SERMON I.

THESE Words here spoken by our Blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, are the be­ginning of a Parable. For we have much the same Discourse as to the Scope and Substance of it (tho' differing in sun­dry [Page 2] Particulars) Mat. 22.2. v. &c. and there 'tis call'd a Parable. v. 1. Jesus answered and spake unto them again by Parables. The Para­ble which our Text is the beginning of, is of a Great Man (there call'd Lord, v. 21, 22. and King, Mat. 22.2.) making a great Supper, a great Feast, and by his Servants Inviting many Guests; the first that were Invited made Ex­cuses and would not come, v. 18. — 20. Here­upon, that Lord, whose kindness was thus des­pised, was Angry, and resolv'd that the despisers of his offered kindness, should not taste of his Supper; and so order'd his Servants to go into the Streets and Lanes, and to Invite others to the Feast, even the Poor, Maimed, Halt and Blind, and those also who were in the High wayes and Hedges, yea to Compell them to come in, that his House might be filled. It's very probably thought, that in this Parable one thing mainly intended by our Saviour was, to set forth the Rejection of the Jews for their refusing of Gospel Offers & Invitations, and the Calling in of the Gentiles. However, by a Man (a Lord, or King) here making a Feast and bidding many to it, we may understand God and Christ sending forth Ministers to Invite Sinners to believe in Christ, to accept the Benefits Offer'd in the Gospel; many refuse these Offers, they wont accept the Gospel-Blessings they're Invited to, such shall not taste of the Feast, they shall perish for ever. But tho' some thus refuse Gospel-Offers, God will make them to others, and would have his Servants, Ministers Compell them to come in, that is, be very urgent with them to accept the Benefits Offer'd in the Gospel. It [Page 3] seems our Saviour when He spake this Parable about a Feast, was then Himself at a Feast, v. 1. He went into the House of one of the chief Phari­sees to eat Bread on the Sabbath-Day. It's likely this was something more than an ordinary Meal, even a considerable Feast or Entertainment, where many Guests were, because 'tis said, v. 7. He marked how they chose out the chief Rooms; and thence caution'd them that when they were bidden to a Wedding, not proudly to seek for chief Places. When our Lord was thus at a Feast, He took occasion to Spiritualize the pre­sent Affair, to set forth Spiritual things under the Notion or Similitude of a Feast. So when He had Miraculously Fed many with a few Loaves, He took occasion to speak of the Meat that en­dures to Everlasting Life, Joh. 6.27. When He ask'd the Woman of Samaria for some Water to drink, He took occasion to speak about Living-Water — springing up unto Everlasting Life, Joh. 4.10, 14. From our Saviour's Practice herein, we should be quicken'd to Spiritualize the Mat­ters that occur, the Affairs before us; thence taking occasion to speak those things which may be of Spiritual use and advantage. Provi­dence gives us many fair Handles (or Oppor­tunities) for this, if we had but Wisdom and Grace to Improve them. If we were prudent and careful in this matter, we might frequent­ly and easily do much Good, without any more Cost or Labour than that of a few Words. Our Text, with the remaining part of the Para­ble, seem to be Introduc'd by way of Reply, to what was said by one at Meat with our Savi­our. Our Lord advis'd the Man who gave Him [Page 4] an Invitation to Eat, when he made an Enter­tainment, to Invite the Poor and Indigent who were not likely to Invite him again, nor make him any requital; if with a right Spirit he did thus, he should be Recompens'd at the Resur­rection of the Just, v. 12. — 14. Hereupon, one that sat at Meat and heard these things, said, Blessed is he that shall eat Bread in the Kingdom of God. To this saying, our Text is subjoined and annexed, Then said he unto him, that is, then spake Christ to him that had uttered those words (tho' in the hearing also of the rest) A certain Man made a great Supper, and bade many, &c. This Great Man Inviting many to a great Supper (or sumptuous Feast) may signifie (as was hinted before) God's Inviting Sinners to ac­cept Spiritual, Saving Benefits Offered to them in the Gospel. From the Words therefore we may observe this,

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 [Page 20] 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 [Page 21] 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 [Page 22] 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 [Page 23] 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; [Page 24] 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. [Page 25] 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 [Page 26] 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, [Page 27] 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 [Page 28] 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 [Page 29] 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 [Page 30] 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, [Page 31] 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 [Page 32] 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 [Page 33] 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 [Page 34] 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:

SERMON III.

2. THE Truest, Greatest Pleasure and Com­fort. The Time of Feasting, is com­monly reckon'd a Time of Joy and Gladness. When Providence Wrought Wonderfully for the Jews, Delivering of them from Great Dan­gers, tis said, Esther 8.17. The [...] had Joy and Gladness, a Feast and a Good D [...]. The Gos­pel [Page 35] Invites Sinners to the best Feast that can be, to Accept of Christ and all His Saving Benefits; those who Comply and Accept this Invitation, thereby they are Interested in that which is Matter of the Truest Greatest Comfort and Delight. Tis truly Matter of great Joy,

1. That Sovereign Almighty Grace has enabled them to Accept this Invitation. He that truly Receives Christ on Gospel Terms, has the Washing of Regeneration, and the Renewing of the Holy Ghost: The Image of God in Righteousness and True Holiness is Created in Him. He's turn'd from Darkness to Light, from the Power of Satan unto God. His Eyes are Open'd to see his True Interest; the Tyranical Bonds of Sin and Satan where­in he was held are broken, he's brought to Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, to Sa­vour and Relish Spiritual Nourishment, to throw of Satan's Yoke and Submit to Christ's, to Mortifie Sin, and Practice Holiness, to Forsake the Way of Destruction, and Walk in the Way of Salvation. Tis indeed proper Matter of great Joy, to have this Blessed Change Wrought in the Soul: To be ena­bled to chuse the Blessings Offered in the Gospel. The Person thus Favoured, is Free'd from the most Disgraceful Ignominious Tyran­ny and Slavery▪s He's brought into the most Noble, Excellent, Honourable Imployment that can be, viz. Willingly and Heartily to Seek and Serve his Glorious Creator, Pre­server, only Redeemer and Benefactor. And [Page 36] tis Infinite Sovereign Grace has Wrought this Change in him; even the Exceeding Greatness of Gods Power, according to the Work­ing of his Mighty Power, Eph. 1.19. By Grace ye are Saved, thro' Faith; and that not of your selves, it is the Gift of God, Eph. 2.8.

2. That their Sins are Pardoned. They who Receive Christ on Gospel Terms, are Pardoned thro' His Blood. Acts 10.43. Whosoever Believeth on him shall receive Remission of Sins, Eph. 1.7. In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood, the Forgiveness of Sins, according to the Riches of his Grace. This Remission of Sins is a great Bles­sing, Incomparably Greater than all Outward Prosperity whatsoever. The Wrath of a King, is reckoned Terrible. Prov. 19.12. — The Kings Wrath is as the Roaring of a Lyon. What then is the Wrath of the LORD GOD Al­mighty? Who can stand before That? Who can Sustain or Endure it? The Earth Trem­bles, the Hills melt at His Presence, Psal. 97.4, 5. He tears to Pieces so that none can deliver: surely, tis a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God, Heb. 10.31. It must needs then be a very great Benefit, to be deliver'd from the Vindictive Anger, the Terrible In­supportable Wrath and Curse of this Almighty Jehovah. And every Pardoned one, is thus de­livered. GOD the Great Lawgiver (who a­lone can Save or Destroy) is at Peace with such an one, Reconcil'd to him by the Death of His Son, Rom. 5.1, 10. God receives him into special Favour, and will be his God and Friend and Helper. Pardon of Sin is an un­speakable [Page 37] great Benefit. From this Benefit, a Person is Denominated Blessed or Happy. Blessed is he whose Transgression is forgiven, Psal. 32.1. Tis not said, Blessed is he that has Health, Ho­nour, Riches, all manner of Outward Prosperity. A Man may have all this and yet be Cursed, under the Wrath and Curse of God for Sin. But he that is Pardoned is truly Blessed. If a Man should see an heap of strong Fetters and Chains all broken to Pieces, and think, that he was lately Bound with them, but now they're broken and he at liberty: or if he should look into an horrible Pit, the miry Clay, or a destructive Dungeon, and think▪ that he was lately rescu'd from Perishing in those dreadful Places; would not this be matter of Joy and Gladness to him? Yes indeed. But then it must needs be matter of Inconceavably greater Joy, if he thinks of the Prison of Hell, that Dungeon of Eternal Dark­ness, where the Worm never Dies and the Fire is never Quenched, and considers with himself, that he was lately Bound by the Condemning Sen­tence of Gods Law, to have his Eternal abode in those Matchless Miseries, but now by being Freely Pardoned he is freed from those Bonds. This deliverance from the Guilt of Sin, is In­comparably Greater, more Glorious and Bene­ficial than all Outward Temporary Deliveran­ces whatsoever. Christ once said to a Man Sick of the Palsie, Mat. 9.2.— Son, be of good cheer, thy Sins are forgiven thee. Our Lord design'd presently to cure his Bodily Maladies, which were so great that he could not go, he was carried by others; yet our Lord did not bid him Re­joyce on the account of such Healing Mercy pre­sently [Page 38] to be appli'd to his Body; but to be of Good Cheer and rejoyce that his Sins were Pardo­ned. Pardon of Sin, is matter of greater joy and comfort; than curing the worst bodily Maladies, or bestowing the greatest Outward Comforts that can be. To have a Miraculous Power to Cast out Devils, is not matter of so great [...]on; as to be Interested in the Pardoning Saving Mercy of God, Luk. 10.20. Yet every one that heartily complies with the Gospel Invitation to Imbrace Christ, is a Pardoned, and therefore a Blessed Person. To such persons, it's matter of comfort,

3. That they are the Adopted Children of GOD. Every one who receives Christ by Faith, is thus favour'd, honour [...]d, priviledg'd. Gal. 3. [...]8. Ye are all the Children of God, by faith in Christ Je­sus, 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my Sons and my Daughters, saith the Lord A [...]mighty. This Relation (of being an Adop [...]ed Child) to the Infinitely glorious GOD, is un­speakably high, noble, honourable. For one who lately was a Child of the Devil (by bearing his Image, Imitating his Rebellious example▪ doing his Lusts) to be made an Adopted Ch [...]d of the Eternal GOD; Oh how great an hono [...]r and priviledge is this? Twas reckon'd a great thing, to be Son-in-Law to an Earthly King, 1 Sam. 18.23. But this is nothing, compar'd to the ho­nour and priviledge of being an Adopted Child of the Glorious God. Parents are commonly kind to their Children; but God is more kind un­loving to, and tender of His Adopted Children. If Earthly Parents know how to give good things [Page 39] to their Children; much more will God give good things, yea his Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, Mat. 7.11. Luk. 11.13. It's possible for a Mother to forget her Sucking Child, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her Womb; but God will not forget His Children, Isai. 49.15. Kind Parents if able, commonly give Portions to their Children (Children ought not to lay up for their Pa­rents, but Parents for th [...] Children, 2 Cor. 12.14.) and will the Infinite GOD (who has all the Ri­ches and Treasures of this World and of the next too, at His dispose) [...]urn off His Children without a Portion? No, Hell never do it, He'll give them a Goodly Inheritance. Rom. 8.17. If Children, then Heirs; Heirs of God and Joynt Heirs with Jesus Christ. But what are they Heirs to? Why, to an Inheritance Incorruptible, Unde­filed, that Fadeth not away, rese [...]ved i [...] Heaven for them, 1 Pet. 1.4. Verily then▪ tis both Ho­nourable & Profitable to be the Adopted Children of the Blessed God. All such are the Brethren of Christ; He is not ashamed to call them Brethren, Heb. 2.11. They are the Temples of the Holy Ghost too. 1 Cor. 6.19. What, know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost that is in you, which ye have of God? Thus to be the A­dopted Children of God, the Brethren of Christ, the Temples of the Holy Ghost; contain matter of Great Joy and Comfort, and yet this is the Case of all that Heartily Comply with Gospel Invita­tions. It's matter of Comfort to them:

4. That their Spiritual Enemies shall never be able to Ruine them. Ordinarily when Men In­gage in War with one another, they know not [Page 40] the Event: neither the one Party nor the other [...] know whether they shall Conquer or be Conquered. The Life of Saints on Earth is Compared to a Warfare, they are bid to Fight the Good Fight of Faith, 1 Tim. 6.12. The Saints have Spiritual Enemies that would Ruin them if they could; the Devil and their own Lusts are such Enemies; yea Wicked Men often Seek to Ruine them. Our Lord said to his Disciples. Joh. 15.19. — Because ye are not of the World, but I have chosen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. Well, though the Saints have such Enemies, yet they shall never be utterly Ruined. Tho' their Enemies are never so Numerous, Politick, Watchful, Spiteful, Powerful; yet they shall never cause one Saint to miss of Glory. It's possible indeed, that Saints may have many Buf­fettings from some Thorn or other in the Flesh, many Smarting Wounds from Satan's Fiery Darts, and be too often led into Captivity by the Law of S [...]n in their Members, to the great Grief and Perp [...]ty of their Souls; yet none of them shall F [...]n [...] [...] [...]ish by their Spiritual Enemies. [...] not have Dominion over them, Rom. 6.14. Tho [...] while they are on Earth Sin Lives in them, yet it shall not Reign in them nor Ru­ine them. Satan also is a Conquered Enemy, their Redeemer is Stronger than that Strong Man Armed, has Destroyed him that has the Power of Death that is the Devil; Christ wont Suf­fer that Raging Lion of Hell to Devour any of His Sheep None shall ever pluck them out of h [...]s Ha [...]d, Joh. 10.28, 29. If the Saints are Wo [...]ted in any Particular Combat (as they too often [Page 41] are) yet they shall Overcome at the last. Their Glorious Shepherd will Restore their Souls, and lead them in the Paths of Righteousness for his Name sake, Psal. 23.3. If they Fall they shall not be Ut­terly Cast Down, the Lord will uphold them with His Hand. He'll never leave nor forsake them; He'll help, strengthen, uphold them with the Right Hand of his Righteousness, Isa. 41.10. They shall Renew their strength, Run and not be Weary, Walk and not Faint. God has set His most Free, Unchangible Love upon them, and will never suffer them to Perish. If their Enemies so Prevail as to Kill their Bodies, yet they can't Kill their Souls: But Blessed shall be the Dead who Die in the LORD. God whose Love is Unchangible, whose Power is Infinite, whose Veracity is Stedfast; will be to them a Sun and a Shield, He'll give them Grace and Glory, and no good Thing will he withold from them, Psal. 84.4. There is Matter of Comfort in all this. It is Matter of great Comfort to the Saints,

5. That they have Free Access to God in Prayer, and abundant Incouragement to that Profitable Duty. Men commonly reckon it a great Favour to have the King's Ear, to have free Access when they will to some Mighty Earthly Monarch, to lay their Re­quests before him: but the free Access the Saints have to God in Prayer, is a far greater Pri­viledge and Benefit. Thro' Faith in Christ they may come with humble Boldness to God, for every needful Blessing; and He's ready to hear them. Eph 3.12. In whom we have boldness and access with Confidence thro' the Faith of Him. Heb. 14.6. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne [Page 42] of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in a time of need. And is God ready to hear the suitable Petitions of His Childrin? Yes indeed, more ready than Parents are to hear the Requests of their Children; as was hinted but now. Mat. 7.11. Luk. 11.13. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and His Ears are open to their Cry. Psal. 34.15. This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing ac­cording to His Will, He heareth us, 1 Joh. 5.14. Well, but may the Saints only in some Special straits and difficulties, or may they at all times and in all cases Petition to God for needful help, with hopes of obtaining Favour? Why such is the wondrous Grace of God, that He not on­ly allows but commands them, as Phil. 4.6. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known to God. Well, but we Read of an unjust Judge who being frequently sought to by a Widow, said Luk. 18.5. Yet because this Widow troubleth me, I will avenge her (as she de­sires, v. 3.) lest by her continual coming she weary me. And wont the Great GOD be Troubled, Burthened, Wearied and Dissatisfied with the con­tinual Petitions of His Children? No indeed, He's always at leasure to hear them, His Ears are Open to their cry: the more they Pray to God, so much the more they please Him. The Prayer of the Upright is His Delight, Prov. 15.8. He says to them. Cant. 2.14— Let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice. He bids them Call on Him in the day of Troble, in their Affliction (Psal. 50.15. Jam. 5.13.) cast their burdens and cares upon him (Psal. 55.22. 1 Pet. 5.7.) [Page 43] bids them Pray alwayes, Eph. 6.18. To bid them be thus constant in Praying to Him, and to tell them that t [...]ir Prayers are sweet and de­lightful to Him, and that He'll give them what­ever they ask according to His Will; this indeed is a vast Privilege and Benefit: the Saints esteem it so, they would not be without it for a World, it contains matter of unspeakable Comfort and Satisfaction to them. Again, It's matter of great Comfort to the Saints.

6. That all Things shall work together for the [...] Good. This Present World is full of Changes and Troubles; it is an Evil World to the Saints. They are Plainly told, that in it they shall have Tribula­tion, and that tis through much Tribulation they shall enter into the Kingdom of God, Joh. 16.33. Act. 14.22. Indeed they know not what Trou­bles and Changes, what Reproach, Contempt, Poverty, Sickness, Pain, Persecution, what grie­vous losses by the Death of Relatives, what numerous or heavy trials they may meet with while in this World; but yet they have that plain promise: Rom. 8.28. All things shall work to­gether for good to them that love God, and are cal­led according to his purpose. This promise is full of comfort, it contains more ground of Joy to a Saint, than his being Possess'd of this whole World could yield him. God is Infinitely wise, good & powerful; He can extract good out of evil, light out of darkness, medicine out of poy­son, gain out of loss; He can call things that are not as if they were. He can make those things profitable to the Saints, which for the present are not Joyous but grievous to them. [Page 44] When God in His Providence afflicts them, 'tis to purge away their Iniquity and take away their Sin. When He purges, prunes them, Lopping off luxruiant twigs or branches, taking away desireable Injoyments, 'tis to make them fruitful in holiness, and to keep them from be­ing condemn'd with the World. When He suffers the Wolves of Hell, to worry and af­fright his Sheep; 'tis that his Sheep may prize their Shepherd & their Fold the better. When He brings them into great Dangers, 'tis that [...]ey may not trust in themselves but in God that Raiseth the Dead. Indeed their sufferings of this present time, are to Wean them more from this World, and Ripen them more for a­nother. Their Light Afflictions which are but for a moment, shall work for them a far more exceeding and an Eternal weight of Glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. The true and faithful Promises of God assure them, that Neither Tribulation, Distress, Persecution, Famine, Nakedness, Peril, Sword, Death, Life, Angels, Prin­cipalities, Powers, things present nor things to come, neither Heigth nor Depth nor any other Creature, shall ever separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.33—39. What says the Apostle to the Saints? 1 Cor. 3.21, 22 23. 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. Here's indeed a large Catalogue of Benefits, a comprehensive Invoice of Blessings belonging to the Saints. In all their straits and difficulties, GOD Almighty yet stand [...] their Friend. He's their present help in time of Trouble: if Father and Mother for­sake [Page 45] them, yet the Lord will take them up: when they pass thro' Fire and Water, he'll sus­tain them. In matchless Wisdom, Power and Love, He'll Order all things for the best for them; so that they may boldly say, the Lord is mine helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me, Heb. 13.6. If they look on their right hand, and refuge fails them, no man will know them, nor any care for their Souls; yet they may say to God, thou art my refuge and portion in the Land of the Living, Psal. 142.4, 5. If the Fig-tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit in the Vine; if all Creature helps fail them, if they despair even of Life; yet they may Rejoyce in the Lord and Joy in the God of their Sal­vation, Hab. 3.17, 18. Therefore they should not be disquieted, nor cast down in their Souls, but hope in God (Psal. 42.11.) who can do ex­ceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think, Eph. 3.20. Do not these blessings which the Saints are Interested in, contain matter of com­fort and delight? Yea verily, matter of more comfort than all Outward Prosperity whatso­ever. It's matter of comfort to them:

7. That the Holy Angels are Employ'd to Mini­ster for their good. Those bright Spirits who excel in Wisdom and Power; who are always on the Wing to do what their glorious Creator bids them (they do his Will, and hearken to the voice of his Word) they are Employ'd to do good for the Saints. Are they not all mini­string Spirits, sent forth to minister to them that shall be Heirs of Salvation? Heb. 1.14. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear [Page 46] him, and delivereth them, Psal. 34.7. Number­less are the benefits, which the holy Angels by an Invisible Efficacy are Instrumental of to the Saints. This is an honour and favour to the Saints, that God Employs the Courtiers on Hea­ven who surround His glorious Throne, to pro­mote their good and wellfare. Indeed such are the benefits belonging to the Saints, and assur'd to them by the true and faithful Promises of God; that there's sufficient ground for that Precept, Phil. 4.4. Rejoyce in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoyce. It's marter of comfort to the Saints:

8. That great happiness is reserved for them in the future World. Whatever they meet with on Earth whether of Health or Sickness, Ease or Pain, Honour or Contempt, Riches or Poverty, however tis with them as to these things while they're Pilgrims in the World, yet at and after Death great blessedness will be their Portion. Great will be their blessedness:

1. At their Death. When their Souls are ab­sent from their Bodies, they go to be present with the Lord: They go to be with Christ, which is far better than being here; and therefore for them to die is gain, 2 Cor. 5.8. Phil. 1.21, 23. Unto them, the day of their Death is better than that of their Birth: They are blessed, they Rest from their Labours and their works follow them, Eccl. 7.1. Rev. 14.13. They are blessed Indeed,

for,

1. They're for ever fre'd from all Outward Trou­bles and Afflictions. The most and worst that [Page 47] Men can do to them is, to Kill their Bodies, Mar. 10.28. Men can't hurt them after this, after the Body is dead; for then their Souls will be out of Mens reach, and if never so great Indignities are offered to their dead bodies, they'll not be sensible of any Pain or hurt thereby, but will be safely reserv'd to a glo­gious Resurrection. When the Saints are de­parted; then the Wicked cease to trouble them, and the weary are at rest, Job 3.17. The Saints when dead, are not capable of being afflicted by Pain, Sickness, Contempt, Reproach, Per­secution, &c. nor by seeing or hearing the a­bominations committed by the Children of Men. All their Tears and Sorrows are ended for ever. Tis only while in this World that they have their Evil Things, after Death they are Comforted, as was said of Pious Lazarus, Luk. 16.25.

2. They are freed from all the Temptations of Satan. Satan's Temptations are often Unspeak­ably Vexatious and Perplexing to the Saints while here on Earth: Oh the cursed hellish Suggestions, the fiery darts he often shoots in­to them! But when the Saints die, their Souls are out of the reach of these fiery darts; they go to be with Christ, and Satan's Temptations can never reach nor assault them there. Satan is Emphatically called the Wicked One, Eph. 6.16. But when the Saints die, the Wicked (it may comprehend Devils as well as Men) shall cease troubling them, as in the fore-cited, Job 3.17. When the Saints die, they die in the Lord, die United to Christ, and such are blessed for they Rest from their Labours, Rev. 14.13 Labours, [Page 48] may there signifie not only Toi [...]some fatiguing Work▪ but also Troubles and Distresses. So that when the Saints die, they're for ever fre'd from all the perplexing Assaults of Satan, their Mor­tal and Envious Adversary.

Further,

3. They're Eternally fre'd from all Disturbance from their Own Lusts and Corruptions. When a Person is truly Regenerated, born of the Spirit of God; the Reigning, Tyrannizing Power of Sin is then destroy'd in him: but tho' the Reig­ning Power of sin is destroyed, yet the List and Being of sin is never destroy'd while here on Earth. There's no such thing as perfect Sinless Purity and Holiness, to be obtain'd here in this World. There is not a Just man upon Earth, that doth good and Sinneth not, Eccl. 7.20. If we say we have no Sin, we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us, 1 Joh. 1.8. The best Saints on Earth, have sin living and warring, tho' not ruling and reigning in them. This remaining sin in them, draws back and strives to hinder them from every duty, it inclines and prompts to all manner of Wickedness. It Lusts against the Spirit, is contrary to it, so that the Saints cannot do the things which they would, Gal. 5.17. When they would do good, evil is present with them. Very often, the good which they would they do not, and the evil which they would not that they do: they find a law in their Members warring against the law in their Minds, and bringing them into Captivity to the law of sin that is in their Members. This is unutterably grievous and perplexing to them, it often makes them cry out as he, Rom. 7.24. [Page 49] Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this Death! This holy Apo­stle Paul, could bear his Outward Troubles Pati­ently, and say, None of these things move me, Act. 20.24. He had learned in every State (as to Outward Prosperity or Adversity) therein to be Content, Phil. 4.11. But his remaining Indwelling Corruption, and the cursed effects and essays of it, made him cry out (as One earnestly desirous of deliverance) Oh wretched man, that I am, who shall deliver me? Nothing in the whole World is so grievous, distres­sing, perplexing to the Saints, as the remains and workings of Sin in them. As for their Outward Troubles, they count them Light comparative­ly, and think they could bear them easily, if they could but find their Hearts stedfastly Meek, Humble, Penitent, Patient, Prayerful, Thankful, Trusting and Confiding in God, Submitting and Re­signing all to Him, Rejoycing in Him at all times as their Portion: They think if they could get and keep their hearts in such a temper as this, they could be quiet and easy as to all Outward Events: but that contrariety they find to God in their own Souls, that's the greatest Uneasiness they have in the World. This makes them go mourning & bowed down, sometimes doubting that they have no Grace in them, that they never yet took one right step in the way to Heaven; sometimes fearing, that there is no hope for them, that their day of Grace is end­ed, or that their Spiritual Enemies will finally be too strong for them. No Tongue can tell, the Perplexities of Soul the Saints often meet with from Indwelling Sin. Well, but when [Page 50] Death comes, they'll be eternally fre'd from these the greatest Perplexities of their whole Lives. As when they die, their Souls go to be Present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.8. So, they shall then be, the Spirits of Just Men made Perfect, Heb. 12.23. They shall be perfectly fre'd from all the remains of Sin, from the very life and be­ing of it; and being perfectly holy shall Serve God with the greatest joy and gladness. And as at Death the Saints shall be perfectly freed from all Outward Troubles, from Satan's Tempta­tions, from all their Own Corruptions; so,

4. They shall Possess that Joy, blessedness and glory which is at present Inconceivably great. There­fore the state of their Souls after Death, is said to be their Gain, and to be better than what it was here on Earth: Phil. 1.21, 23. They are said to be Comforted, Luke 16.25. The whole of their Condition is set forth by that word, Comfort, and so may Intimate that they shall have Good, Joy, Comfort and nothing else. They shall be Present with the Lord, and in His Pre­sence there is fullness of joy and pleasures for ever more, Psal. 16.11. And, as great will be the blessedness of the Saints at their Death; so,

2. Greater will be their blessedness at and for ever after the Resurrection. All the Dead shall live again. There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, both of the Just and the Unjust, Acts 24.15. When this time comes, the happiness of the Saints shall be greatly Increased. Tho' their Souls in their Separate State were free from all Sin, Sorrow, Trouble, and entertain'd with [Page 51] Inexpressible Joys, yet it will be an Increase of their blessedness, when their whole Man Body and Soul shall be United in a most bliss­ful State. Their Bodies which consum'd and rotted in the Grave, and return'd to their Dust; shall be rais'd Incorruptable, Glorious, Powerful, Spiritual, 1 Cor. 15.42—44. Tho' their Bo­dies in this present State are liable to loathsome Diseases, and will be vile (or in an humbled State indeed) when corrupting and rotting in the Grave; yet these vile Bodies shall be fashion'd like to the Glorious Body of Christ, Phil. 3.21. When their Bodies are thus Rais'd in Glory, re­united to their happy Souls; Christ the Uni­versal Judge of all, Seated on His Bright Ex­alted Throne, Incompass'd with Matchless In­concievable Splendor and Majesty, will Open­ly own them for His; will say to them ( [...]nd how will their hearts leap for Joy at it?) Come ye Blessed of my Father, Inherit the Kingdom pre­pared for you from the Foundation of the World, Mat. 25.34. He'll then Recount and graci­ously Reward, all their Sincere Services per­formed here on Earth. Their Secret Prayers shall then be Openly Rewarded, Mat. 6.6. No Deed of Charity, tho' so small as the giving a Cup of Cold Water, shall then miss of being Rewarded, Mat. 10.42. Their Faith which is now more precious than tried Gold, shall then be found to Praise, Honour and Glory, 1 Pet. 1.6, 7. Yea, Whatsoever good thing they ever did, the same shall they then receive of the Lord, Eph. 6.8. This their Future Glory and Felicity, is set forth by things commonly much esteem'd by Men in this World; 'tis call'd a Crown, Kingdom, Inhe­ritance, [Page 52] &c. But indeed their Future Glory and Happiness, will be far greater than we can at present conceive of. The Apostle plainly says of it, 1 Joh. 3.2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be. The meaning is, Future Blessedness exceeds all present Conceptions and Appre­hensions. And this Future Inconcievable Blessedness of the Saints, will be Eternal too; 'twill never have an end nor cease to be, 'tis therefore set forth by such Epithets as Eternal, 2 Cor. 4.17. Everlasting, Joh. 3.16. Unfading, or that never fades away, 1 Pet. 5.4. All this Inconceivable good and glory at & after Death, is reserv'd for the Saints, and assured to them by the Unchangible Promises of the Lord Al­mighty. And it must needs be matter of great comfort and joy to the Saints, even at present, to think of & meditate on these things. They should Rejoyce in the hope of the Glory of God, Rom. 5.2. No Feast on Earth is so delightful to an hungry Person, as the belief and hope of future glory often is to the Saints. They Rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. The blessings belonging to those that accept of Gospel Invitations, contain mat­ter of greater joy, than any Feast on Earth can yield to the Guests that partake of it. Yea I might further add, the more careful the Saints are to Live according to Gospel Invita­tions and Precepts, so much the clearer view they're likely to have, of their firm Title to fu­ture Matchless Glory: 1 Joh. 2.3. Herely do we know that we know him, if we keep his Com­mandments. The more they have of present Holiness, so much the more ordinarily of pre­sent [Page 53] Joy, 2 Cor. 1.12. This is our rejoycing, even the testimony of our Conscience, that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity; not with Fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God, we have had our Conversa­tion in the World. The more they find of the Fruits of the Spirit in them, (Gal. 5.22.) So much the more likely to know in themselves, that they have in Heaven a better and an enduring sub­stance, Heb. 10.34. Indeed the ways of Wis­dom are ways of Pleasantness, and all her Paths are Peace. From what has been said under this Second General Head of Comparison, we may Infer,

1. The Saints should be thankful, for the great Blessings Divine Grace has provided for them, and intitled them unto. It well becomes them to say, as, Psal. 103.1, 2. Bless the Lord, Oh my Soul, and all that is within me Bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, Oh my Soul, and forget not all His Benefits. 1 Cor. 15.57. Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The thoughts of this Future Blessedness reserved for the Saints should make them Patient under all their present Trials. They should imitate Moses, Heb. 11.25, 26. Choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to injoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season: esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the Recompence of Reward. Yea they should imitate our Blessed Redeemer, who for the Joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, &c. Heb. 12.2.

[Page 54]3. The Sai [...]s should diligently seek after Assu­rance of their Title to Heaven, that so they may re­j [...]yce (as they're bidden, 1 Thes. 5.16.) ever­more They should indeavour to have the mat­ter clear'd up, and evidenc'd to their own Souls, that they have indeed compli'd with Gospel In­vitations, that so they may rejoyce in the Blessings thereby belonging to them. The Joy of such Assurance, will more than countervail all the pains they can take for it; therefore they should d [...]ligently seek it. Phil. 2.12. Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling. 2 Pet. 1.10. Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure.

4. Unutterably great is the folly of those, who suffer the vanities of this World to make them miss of Future Glory. Unto such an one God said, Luk. [...]2.20— Thou Fool, this night thy Soul shall be re­quired of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

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 [Page 55] 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. [Page 56] 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 [Page 57] 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 [Page 58] 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 [Page 59] 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 [Page 60] 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 [Page 61] 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. [Page 62] 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 [Page 63] 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.

[Page 64]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. [Page 65] 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 [Page 66] 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 [Page 67] 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 [Page 68] 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, [Page 69] 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 [Page 70] 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:

[Page 71]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 [Page 72] 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.

SERMON V.

6. SErvants are commonly Imploy'd in Inviting to and attending at, a Great and Sumptuous Feast. This Practice is known to be common when a Person makes a great Feast, he com­monly sends Servants to Invite the Guests, &c. So in our Text, he that made a great Supper and bade many, sent his Servant to say, Come for all things are now ready. So the Great God, the Lord Jesus Imploys His Servants to In­vite Persons to the Gospel Feast, to accept the Blessings Offered in the Gospel; and to Dis­pense Sacred things to those who appear to ac­cept the Invitation. Such Servants were, un­der the Old Testament Prophets, Priests, Levites, such as were Imploy'd by God to make known His Will to His People: and under the New Testament, extraordinary Messengers such as Apostles, Prophets, Evangalists; and ordinary ones, Pastours and Teachers, Eph. 4.11. Our Text speaks of Servant, only in the Singular Number, not Servants, but Servant. Some observe from it, that all the Messengers or Ministers of Christ should be as one, with respect to the Sum and Substance of that Message they declare from God to Men. The Scope, Sum and Substance of all their Preaching should be, to bring Per­sons to Repent of Sin, Believe in Christ and Live Obediently to God. All his Servants the [Page 75] Prophets—said, turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, &c. Jer. 25.4, 5. They all agreed in their Message, as to the main Scope of it; and so should all the Ministers of the Gospel, and so they may be collectively spoken of as a Servant. By th [...] Servant spoken of in our Text, we may under­stand God's Messengers, Ministers sent to In­vite Sinners to walk in the way of Salvation.

And here we may observe,

1. That Gospel Ministers are the Servants of God, of Jesus Christ. In a large sense, all God's Pro­fessed People are His Professed Servants; they call Him their Lord, Luk. 6.46. So God speaks of His Covenant People Israel, Isai. 41.8. — Thou Israel, art my Servant. But as for Gospel Ministers, they are in a more strict sense the Servants of God and Christ; they are so by their Office. The Work of a Bishop (or Gospel Minister) is an Office, 1 Tim. 3.1. They are called the Mini­sters of God, 2 Cor. 6.4. Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1, Am­bassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5.20.

2. These Gospel Ministers are oblig'd by Office, to Invite Sinners to accept of Christ and walk in the way of Salvation. We shew'd under a preceeding Head, that Christ has appointed a Gospel Ministry and Ordinances to further the Salvation of Sin­ners. And this is the comprehensive Substance of what Christ's Ministers should declare to Men, viz. He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be Saved, he that believeth not shall be Damned, Mark [Page 76] 16.16. They should tell Persons of their Sin and Danger, and urge them to comply with the Terms of Salvation Offer'd to them. The Word of Reconciliation is committed to them, and they should in Christ's stead Pray Sinners to be Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. They should do their utmost, to turn Persons from Darkness to Light, from the Power of Satan unto God: do what they can, to save themselves and those that hear them. Therefore they should not be slothful or heedless, but fervent and diligent in treating with Persons about their Everlasting Welfare. So in our Text, Come for all things are ready. They should exhort, press, urge, perswade Sinners to come to Christ, who is ready to receive all that come. Knowing the Terror of the Lord, they should perswade men, 2 Cor. 5.11. They should perswade them to flee from the Wrath to come, to mind the things of their Peace before they're hidden from their eves. Therefore they should deal very openly, plainly, thoroughly with them, about their Souls and their Duty; not shuning to declare all the Counsel of God, keeping back nothing that might be profitable to them, Act. 20.20, 27. They should rightly divide the Word of Truth. Not use flattering words, nor handle the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the Truth, commend themselves to every Man's Conscience as in the sight of God, 2 Cor. 4.2. More particularly, they should very plainly declare to Persons,

1. Their Perishing Undone Condition by reason of Sin. If they dont see their Danger they'll not [Page 77] seek to escape it. The whole need not a Phy­sician but the sick. Men must see their Mala­dies before they'll be concerned for Remedies If they are not convinced that they are Poor, Wretched, Miserable, Blind and Naked; then they wont come to Christ for tried Gold and white Rai­ment, Rev. 3.17, 18. Men should be plainly In­formed of their Danger. Hearken then, the great God, that one Lawgiver who alone can Save or Destroy, says, Rom. 6.23. The wages of sin is Death. This is the Truth of God, every Sin deserves Death, Eternal Death and Damna­tion in Hell. And we are all of us Sinners by Nature as coming from Fallen Adam, and so are liable to Death. Rom. 5.12. By one Man sin en­tered into the World, and Death by sin; and so Death hath passed upon all Men, for that all have sinned. We are all the Children of Wrath by Nature, Eph. 2.3. Oh Man, Woman, didst thou ever seri­ously Consider of this, and lay it home to thine own Heart and Conscience? Whoever thou art, thou, even thou in Particular as co­ming from Fallen Adam, art a Sinner, a Child of Wrath, an Heir of Death, Bound over by God's Law to suffer Everlasting Vengeance, Eternal Plagues and Punishments in Hell. This is thy State by Nature as coming from Apostate Adam, and a Doleful Dreadful Con­dition it is. Nay further, all thy Actual Per­sonal Transgressions in Thought Word and Deed, have increas [...]d thy Guilt, and deserv'd yet great­er Measures of Wrath, greater Degrees of the Insupportable Torments of Hell. Didst thou ever seriously Consider of, this thy Sinful Guilty, Perishing, Undone Condition?

[Page 78]2. Without True Repentance of Sin and Faith in Christ, there is no possibility of escaping this Endless Inconceivable Misery. GOD the Judge of all has Declared His Mind in this Matter. Luk. 13.5. Except ye Repent ye shall Perish. Mark 16.16. He that Believeth not shall be Damned. We must be heartily Asham'd of our Sins, Grieve and Mourn for them, turn from them with Abhorrence, and Trust in the Blood of Christ for Pardon, else we cannot be Saved. Be not Deceived, GOD is not Mocked, that which a Man Soweth, that shall he also Reap. You must Repent and Turn from all Your Transgressions, else Iniquity will be your Ruin, Ezek. 18.30. You must be Converted, else your Sins won't be Blotted out: Born Again, else you cannot see the Kingdom of God. You must be Practically Holy, else you cannot be Happy. Believe what God Himself says, 'tis His Word not Mine. Heb. 12.14. Follow Peace with all Men, and Holiness, with­out which no Man shall see the Lord. They are the Pure in Heart that shall see God, Mat. 5.8. Your Hearts must be Purifyed and Sanctifyed by Faith in Christ Jesus, else you must Perish forever. Have you felt, found, experienc'd a Regenera­ting Sanctifying Change in your Souls? If not, then the Guilt of Sin and Wrath of God still abide upon you. Whoever you are, whatever Character you bear, or Show you make among Men; tho' possibly you were Born [...] Professing Parents, Baptiz'd, well Catechiz'd and Instruct­ed, have liv'd Blamelesly to Outward Appear­ance, have made the Highest Profession, and have been often at the Lord's Table; if all this be True of you, yet if you have not had a Con­verting, [Page 79] Sanctifying Change wrought in you, ren­dring Sin Hateful, and Christ and Holiness Pre­cious to you, then you still abide Enemies to God, Condemn'd by His Law, and so you are every Moment in Danger of dropping into Hell-Strait is the Gate, Narrow is the Way that leads to Life. Your Sins or your Souls must Die. Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Flesh ye shall Die.

3. The Lord Jesus is ready to Save all Sinners that will come unto Him. The Servant in our Text was bid to say, Come, for all things are now ready. So I say, Come to Christ, for all things are now ready; they are ready now, therefore come now, make no Delays. Behold, now is the accepted Time, behold, now is the Day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. To Day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts, Heb. 4.7. As you should be plainly told of your Sin and Danger; so you should be as plainly told, where Help and Relief may be had: Well, there is enough of it in Christ. There is enough in Him to Save all your Souls, to supply all your Wants, to heal all your Wounds, to cover all your Unworthiness, to wash away all your Sins, if you will but come to Him as your Prince and Saviour. He's able to Save to the Uttermost all that come to God by Him: His Blood Cleanseth from all Sin. And he has said, Joh. 6.37. Him that comes unto me, I will in no wise cast out. So, Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all you that Labour and are Heavy Laden, and I will give you Rest. Oh what a sweet and blessed Invitation is this? Are you sensible of your Sin, Guilt, liableness to Wrath and Misery? Are your Sins a grievous Load and Burden to your Guilty Consciences? [Page 80] Would you fain be rid of your Sins, and es­cape the Wrath Deserved by them? Why, be­hold the Blessed Jesus Invites you, to accept such Needful Deliverance. He bids you come, promiseth Rest, Peace, Deliverance, Salvation if you will come. Then come, for all things we now ready. The Arms of a Merciful Redeemer are Open Ready to Receive you; His Blood is a Fountain Opened, Ready to Wash and Cleanse you; nothing shall be wanting on His Part, if you will but come unto Him. Come then to this Blessed Saviour, there is Salvation in none else, there is no Saviour like Him. Indeed none besides Him; therefore needs no other▪ for it hath Pleased the Father that all Fullness should Dwell in Him. He is, Truly, the Chief of Ten Thousand, the Altogether Lovely and De­sirable One. Nothing can hinder the Full Com­pleat Salvation of any of you all, but your Un­willingness to have Christ as Prince and Savi­our. Heartily Receive Christ as Offer'd in the Gospel, and He will most Readily and Certain­ly Save you from Sin and Misery, and make you Holy and Happy for ever. This Blessed Redeemer will be Abundantly Pleas'd with you, if you thus come to Him, Trust in Him for Salvation. He takes Pleasure in those that hope in his Mercy, Psal. 147 11. He's Glad when you (as it were) put Him upon doing His Office, upon doing the Work of a Saviour for you: 'Tis His Office-Work to save His People from their Sin, to Bless them in Turning them from their Iniquities, to Purify them and make them Zealous of Good W [...]ks, to save them from Wrath to come, and bring them to Endless Glory. You can't possi­bly [Page 81] Please, Gratify, Honour the Lord Jesus Christ in any thing like Firmly Trusting in Him for such Blessings as these, for this great Salvati­on. Therefore come to Him, for all Things are ready on His Part. But if you Refuse and Reject all such Offers and Invitations as these, this will Abundantly Displease, Dishonour, Pro­voke this most Glorious Redeemer He was Grieved for the Hardness of their Hearts, Mark 3.5. He Wept over Jerusalem, for not minding the Things of their Peace in the Season thereof, Luk. 19.41, 42. God has Made you, Preserves you, Loads you with all the Benefits you re­ceive (though you deserve none of them) you lie under Numberless Indispensible Obligati­ons to Please and Glorify Him; but this Blessed and Glorious God, you Disobey, Dsplease, Af­front, Provoke after the worst manner that can be, if you refuse the Gracious Invitations made to you in the Gospel. God is Wonderfully Provok'd with the Sin of Unbelief. The Lord was Wroth, so a Fire was kindled against Jacob, and Anger al­so came up against Israel. This was Terrible in­deed, What is the meaning of it? To find God Provok'd with Idolatrous Heathen, would not seem strange; But what could it be that could thus Incense Him against Israel, against His own Professing Covenant People? What means the Heat of this Anger, this Fiery Wrath and Indignation, against that People whom He had favour'd more than any other in the World? What was it that was thus Provoking? Why the next Verse tells us, viz. Because they Believed not in God, and Trusted not in his Salvation, Psal. 37.21, 22. This Sin, this Unbelief, this not Trust­ing [Page 82] in Gods Salvation; this was the Crime that kindled such Fiery Wrath in God against his own Professing People. And if any of you Finally Persist to Reject the Invitations of the Gospel, then be it known unto you, that Endless Eternal Miseries will be your Portion. That Merciful Redeemer who now waits to be Gra­cious to You, will count and treat you as Ob­stinate Rebels. He that Made you, will not have Mercy on you, and He that Formed you, will shew you no Favour; but will Glorify His Justice in your Eternal Ruin. He'll say, As for those Mine Enemies that would not that I should Reign over them, bring them hither and Slay them before me, The Wicked shall he turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God, Psal. 9.17. Thus, Gosp [...] Ministers should Invite Sinners to come to Christ for Savation.

So,

4. They should Dispense Sacred Things, to those who appear to Accept the Invitation. Ministers should Indeavour, as to Convert Sinners, so to Edify and Build up Saints. They should Indea­vour, that those who Profess to Accept Gos­pel Invitations, should live as becomes the Gospel; Walk Worthy of the Vocation where­with they are Called: Walk Worthy of God un­to all Pleasing, being Fruitful in every good Work: that they should grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They should strive to Confirm the Souls of the Disciples, exhorting them to continue in the Faith; and with full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord, Act 11.23. & 14.22. They should [Page 83] dispense the sincere Milk of the Word (as well as administer Sacraments) that the Saints may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2.2. Indeed they should Preach the Word, be Instant in Season, out of Season, Rebuke, Reprove, Exhort with all long Suffering and Doctrine, (2 Tim. 4.2.) Comfort the Feeble Minded, sup­port the Weak, (1 Thes. 5.14.) Exhort the Saints to run their Race with Patience, to Fight the good Fight of Faith; to be stedfast, unmoveable, al­ways abounding in the Work of the Lord, forasmuch as they know that their Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58. Thus Gospel Mini­sters as the Servants of God, of Christ, should Invite Sinners to come to Christ for Salvation; and as Faithful Stewards should dispense the Mysteries of God, to build up Saints in holiness. I have now according to my Office Duty, In­vited you to come unto Christ that you might have Life, shewing you, that all things are rea­dy on His part. I have this Day set Life and Death before you, I have deliver'd my own Soul: if you Perish, your Blood will be on your own Heads, you wont Perish for want of Faithful Warning. I should be glad to see all of you without Exception at Christ's Right Hand, in the Last Day; if any of you appear at His Left, twont be for want of Faithful Warning given to you. For I have told you of your Sin and Dan­ger, of your Malady, and of your Remedy too; that Christ is altogether Able and Willing, to Save to the Uttermost all that come unto God by Him. Therefore turn you, turn you from your evil Ways, for why will you Die? Now from the Office Work and Duty of Ministers, refering to Gospel Invitations, we may Infer a few things, viz.

[Page 84]1. We should count it a great Favour, to have the Ministers of Christ Faithfully Dispensing His Word to us. To have His Ministers plainly Declaring His Mind to us, telling us of our Danger & of our Only & Alsufficient Remedy, Inviting us to Escape the worst of Evils, and to accept the best of Blessings; this we should esteem a very great Favour indeed: we should be glad of it and thankful for it. Paul and Barnabas said to the Blaspheming Jews, Lo we turn to the Gentiles — tis added — When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, Act. 13.46, 48. They were Glad, they Rejoyc'd when those Heraulds, those Ambassadors of Peace would Preach the Everlasting Gospel to them. Oh count it a very great Mercy, that your Eyes may see and your Ears hear your Teachers, that they are not driven into Corners, Psal. 89.15. Blessed is the People that hear the joyful Sound. Prize and Value the Preaching of the Gospel, yea Obey the Gospel lest God be Provoked to take it away.

2. We should not wonder that Ministers are in Ear­nest, that they are Pressing and Urgent with Sinners to come unto Christ. If Ministers even Travail in Birth, if they're most Earnest, Urgent, Pressing with you to Turn and Live; yet dont think strange of it. Their Office Duty obliges them to this: Christ sends them to Invite Sinners, yea, to Compel them to come in. They can't be Faithful in their Office, not Faithful to God, to their own Souls nor to yours, if they don't do their utmost to save themselves and those that hear them. If a Person saw a Blind Man walking Dangerously, within a few steps of falling into some Destructive Pit; would he not [Page 85] earnestly Cry aloud, stop, stop, or you will kill your self? Well, Sinners are in Danger of tum­bling into the Unquenchible Flames of Hell; don't wonder then if Ministers are Earnest and Urgent with them, to make them stop, not to go on in Wickedness, but that they would turn to God in Christ and live for ever. The Charge God has laid on Ministers, the Worth of Precious Immortal Souls, the Account Ministers must quickly give of their Stewardship, all these re­quire them indeed to be in good Earnest, migh­ty Sollicitous for the Salvation of all under their Ministry.

3. It's Ungrateful and Abominable, to abuse Gos­pel Ministers for the Faithful Discharge of their Office Work. Some can't bear to have Ministers Preach against and Condemn their Evil Practices. Ahab hated Micajah for thus testifying against his Wickedness, 1 King. 22.8. But it's Abo­minable to Abuse Ministers, for Faithfully Wit­nessing against sin. What, would you have them speak flattering Words, dawb with untempered Mortar; Cry, Peace, Peace, when their is no Peace? Would you have them thus deceive you, in the most Weighty Important Affars that can be? Would you have them heal your Wounds slightily, skin them over, and suffer them to fester at the Bottom to your Eternal Ruin? Would not this be the highest Unfaithfulness in them, and the greatest wrong they could do you? Would you not have them Obey God? His Command to them is, Isai. 58.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet, and shew my People their Transgression, and the House of Jacob [Page 86] their Sin. Would you have Ministers Disobey this Command of God? God threatens them with the Guilt of Blood, to punish them as Guilty of the Blood, the Murder of those Souls, who perish for want of Faithful warning from them, Ezek. 33.8. When therefore Ministers Faithfully tell you of your sin and danger, Faith­fully warn you to forsake your Intemperance, Uncleanness, Prophaneness, Coveteousness, Lying, Pro­mise-Breaking, Fraud, Deceit, Oppression, Pride, Re­viling, Backbiting, &c. When they tell you that for these things sake, the Wrath of God comes on the Children of Disobedience: when they tell you, that if you live after the Flesh you shall Die: when they testify to you, Repen­tance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; declaring the absolute ne­cessity of holiness in Heart and Life, of having clean Hands and a pure Heart in order to your getting to Heaven; I say, when they deal thus plainly with you, will you be Angry and Dis­pleas'd with them? Will you Revile and Re­proach them, for condemning your beloved ways of Wickedness? Oh tis Abominable In­gratitude, thus to Abuse your Faithful Repro­vers and Instructors. Those who most Faith­fully indeavour to bring you off from all ways of Wickedness, and to quicken you in the Ways of holiness; are the best Friends you have in the World: they shew you the truest kindness, and for you to hate and abuse them for this, is to return Evil for Good, and that's a black and vile Crime indeed. Again, another General Head of Comparison may be,

[Page 87]7. Those Bidden to a Feast, should be Civil and Social in their Carriage one to another. Much of the Comfort of those Bidden to a Feast, does consist not only in Eating and Drinking, but also in their Free, Kind Converse with one a­nother. If they should be Jealous and Suspi­cious, Grudging and Contending, Watching for one another's Halting; they would have little or no True Comfort. But the more O­pen, Free, Kind Cordial they are in their Car­riage to one another; so much the more Plea­sure and Comfort they would have. So, those Invited to Accept of Christ and all Saving Benefits with Him, and who do Accept the Invitation; they should be very Kind, Loving, Courteous to each other. This is the Duty of all Christians. They should love God with all their Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength, and their Neighbours as themselves, Mat. 22.37, 39. They should Love one another, be Con­cerned for one another's Welfare, as they have Opportunity doing Good to all Men, especially to those of the Houshold of Faith, Gal. 6.10. There should be no Grudging or Envying be­tween them. Let all Bitterness and Wrath, and Anger and Clamour, and Evil Speaking be put away from you, with all Malice: and be ye Kind one to another, Tender Hearted, Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath Forgiven you, Eph. 4.31, 32. They should have Compassion one of another, Love as Brethren, be Pitiful, Courteous, not rendring Evil for Evil, or Railing for Railing, but contrariwise Blessing, 1 Pet. 3.8, 9. And from a Principle of Love and Kindness, they should Watch over one another, Instruct, Counsel, [Page 88] Exhort, Reprove, Comfort each other as there is Occasion. Exhort one another Daily, while it as called to Day; lest any of you be hardened thro' the Deceitfulness of Sin, Heb. 3.13. Surely, Christians should Love one another with a Pure Heart Fervently. Brotherly Love should Continue among them. Our Lord said, Joh. 13.35. By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye have Love one to another.

The last General Head is,

8. Those who being Invited to a Feast, do Ac­cept the Bounty of the Inviter; should be [...]ery Thankful to him for it. This Truth will be readily Granted, by every one of any Common Ing [...] ­nuity. So those who Accept of Gospel Invi­tations, should be most Thankful to God, to Christ for the Bounty, Grace, Salvation they are Favour'd with. All Men should be Continually Thankful to God, for the Unwearied Instances of His Common Bounty unto them. Unthankful­ness to God for the Bounties of Common Pro­vidence is mention'd as a very great Sin in the very Heathen, Rom. 1.21. But the great­er Benefits any receive, the more Thankful they should be Surely then, of all Persons in the World, those United to Christ by T [...]u [...] Faith, should be the most Thankful. The Gospel, Covenant Blessings they are in Part Possessed of, and further Intitled to, are In­comparably Preferable to all the Crowns, Kingdoms, Riches, Honours which can be In­joyed in this World. Surely then, they have Reason to say, What shall I render to the Lord for [Page 89] all his Benefits? Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy Name: Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all his Benefits. Who Pardoneth all thine Iniquities, Healeth all thy Diseases, Crowneth thee with Loving Kindness and Tender Mercies, Psal. 103 1.—3. The whole Life of a Christian, should be a Life of Holy Gratitude unto God. [...] Thes. 5.18. In every thing give Thanks, for this is t [...]e Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Eph. 5.20. Giving Thanks always, for all things, to God and the Fa­ther, in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They should be always Thankful to God, and Joyful in God, for His manifold Grace Vouchsafed to them. Phi [...]. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoyce.

Thus I have mention'd sundry General Heads of Similitude or Comparison, wherein God's Inviting Sinners to Accept Spiritual Saving Blessings in the Gospel, may be likened to a Great Man's Inviting many to a Sumptuous Feast. Would to God, that all who have heard these Things, would speedily and heartily Accept the Invitations God makes to them. God Invites you to a Noble Feast, A Feast of Fat Things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well Refined, Isa. 25.6. He Invites you to the best Feast that can be, to Accept the best Offers that were ever made to Poor Mortals; O [...] be so Wise for your selves as to Accept them. There is a Price in your Hands to get Wis­dom, be not such Fools as to Neglect it. You may come and Welcome, come and re­ceive Freely the best of Blessings. You may [Page 90] come and Feast here without any Danger of being Grudg'd what you are Invited to, without any Danger of Surfeiting: The more Readily, Fully, Speedily you Accept the Offers made, so much the more it will be to your own Advan­tage. But if you should Finally Neglect and Refuse these Gracious Offers, 'twould have been good for you that you had never been Born. Therefore Heartily submit to Christ on Gospel Terms without any Delay; Oh come, for all Things are now Ready. Our Lord Jesus said, Rev. 3.20. Behold, I stand at the Door and knock: if any Man will hear my Voice and open the Door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. Since Christ thus stands Knocking at the Door of our Hearts, let none be so Foolish and Wicked as to Bolt the Door against him. I'll now end with that Scripture, Rev. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride say, come, and [...] that heareth, say, come. And let him [...]ha [...] is Athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely.

SERMON VI.

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 [Page 92] 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.

SERMON VII.

We now proceed to another Observation, viz.

SERMON VIII.

NOw to proceed, another Excuse or Ob­jection which possibly Persons may secretly have in their own Minds against Hear­tily Accepting of Christ on Gospel Terms, may be:

SERMON IX.

IN the three Verses Immediately preceeding these, we find, that those Invited to the Feast excus'd themselves, and refus'd to come: they mention'd their excuses to the Servant that Invited them. In our Text now read, we find, that the Servant who receiv'd [Page 145] their Negative Answer (or Excuses) came and told his Lord of it, Inform'd him of what he had met with. Here upon, the Master of the house was angry, and resolv'd that those who refus'd his kind Invitation, should never taste of his Supper: he also orders his Servant to Invite others, since those first bidden refus'd to come. Tho' doubtless (as was hinted before) one principle scope or design of this Parable was, to set forth the Rejection of the Jews upon their refusing to believe in Christ, and the Calling of the Gentiles (whom the Jews esteemed as Poor, Lame, Blind despicable wretched Creatures) Yet this part of the Parable now read, may furnish us with various distinct and profitable Observations. viz.

SERMON X.

SERMON XI.