them to jealousie Acts 13. 46 47. and 28. 28. Rom. 11. 11 12. And the Iniquity of too many of the Gentiles after Called and brought into the House Ver. 8 9 12. And this Verse we have propounded to speak unto contains in it particularly the Reason of God's great displeasedness with and severity 1. More remotely against the Jews who pâ—t away the Word of God and judged themselves unworthy of Eternal Life which was their own not God's Fore-judgment Acts 13. 45 46. Mat. 22. 7. 2. And more immediately against the unworthy Gentiles or the Man indefinitely that had not on the Wedding Garment Concerning whom He gives this Charge to the Servants Bind him hand and foot and cast him into â—uter Darkness there shall be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Ver. 11. 13. To which He subjoyns this I say as the Reason of His being so angry with and Incensed against the unworthy both Jews and Gentiles For many are Called but few are Chosen In the former part of which Words to wit Many are Called let us inquire and consider I. To what are the many Called and upon what Account II. By whom are the many Called III. Why saith He Many are Called and not All IV. To what End are they Called And this will lead us to the latter part First To what are the many Called and upon what Account They are called to the Marriage and Marriage-feast which God hath prepared in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord So it is said The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King which made a Marriage for his Son And sent to call them that were bidden to the Wedding Again he sent saying Tell them which are bidden behold I have prepared my Dinner Come unto the Marriage Ver. 2. 4. And when these first bidden Guests the Jews refused and made light of it he commands again Go ye into the High-ways unto the Gentiles and as many as ye shall find bid to the Marriage ver 8 9 10. And so it is to the Marriage and Marriage-feast there-with and thereby prepared to which the many are Called Bidden and Invited Now the Marriage to which they are Called signifieth not only as some say the Feast prepared though that may be and is included also But firstly and principally the Marriage it self which the King of Heaven the most High God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth who is indeed a great King Mal. 1. 14. made for His Son His only Begotten Son In which the Divine and Humane Nature were Married and United in a close and Personal Union in the Person of the Word the Son of God which was the Root and Cause of that Provision prepared for us And to which Men are Called to the end they might come to and be Espoused unto Jesus Christ This I conceive is first meant and intended by the Marriage here spoken of that in which the Word was made Flesh For asmuch as the Children were partakers of Flesh and Blood He also Himself likewise took part of the same That in our Nature He might be further Abased for us that He might take out of the way all that was contrary to us and obtain into Himself all the fulness of Grace and Truth John 1. 1 3 14. Heb. 2. 14. This is the first Branch in the Mysterie of Godliness God was manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. And being made of a Woman He was under the Law as Mankind was fallen under it yet without Sin And had the Sins and Trespasses of the World imputed to and laid upon Him God made Him to be Sin for us who knew no sin Gal. 4. 4. with Rom. 3. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 19 21. And in and by this Marriage He was fitted and prepared to be Wounded for our Transgressions and Bruised for our Iniquities and to Taste Death for us even that first Death which was the Wages of our first Sin and Sinfulness As here it is said My Oxen and Fatlings are killed Mat. 22. 4. Christ our Passover hath been Killed and Sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. And so That whereto Men are Called first of all it is to the Beholding View and Belief of the Abasement and Death of the only Begotten Son of God in the Nature of Man which is indeed the procuring Cause of all the Glory conferred upon it in His Person 1 Cor. 15. 3. Gal. 3. 1. Phil. 2. 6. 9. John 3. 35. with Chap. 10. 17. Rev. 5. 12. And because all that is Treasured up in Christ is the Purchase and Procurement of His Cross and Sufferings therefore the Gospel is called The Preaching of the Cross and of Christ Crucified 1 Cor. 1. 17 18. 22 24. and Chap. 2. 1 2. Gal. 3. 1. and Chap. 6. 14. And together herewith also they are Called unto the Marriage-feast or Dinner which is prepared by means of the Sufferings of Christ in the Virtue whereof He is raised again in which all things are ready Which in a like Parable to this Luke 14. 16 17. is called A great Supper Great indeed for in it all things are ready And it is called a Supper because once in the end or Evening of the World Christ appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of Himself Heb. 9. 26. This Purpose and Grade was given in Christ before the Ancient or Agie Times But in these last Times all Things are now actually prepared 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. so as in Him there is a Justification from the Guilt of our first Sin and Sinfulness Rom. 3. 22 23. and 5. 18. the abolishing of our first Death 2 Tim. 1. 10. A Victory obtained by Him over all our Enemies Heb. 2. 14. John 12. 31. Psal 98. 1. And in Him there is Redemption through His Blood even the Forgiveness of our following Sins Acts 13. 38 39. And He hath brought in everlasting Righteousness Gal. 2. 21. And received the Spirit without measure John 3. 34. Acts 2. 33. In Him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Col. 2. 3. He is full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14 16. God hath given us Eternal Life and this Life is in His Son 1 John 5. 10 11. Yea in Him it hath pleased the Father that all Fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. and 2. 9 10. He is Glorified in our Nature with the Father 's own self with the Glory He had with Him before the World was John 17. 4 5. All Things that the Father hath are His John 16. 15. The Father so loveth the Son because He laid down His Life for us that He might take it up again that He hath given all Things into His Hand All Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly things all things that pertain to Life and Godliness And all Power both in Heaven and in Earth John 10. 17. with Chap. 3. 35. Ephes 1. 3. Mat. 28. 18. By means of His being Sacrificed for us there is a Feast prepared for us 1 Cor. 5. 7 8.
CALLING AND ELECTION OR Many are Called but few are chosen BEING A Consideration of Mat. 22. 14. By CHARLES PHELPES To whom coming as unto a Living Stone disallowed indeed of Men but chosen of God and precious Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Ye are a Chosen Generation c. which in time past were not a People but are now the People of God 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 9 10. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. God worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will Ephes 1. 11. LONDON Printed for Benjamin Southwood at the Starre next to Serjeants Inne in Chancery lane 1674. TO THE READER Christian Reader I had no thoughts of writing out the ensuing discourse until a very good friend of mine requested me that when I had opportunity I would do so much for him which I was not very forward unto not resolved against But upon further consideration I did intend according to my small ability and as I had time to satisfie his desire But before I had begun it several others also were as desirous as the former both to have it written out and also that it should be made publick The former is now done but whether the latter desire will be answered or no I yet know not That which made me the more willing to grant what was desired by my Friend and Friends was That I might in some measure discover the abuse of the Doctrine of Election by many of the Leaders of the People whereby many Blind ones being led by the Blind fall into the ditch of Errour And many others also are indangered also so to do For as it was said in former times by the Lord concerning some Teachers so surely it may be said of too many in ours Thy Interpreters have transgressed against me Isa 43. 27. What the Scriptures speak concerning Election agrees sweetly with the word of the beginning of Christ to wit That He is indeed the Saviour of the World And therefore nothing at all opposeth them who believe it But Men in their Interpretations and Glosses pervert those things which are more hard to be understood And then also they wrest the other Scriptures which are more easie to their own and others destruction that they may make them agree with their perversions of the more hard 2 Pet. 3. 16. So it is in this particular instance They first devise and imbrace a new Doctrine of Election which the Scripture knoweth not to wit An absolute Election of some mens persons in a personal consideration before the World had a being And then they deny or confess not that Jesus Christ by the Grace of God tasted Death for every Man or that the Grace of God brings Salvation to all men that they may be saved That so there may be some agreement in their instructions which cause to err from the words of knowledge But those who first begin with and learn the word of the beginning of Christ which is the foundation of other Doctrines receive light therefrom by degrees into other Doctrines which are built thereon And in following Christ therein who is the light of the World they shall not abide in darkness but the light shall be vouchsafed and shine more and more unto them until the perfect day If any should fault me for not speaking to other Scriptures which some think favour their device of personal Election as Acts 13. 48. Rom. 8. 28-30 c. Let them know I have not medled with them both because the word Election is not expressed therein And also and especially because these and other Scriptures of like nature are spoken unto already more fully and profitably then I can do by my Brethren and Helpers in the Lord as by Mr. Thomas Moor Sen. in his Book entituled An explicite declaration of the Testimony of Christ from page 354. to 372. and page 451-457 And in his Treatise of Election And by Mr. John Horn in his Essays page 24. 26 c. And therefore to them I refer them because also I have been much more large then I at first intended And let not them who believe the Testimony of God concerning Christ viz. That He is the Son of God and Saviour of the World deceive themselves in thinking that my only or principal end and aim in what I have written is to detect the errours of them who are enemies thereto for though I have endeavoured so to do in some things for their good who do so err And to preserve others from such evil and erronious Doctrines if they have an heart and opportunity to read this Yet I principally intended this discourse to discover how many vain believers of the Gospel of Christ there are who though they are called yet are not chosen And for admonition to them and instruction to all who have the form of sound words that we might all of us not only in word profess to believe Christs Gospel But so from the heart obey it that we may be and abide free from sin and become continually servants unto Righteousness that we may have our fruit unto Holiness and the end Eternal Life Consider what is said herein and compare it with the word of God and Testimony of Jesus And what agreeth therewith embrace it and yield up thereto And if in any thing I have dissented therefrom let it be rejected Try all things hold fast that which is good Charles Phelpes Feb. 24. 1672 3. Mat. 22. 14. For many are Called but few are Chosen THese Words are in General the Shutting up or Conclusion of the fore-going Parable which it may seem our Saviour speaketh directly to the Chief Priests and Pharisees though it was spoken also in the Hearing and for the Good and Admonition of others of the People then present and of the Disciples also But it appears to be spoken directly to the Chief Priests and Pharisees For in Chap. 21. our Saviour spake in Parables in which He signifieth how He should be Dealt with and Rejected by the Husbandmen and Builders Verse 28. 44. And when the chief Priests and Pharisees had heard His Parables they perceived that He spake of them Ver. 45. And this Chap. 22. thus beginueth Jesus answered and spake unto them again by Parables and said c. Ver. 1. As also and further appeareth by what is said in this Chap. 22. 15. And it appears That this Parable is Prophetical shewing before-hand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that He should receive there-through And then God's Grace to the Jews together with their Unworthiness generally Ver. 2. 7. And on their Rejection of the Gospel God's Mercy to us Gentiles for through their Rejection of Christ when Preached by the Apostles and Fall thereby Salvation came to us Gentiles for to provoke
in him Hebr. 10. 38. with ver 26. Those that died for their unbelief and murmurings when they were almost come to the borders of the Land of Canaan fell short of the typical rest as well as they who were upon the same account cut off presently after they came out of Aegypt though they had continued longer in following the Lord and endured much more hardship then the latter Even so such as have put their hand to the Plow and continued it there a good while and suffered many things will yet-deprive themselves of the reward if they bring not forth fruit unto the end All their former hearing believing professing well doing and suffering will in conclusion be in vain to such as these Gal. 3. 4. Phil. 2. 12-16 Luke 9. 62. Oh that the consideration hereof may admonish and provoke us all To be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing in thus doing and continuing our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord But Christ will present us in the body of His flesh unblameable and unrebukeable if we continue in the faith rooted and grounded and be not moved from the hope of the Gospel c. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Col. 1. 22 23. Gal. 6. 9. so shall we not be like the thorny-ground hearers Lastly Some there are who receive the Word into the good ground even such as hear the Gospel and understand And therein they are better then the first sort of hearers compared to the way side And they receive the seed in an honest and good heart and therein they are preferred before the second sort of hearers who are compared to the stony ground Yea and also they keep it and bring forth fruit with patience and perseverance In a patient continuance in well-doing they seek for Glory and Honour and immortality And unto them in due season God will render eternal Life Rom. 2. 6 7. These all bring forth fruit unto perfection though not all alike but some an hundred fold some sixty and some thirty Yet they continue keeping the seed the good Word of God and suffering it to bring forth fruit in them and to make them fruitful even unto the end And herein they are differenced from and do more worthily then the third sort of hearers compared to the thorny ground Though they indeed for some time yea possibly for some considerable space of time some of them however did retain the word of the kingdom but before the harvest came they grew weary fainted in their minds so deprived themselves of that reward of the inheritance of which otherwise they might and should have partaken And so are compared to and in conclusion become like the thorny ground compare Matth. 13. 18-23 with Mark 4. 14-20 Luke 8. 11-15 Now in this Parable our Lord confirms the truth of what He affirms in the Parable we are considering a part of to wit that few of the many who are called are chosen Among the many hearers of the word of the kingdom there were three sorts that in conclusion received the grace of God in vain And one sort only that received and retained the love of the truth to be saved thereby Our Saviour in this Parable of the several grounds speaks not of the heathen who have not the Oracles of God committed to them nor the Gospel of Christ plainly preached among them nor of such as hear such instructions as cause to erre from the words of knowledge and such foolish ones as have not the lip of knowledge For no good fruit can be expected from such foolish persons and such Doctrines And therefore the Holy Ghost hath councelled us to go from the presence of such vain talkers and to cease to hear such instructions which are so hurtful Prov. 14. 7. 19. 27. But He speaks of such persons as were hearers of the good Word of God the word of Truth the Gospel of our Salvation which was spoken unto them and sown in the hearts of them by the good sower the Son of Man And yet amongst these hearers there are but few who are the called according to purpose Oh how few are there that are indeed redeemed from the Earth and from amongst men and who faithfully cleave unto and follow the Lamb that was slain whithersoever he goeth And the Reason why there are so few chosen is not as we have said and may again also shew because the most were reprobated or past by in a personal consideration from Eternity Or because no true and saving Grace was vouchsafed unto them for both these are false But because they strive not or abide not striving to enter in at the strait gate But against all the discoveries convincements reproofs and operations of the Spirit in the Gospel walk on in or return again unto the broad way in which there are such multitudes who hold fast deceit and refuse to come unto Christ in His way So much our Saviour signifieth when He saith unto His Disciples Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat Why so Because strait is the gate and narrow it the way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it Matth. 7. 13 14. And again when one said unto Christ Lord are there few that be saved Though our Saviour gives not a direct Answer yet He signifieth in His Answer That few comparatively are so and intimately declareth That mens not being willing to enter in at the strait gate or not to do it in the present time is the Reason For He said not to him only that propounded the Question but indefinitely unto them that heard Him Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 22-24 He doth not here signifie that there was no gate for such as in the event go to destruction nor that it was not opened but plainly giveth us to understand that there was a gate and that it was so opened that any man might enter therein Joh. 10. 9. Yea that it was held open all the day of Christ's mediation in that it presently followeth when once the master of the House is risen up and hath shut to the door c. Luke 13. 25. clearly implying That the door was not shut until that time to wit while the day of God's Grace and Patience is continued and men are joyned to all the living But He evidently signifieth that the reason why few are saved is because they strive not or will not strive to enter in at this strait gate Ezek. 33. 31 32. The gate is indeed strait A Man in entring must deny and renounce himself daily his sinful and fleshly lusts that war against the Soul his wisdom righteousness will designs and enterprizes his covetousness and love of the World and the things thereof his