t at Meat; if they had Hearts to make the Application! But glad Tidings of great Joy to the Publicans, Harlots, and Gentiles, who were rejected by the proud Phariſees, as Ali…ns to the Common-Wealth of Iſrael, and Strangers to the Covenant of Promiſe! This was fulfilled, when our Lord ſent the Apoſtles, not only into the Streets, and Lanes of the City, and Places bordering upon Jeruſalem and J…dea, but when he gave them a Commiſſion to go out into all the World, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, Gentile as well as Jew…; and not only gave them a Command, but bleſſed their Labours with ſuch Succeſs▪ … Three Thouſand were converted in one Day—And▪ I am not without Hopes, that it will be ſtill further fulfilled, by the Calling of ſ…me of you home this Day: For however this Parable was ſpoken originally to the Jews, and upon a particular Occaſion here at a Feaſt, yet it is applicable to us; and to our Children▪ and to as many …s are … yea, to as many as the Lord our God ſhall call—It gives … Sanction, methinks, to preaching in the Fields; and other Places, beſides the Synagogues; and points out the Reception the Goſpel mo…s with in thoſe Days, in ſuch a lively Manner, that one wou'd think it had a particular Reference to the preſent Age—For is it not too, too plain, that the Goſpel-Offers, and Goſpel-Grace, have been ſlighted, and made light of, by many Profeſſors of this Generation?—We have been in the Churches, telling them, again and again, that the great God has made a great Supper … (and has invited many, even them) and ſent us by his Providence and his Spirit, to ſay unto them that were hidden, Come, for all Things are now ready—Believe on the Lord Jeſus, and you ſhall be ſaved—But the Generality of the L…ity have made light of it, they have given us the Hearing, but are too buſy in their Farms and their Merchandizes, their marrying and giving in Marriage, to come and be bleſſed in the Lord of Life. We have told them, again and again, that we do not want them to hide themſelves from the World, but to teach them, how they may, live in, and yet not be of it—But all will not do—Many of the Clergy alſo (like the Letter-learned Scribes and Phariſees in our Saviour's Time) reject the Kingdom of God againſt themſelves, and deny us the Uſe of the Pulpits; for no other Reaſon, but becauſe we preach the Doctrine of Juſtification in the Sight of God by Faith… alone, and invite Sinners to come and taſte of the Goſpel-feaſt freely, without Money and without Price—Whatever they may think, we are perſuaded, …he Great Maſter of the Houſe is angry with them, for being angry with …s without a Cauſe—He therefore now, by his Providence, …ides us Go out quickly into the Streets; and Lanes of the City, and bring in the Poor, and the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind, i. e. Call in the Publicans, and Harlots, the common Curſers and Swearers, and Sabbath-Breakers, and Adulterers, who, perhaps, never enter'd a Church Door, or heard that Jeſus Chriſt died for ſuch Sinners as they are.—We, thro' Grace, have obeyed the Command, we have gone out, tho' expoſed to much Contempt for ſo doing, and, bleſſed be God, our Labour has not been in vain in the Lord. For many have been made willing, in the Day of God's Power: And we would ſpeak it with Humility, we can go chearfully to our Saviour, and ſay, it is done, Lord, as thou haſt commanded, and yet there is room.—He is therefore pleaſed, in ſpite of all Oppoſition from Men or Devils, to continue, and renew, and enlarge our Commiſſion, and ſend us literally into the Highways and Hedges; and, I truſt, has given us a Commiſſion to compel Sinners to come. For, could we ſpeak with the Tongues of Men and Angels, yet if the Lord did not attend the Word with his Power, and ſweetly incline Men's Wills to comply with the Goſpel-call, we ſhould be as a ſounding Braſs, or a tinkling Cymbal. And this we believe our Saviour will do.—For his Houſe muſt be filled: Every Soul for whom he has ſhed his Blood, ſhall finally be ſaved, and all that the Father hath given him ſhall c…me unto him, and whoſoever cometh unto him …e will in no wiſe caſt out▪ —This comforted our Lord, when his Goſpel was rejected by the Jews. As tho' he had ſaid; Well, tho' you deſpiſe the Offers of my Grace, yet I ſhall not ſhed my Blood in vain; for all that the Father hath given me, ſhall come unto me.—Supported by this Conſideration, I am not aſhamed to come out this Day into the Highways and He …ges, and to confeſs, that my Buſineſs is to call the Poor, and the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind, ſelf-condemned, helpleſs Sinners, to the Marriage-feaſt of the Supper of the Lamb.—My cry is, come, believe on the Lord Jeſus; throw yourſelves at the Footſtool of his Mercy, and you ſhall be ſaved; for all Things are now ready—God the Father is ready, God the Son is ready, God the Holy Ghoſt is ready; the bleſſed Angels above are ready, and the bleſſed Saints below are ready, to welcome you to the Goſpel-feaſt.—A perfect and everlaſting Righteouſneſs is now wrought out by Jeſus Chriſt.—God, now, upon honourable Terms, can acquit the Guilty—God can now be JUST, and yet juſtify the Ungodly—For he hath made Chriſt to be Sin for us, who knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him. The fatted Calf is now killed, and Chriſt our Paſſover, is ſacrificed for us—Come Sinners, and feed upon him in your Hearts by Faith, with Thankſgiving—For Jeſus Chriſt's Sake, do not with one Conſent begin to make Excuſe.—Do not let a Piece of Ground, five Yoke of Oxen, or even a Wife, keep you from this great Supper—Theſe you may enjoy, as the Gifts of God, and make uſe of them for the Mediator's Glory, and yet be preſent at the Goſpel-Feaſt.—True and undefiled Religion does not take away, but greatly enhance the Comforts of Life; and our Lord did not pray, that we ſhould be taken out of the World, but that we ſhould be delivered from the Evil of it.—Oh then that you wou'd all, with one Conſent, ſay, Lo! we come—Aſſure yourſelves there is Proviſion enough—For it is a great Supper—In our Father's Houſe there is Bread enough, and to ſpare.—And tho' it is a great God, that makes the Supper, yet he is as Good and Condeſcending, as he is Great. Tho' he be the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, yet he will dwell with the humble and contrite Heart, even with the Man that trembleth at his Word. Neither can you complain for Want of Room; for yet there is Room. In our Father's Houſe are many Manſions. If it was not ſo, our Saviour would have told us. The Grace of Chriſt, is as Rich, as Free, and as powerful as ever—He is the ſame Yeſterday, to Day, and for ever: He is full of Grace and Truth, and out of his Fulneſs, all that come to him may receive Grace for Grace—He giveth liberally, and upbraideth not—He willeth not the Death of a Sinner, but that he ſhould rather Believe and Live.—Come then, all ye Halt, Poor, Maimed, and Blind Sinners; take Comfort, the Lord Jeſus hath ſent his Servant to call you—It is now Supper-time, and a Day of uncommon… Grace. It may be, the Day may be far ſpent—Haſte, therefore, and away to the Supper of the Lamb—If you do not come, I know the Maſter will be angry.—And who can ſtand before him, when he is angry? Harden not therefore your Hearts, as in the Day of Provocation, as in the Day of Temptation in the Wilderneſs—Do not provoke the Lord to ſay, none of thoſe that were bidden ſhall taſte of my Supper.—Oh dreadful Words! Much more is implied in them than is expreſſed.—It is the fame with that in the Pſalms—I ſ…are in my Wrath that they ſhould not enter into my Reſt—And if you do not enter into God's Reſt, if you do not taſte of Chriſt's Supper, you muſt lift up your Eyes in Torments, where you will have no Reſt, but muſt ſup with the damned Devils for evermore.—Knowing therefore the Terrors of the Lord, we perſuade you to haſte away, and make no more frivolous Excuſes—For there is no Excuſe againſt Believing.—Perhaps you may ſay—You call to the Halt, and Maimed, and Blind, and Poor—But if we are Halt, and Maimed, how can we come? If we are Blind, how can we ſee our Way? If we are Poor, how can we expect Admiſſion to ſo great a Table? Ah! dear Hearts—Happy are ye, if you are ſenſible, that you are Halt, and Maimed.—For if you feel your ſelves ſo, and are lamenting it, who knows but whilſt I am ſpeaking, God may ſend his Spirit with the Word, and fetch you home? Tho' you are Blind, Jeſus has Eye-ſalve to anoint you—Tho' you are Poor, yet you are welcome to this rich Feaſt—It coſt Jeſus Chriſt a great Price, but you ſhall have it gratis—For ſuch as you was it deſigned—Bleſſed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven—Rich, and Self-righteous, Self-ſufficient Sinners, I know, will ſcorn both the Feaſt, and its great Provider—They have done ſo already, therefore the Lord has ſent us into the Highways, and Hedges to bring ſuch poor Souls as you are in—Venture then, my dear Friends, and honour God, by taking him at his Word—Come to the Marriage-Feaſt—Believe me, you will there partake of moſt delicious Fare—Tell me, ye that have been made to taſte, that the Lord is gracious, will you not recommend this Feaſt to all? Are you not, whilſt I am ſpeaking, ready to cry out, come all ye that are without, come ye, obey the Call, for we have ſat under the Redeemer's Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit has been pleaſant to our Taſte—Whilſt … ſpeaking, does not the Fire kindle, do … your Hearts burn with a Deſire that others … come and be bleſſed too? If you are Chriſti… indeed; I know you will be thus minded, … the Language of your Hearts will be, Lord, …hilſt he is calling, let thy Spirit compel them … come in.—Oh that the Lord may ſay, …!—And why ſhou'd we doubt? Surely …ur Saviour will not …et me complain this Day, … I have laboured in vain, and ſpent my …rength for nought—Methinks I ſee ma… deſiring to come—O how ſhall I compel … to come forwards—I will not uſe Fire, … Sword, as the Papiſts do, by terribly per…ting this Text of Scripture—But I will tell … of the Love of God, the Love of God in Chriſt, and ſurely that muſt compel you, that muſt conſtrain you, whether you will or not.—Sinners, my Heart is enlarged towards you—I could fill my Mouth with Arguments—Conſider the Greatneſs of the God, that makes the Supper—Conſider the Greatneſs of the Price, wherewith it was purchaſed—Conſider the Greatneſs of the Proviſion made for you—What would you have more?—Conſider God's infinite Condeſcenſion, in calling you now, when you might have been in Hell, where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched.—And that you might be without Excuſe, he has ſent his Servant into the Highways and Hedges, to invite you there—Oh that you only taſted what I do now! I am ſure, you wou'd not want Arguments to induce you to come in: No, you wou'd fly to the Goſpel-Feaſt, as Doves to the Windows.—But, poor Souls! many of you, perhaps, are not hungry—You do not feel your ſelves Ha…t, or Maimed, or Blind, and therefore you have no Reliſh for this ſpiritual Entertainment—Well, be not angry with me for calling you; be not offended, if I weep over you, becauſe you know not the Day of your Viſitation; If I muſt appear in Judgment as a ſwift Witneſs againſt you, I muſt—But Oh that Thought chills my Blood!—I cannot bear it; I fed that I could lay down my Life for you—But Oh! I am not willing to go without you.—What ſay you, my dear Friends? I wou'd put the Queſtion to you once more—Will you taſte of Chriſt's Supper, or will you not? You ſhall all be welcome. There is Milk at this Feaſt for Babes, as well as Meat for ſtrong Men, and Perſons of riper Years—There's Room and Proviſion for High and Low, Rich and Poor, one with another; and our Saviour will thank you for coming—Amazing Condeſcenſion!—Aſtoniſhing Love!—The Thought of it quite overcomes me—Help me, help me, O Believers, to bleſs and praiſe him—And Oh! that his Love may excite us to come afreſh to him, as tho' we had never come before! For, tho' we have been often feaſted, yet our Souls will ſtarve, unleſs we renew our Acts of Faith, and throw ourſelves, … loſt, undone Sinners, continually at the Feet of Chriſt.—Feeding upon paſt Experiences will not ſatisfy our Souls any more, than what we eat Yeſterday will ſuſtain our Bodies to Day.—No, Believers muſt look for freſh Influences of divine Grace, and beg of the Lord, to water them every Moment—The Parable therefore ſpeaks to Saints, as well as Sinners.—Come ye to the Marriage-feaſt; you are as welcome now as ever—And may God ſet your Souls a longing for that Time, when we ſhall, ſit down and eat Bread in the Kingdom of Heaven!—There we ſhall have full Draughts of Heaven—There we ſhall have full Draughts of divine Love, and enjoy the glorious Emanuel, without intermiſſion, for evermore.—Even ſo Lord Jeſus, Amen.