Alas be not deceived Abels bloud cryed when he was dead Gen. 4.10 and as there is a voice in the bloud of Martyrs so there is a voice in the Doctrine of preachers after they are dead and gone Use 2. Yet God doth sometimes continue his messengers among those that are obstinate Ezek. 2.5 though they grow worse by it yet they shall enjoy it surely it will be to make them the more inexcusable Here is one of the depths of God's judgments that those enjoy the means who grow worse by the same and those want the means who would grow better by the same but Christ pronounceth the severer wo against such Matth. 11.21 who abuse that means which others would improve On the other hand though those that refuse the Gospel cause Ministers to go from them yet those that receive the Gospel cannot always keep Ministers with them St. Paul was called away from those that wept sore at his departure Act. 20.37 38. Christ hath the stars in his right hand and he placeth and displaceth them according to his pleasure They that are glad at the sight of their Minister must arm themselves for this affliction their minister must be removed out of their sight Use 3. Refuse not the Gospel when brought to you by the messenger of the Gospel Continue not in your unbelief hearing the Doctrine of faith preached to you do not reject the word receive the message of the Gospel now it is tendred to you in the ministry of the word The messengers of the Gospel will not always continue Walk in the light while ye do enjoy the light John 12.35 believe in Christ who is the true light ver 36. be guided by the spirit of God according to the word of God follow the Doctrine and examples of Gods faithful messengers who are called the light of the world Matth. 5.14 obey them that have the rule over you submit to them that watch for your souls Associate your selves with the children of light 1 Thes 5.5 maintain intimate familiarity with them whose words are pure whose lives are shining Be ye perfecting holiness on earth by way of preparation for the perfection of holiness in heaven every degree of grace is a step to glory CHAP. IV. And shewed his Lord these things HAving heard the return of the messenger we are now to hear the report that is made And shewed The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to relate or to bring back again an answer to a message that was sent A word frequently made use of by humane writers in that language Poets Orators Historians Moralists and by some in this sense to make report as Embassadours do when they return from their embassage So that great Moralist makes use of the word which sense suits well with our Text. His Lord that is he who made the feast and sent him as a messenger to invite These things that is the very naked truth of those several excuses as they were given in by the Recusant Guests without any excusing of their excuses Obser That the messengers of the Gospel do relate unto God those answers which are made by the refusers of the Gospel The answers made by the refusers of the Gospel we heard before in the examination of their several excuses now let us see how the messengers do relate or shew these things unto their Lord. 1. By producing the commission they had to speak in God's name they shew unto their Lord the dispatching of their errand according to his mind He that had the five talents said Lord thou deliveredst to me five talents and behold thus and thus I have made use of them And so he that had the two Matth. 25.20 22. Lord saith the preacher Thou didst put me into such an office Thou didst endue me with such gifts and I did execute that office and employ those gifts among such a people I wholly gave up my self to the work Here be those I spake among let them deny it if they can 2. By declaring what and how they spake by vertue of that commission They shew unto their Lord the Scripture they preached the Texts they handled the Argumens they used the affection they expressed in the discharge of their duty in the work of the ministery John 17.14 15.22 Lord saith the preacher I gave them thy word to whom thou didst send me and though some did receive it yet others did refuse it and hated those who did receive it Thy word I taught without mixture and deceit pressing the Authority of thy sacred majesty 3. By complaining of the obstinacy of those who hear the word Lord who hath believed our report Isa 53.1 Lord how few are there that regard what we speak They look upon thy word as our report as though it had no other Author than our selves and so give no heed or credit to what we say They consider not that thou speakest when we speak and so they think they are not bound to believe us 4. By reporting the ill usage they meet withall from the opposers of the Gospel They shew their Lord what they suffer for his names sake The Apostles returning from their Adversaries to God said And now Lord behold their threatnings Act. 4.29 Lord saith the preacher behold how many speak against us because we speak for thee how many threaten us because we denounce thy threatnings against them for their sins We may be sure that God hearkens to such grievances 5. By appealling to God as the supream power whose name hath the greatest wrong by the opposers of the Gospel Act. 4.24 25. They shew unto their Lord that the opposition of enemies is not so much against them poor servants as against himself and Son and heir Christ Jesus In outward appearance it is against us but of a truth it is against thy holy child Jesus CHAP. V. NOw the time when the messengers of the Gospel do make this report is 1. In this life when they address themselves to the throne of grace by prayer Act. 4.23 24 31. As the speak from the Lord so they have daily occasion to speak to the Lord and they must tell him of their hearers manners as well as tell them of his mind yet so as in this life while there is hope to beg pardon in their behalf Luke 23.34 Those many souls brought in at St. Peters Sermon Act. 2. Some attribute as a gracious return to the fore mentioned prayer of our Saviour and some make St. Pauls conversion as an answer to St. Stephens prayer lay not this sin to their charge 2. In the life to come when they appear to give up their account at God's tribunal then they shall lay all open and speak plainly against all that oposed the truth Like as the the Prophets sometimes prophetically desired absolutely that the curse of God might fall upon such enemies of theirs Jer. 18.20 23. which kind of imprecations though God's messengers must not now follow yet
Ezr. 9.13 14. if God renew our lives should not we renew our obedience The reasons why we should thus spiritualize earthly things are these Reas 1. God hath appointed all things here below to raise us up unto him who is above Job 12.7 creatures are glasses to represent the Creatour Seculum Speculum They have a teaching voice they read us Divinity-Lectures of God's providence The world below is as a glass wherein we may see the world above they who cannot read other books may read the Volume of the creatures here they may run and read This is the plow-mans Alphabet the Sheepherds Kalendar the Travellers Perspective The least creature hath some lively resemblance of the great God 2. This is the way to have always an heaven upon the earth which we should aspire after Psal 73.25 'T is said of two worthy Divines the one reconciled heaven and earth Mr. Ball Mr. Dod. because worldly occasions did not distract him in heavens way The other turn'd earth into heaven by a spiritual improvement of all earthly affairs CHAP. IV. Use 1. HErein ye may see a main difference between the children of this world the children of God The children of this world are like little children who finding a picture in a book do graze upon and make sport with it but consider not who it is but God's children are like those men who examine the story the picture representeth they will pick some farther matter out than that which is represented to the eye Here we may also see how far they are from spiritualizing earthly enjoyments who abuse them unto wickedness not acknowledging from whence they come but using them contrary to the honour of the true owner of them Hos 2.5 This is fighting against God with his own weapons heaping sins against him while he heaps kindnesses upon them Great ingâ—aâ—iâ—ude Use 2. Take this by way of caution our spiritualizing earthly things is not the same with God's spiritualizing us When he spiritualizeth us he changeth our natures turning our sinful qualities into spiritual pulling down one frame and setting up another 2 Cor. 10.4 5. But when we spiritualize the creature we do not change the nature of it we only make use of it unto such spiritual ends Moreover though true Christians do spiritualize earthly things yet there be those who are called Christians that carnalize spiritual things who conceive of heavenly things with gâ—oss and carnal thoughts because they are represented under earthly terms and figures Solomon's song hath been abused by many this way Some are so drowned in natura naturata that they do not think of natura naturans Use 3. Let us all be exhorted to the practice of this truth 1. Let us spiritualize earthly possessions Make use of the goods ye possess unto those high and noble ends as everlastingly to be advantaged by them Luke 16.9 Testifie your faith by your works Rebus nâ—n me trado sed commodo Sen. and your works by the distribution of your goods look upon your houses ye dwell in but as houses of clay and think of the eternal mansions John 14.2 Our hearts should not be upon our Estates an heart surcharged with the cares of this life is like a foul stomach which unless it be emptied by a Vomit it fills the body with noysome diseases 2. Let us spiritualize earthly callings God made none to be idle Whiles ye are diligent in any particular calling spiritualize that in giving all diligence about the calling of Christianity 2 Pet. 1.10 Trade and traffick for heaven Phil. 3.20 Let saith be your factor into that far Country 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that is the way to gain the Pearl of great price 3. Let us spiritualize earthly relations being weaned from those we do enjoy 1 Cor. 7.29 And being raised by the same to think of that relation between Christ and the soul Uxori nubere nolo meae or Christ and his Church Eph. 5.30 4. Let us spiritualize earthly affections 1 Cor. 7.30 When the affections of joy or sorrow are running see that they run in the right channel your joy for Christ your sorrow for sin 5. Let us spiritualize earthly afflictions looking upon them as tryals 1 Pet. 1.6 7. They are tryals both of corruption and grace for the consuming of the one for the refining of the other Let afflictions make you more serious to look into your ways more conscientious to look after your ways 6. Let us spiritualize earthly delights When ye see your Field or Garden bravely decked remember they are gone in an instant Jam. 1.11 Set your hearts on comforts of a lasting nature Heaven is set forth by all those expressions of delight which we are taken with upon the earth as a City a Country a Kingdom an Inheritance Rest our Fathers house Abraham's bosome Some delight in the City others in the Country some delight in Honour others in Pleasure and Prosit 7. Let us spiritualize earthly deliverances Is it such a mercy to be freed from trouble from sickness from war then what a mercy is it to be freed from hell How much are we bound to bless God for Christ who is Jesus that delivereth us from wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 8. Let us spiritualize earthly dominions Is it an honour to be Head Governour of a Town or Ruler of a Nation what will it then be to be Judges of the world and such honour shall all the Saints have 1 Cor. 6.2 As Christians should not disdain those below them so they need not envy those above them To direct you therein use these means 1. Look that ye have a spiritual mind As the eye is the light of the whole body so is the mind of the whole man Matth. 6.22 An impure mind is like mud water but a pure mind is like clear water whereby other things look clear 2. Maintain spiritual converse and society where ye may hear spiritual discourse Heb. 10.25 Holy Conferences wherein Christian experiences are related are great advantages unto this To move you hereunto Consider Mot. 1. If you do but enjoy the bare use of earthly things you live not only beneath Christians but beneath men The very beasts have creatures as the objects of their sences and that in an exquisite manner 2. Those that now turn earth into heaven in the spiritualizing of earthly things they shall one day be translated from earth to heaven to the enjoyment of eternal things 2 Cor. 4.18 2 Cor. 5.1 This spiritualizing earth doth likewise make way for the familiarizing of death CHAP. V. Then said be unto him c. THis Then relateth to that When in the former verse where we have the immediate occasion of this Parable One of the guests being somewhat affected with our Saviour's Table-discourse speaks thus by way of admiration Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God This eating of bread may be taken in the same sense in
to go through the service of God without weariness 4. With spirituality raised a spiritual body ver 44. not maintained by natural helps of food Physick sleep c. but kept by the power of God Then body and soul making one person shall serve and obey God without interruption for ever The reasons why it is thus are 1. The filling of heaven is decreed of God and therefore must be effected Though many Angels left their own habitation Jâ—de ver 6. yet their habitation abideth to be possessed by others There is not as some observe the least atom of grace or glory intended for the creature lost to the universality though forfeited by the individuals for what was retracted as to the extent of it to more was supplyed by the intensiveness of it in the fewer whereby the divine justice was fully displayed and the bounty not at all diminished And as the creatures find no abatement of happiness conferred upon them so neither shall the Creator find any abatement of homage attributed to him 2. The preaching of the Gospel and converting of souls is the only way to fill up heaven for this is the way to have Christ in us the hope of glory Col. 1.27 This is the way to be joyned to that Church which is the body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Eph. 1.22 23. CHAP. IV. Use 1. HOw may this support us under all our losses and sufferings What though we be cast out of house and home and lose all for the Gospel yet if we help fill heaven when we are gone from hence will not that make amends Heb. 10.34 what if we should live in a world filled with violence and oppression as the old world was Gen. 6.13 yet God hath an Ark for Noah an heaven for Saints what though we should be filled with scorn and contempt as Israel was Psal 123.3 4. yet there is exceeding joy in the presence of God Jude ver 24. Use 2. Though heaven shall be filled with inhabitants yet it shall be without any annoyance to those inhabitants We must not conceive that house above where Saints immediately attend God's service like these houses below where we attend upon God in the use of means Hear when an house is filled people are crowded they stand and sit in Little Ease so that the very attendance upon means for the soul is not without some annoyance to the body but it shall not be so in heaven That house is not an house made with hands 2 Cor. 5.1 but eternal in the heavens it is of an everlasting continuance and of a very vast circumference without the least inconvenience Use 3. Let us live as those upon earth who shall help fill heaven hereafter let us be cleansing our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and so be perfecting holiness upon earth which is the ready way to perfection of holiness in heaven 2 Cor. 7.1 This is like w ping the feet before we enter a room kept clean and fair No unclean thing must enter heaven as full as it will be Without are dogs Rev. 22.15 the fittest place for them what should they do within Men that live like dogs here must fare like dogs hereafter heaven is no kennel for dogs but a Palace for Kings for Saints who are Kings and Priests unto God Let us look to be filled with the fruits of righteousness to be filled with such fruits here is to be fitted for glory hereafter Grace like Grapes grows by clusters A cluster of these grapes of Canaan we may view Gal. 5.22 and we must look to be filled with such fruits now if we would have heaven filled with us hereafter it is called the fruit of the spirit such fruit as doth not grow in Natures Garden 1. Love the bond of perfectness As the Curtains of the Tabernacle were joyned by loops so are all true Christians by love 2. Joy that in special whereby we rejoyce in our Neighbours good 3. Peace the peace of concord with our brethren 4. Long-suffering patience drawn out at length continuing as long as the trouble 5. Gentleness amiableness and sweetness in behaviour 6. Goodness usefulness in our places 7. Faith taken here for fidelity 8. Meekness not easily provoked a readiness to pass by injuries 9. Temperance whereby a Christian as Master in his own house doth so order his affections that they do not irregularly move nor inordinately lash out To make us now to mind the way to heaven consider what lyeth in our Text the goodly company we shall enjoy in heaven It was the speech of good old Grynaeus O faelicem diem quum ad illud animorum concilium proficiscar ex hac turbâ colluvione discedam Grynaeus Oh happy day when I shall depart from the crowd and sink in this world to go to that blessed councel of souls There is but one heaven to hold all Saints they shall all be in one house Hold up your heads O Christians we shall be in that heaven where all the godly Patriarchs Kings Prophets Apostles Martyrs and Preachers are and where all our dear friends in the Lord are who are gone a little before us Doth it affect you to read the stories of the Patriarchs the writings of the Prophets and Apostles the sufferings of the Martyrs the Acts and Monuments of the Kings the Sermons of godly Preachers Oh how will it affect us to see those very persons another day and to be happy with them SERM. XVII Luke 14.24 For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper CHAP. I. THis verse containeth the conclusion of the Parable the definitive sentence upon the whole In which we have 1. A Preface 2. A Proposition The Preface is a form of speech usually prefixed to raise our attention unto the weighty matter spoken of And this very phrase I say unto you is used near an hundred times by our Saviour in the four Evangelists The Prophets prefaced their Doctrine with Thus saith the Lord. But our Saviour prefaceth his Doctrine with I say unto you The Prophets were but men speaking in the name of the Lord but Christ is God as well as man and therefore could speak in his own name as well as in his father's name because his father and he are one Here the consideration of him that speaks is sufficient to make us receive what is spoken Obser The Authority of the speaker is sufficient ground for the truth and our belief of the holy Scripture The Authority of the speaker in sacred Scripture is altogether divine it being the word of God and so the Authority of the only Deity Quest How doth it appear that those writings which we call the sacred Scripture is the very word of God Resp. 1. It is evident so to be if ye look at the Pen men of Scripture and their impartial proceedings in their writings setting down their own commendations and discommendations
Pascâ—al Lamb yea he was fitted with a spirit answerable most desirous to give himself a sacrifice for sin Lo I come lo I come Heb. 10.7.9 he was straitned with desire till the baptism of his sufferings was accomplished 3. In respect of the expectation of God's dear children who in the days of Christ's coming were earnestly waiting for the consolation of Israel through the coming of the Messias Witness Simeon Luke 2.25 and Anna. ver 36.37 This was the sugar by which they sweetned all their crosses in those dark times when a friend cometh that hath been long lookt for how seasonable and welcome is his coming especially when we suffer much by his absence and enjoy much by his presence 4. In respect of the conversion of the Gentiles to be added to the believing Jews or to come in the room of the obstinate Jews who would have none of this Gospel-provision The fields were white unto harvest when Christ came John 4.35 The several nations of the world were ready to receive the Gospel upon the tender of it to them Cuncta atque continua tolius generis humani aut pax fuit aut pactio Flor. hist lib. 4. they being as it were at leisure or ready to hear for 't is observable when Christ the Prince of peace came to preach the Gospel of peace there was in that age generally either a peace or truce throughout the nations of the earth So Florus observeth that writeth the History of that time How seasonably did Christ come in this time of publick quietness to reason with men in a calm manner about their souls 5. In respect of Christ's herauld or immediate fore-runner John Baptist coming in the spirit of Elias Luke 1.17 6. In respect of the institution of Gospel-ordinances in the room of the legal When the ceremonial service appeared an intolerable yoke Act. 15.10 then Christ cometh who instituted baptism instead of circumcision and the Lord's Supper instead of the Passeover Matth. 26.26 Quest But here it may be demanded why a supper Resp. It fitly answers to the word Supper in the Text which expresseth the grace of God in the Gospel 1. The Supper-meal is the sweet meal in regard of the work of the fore-going day which is past and the rest of the succeeding night which is to come This may refer to the hard service of the ceremonial law past and to the sweet powrings forth of the spirit to come at this supper time 2. 'T is the last meal the last mess of the Gospel serv'd in not another Christ to come Now God would have us methodical in the use of means first to close by faith with Gospel-provision in the word preached Rom. 1.16 and when the word preached hath had its due work then to partake of the Lord's supper CHAP. II. Use 1. HEre see the manifold wisdom of God in the dispensation of Gospel-provision Eph. 3.10 how seasonable was the time of the Gospel's discovery in the clearness or brightness of it when the day-star appeareth the Sun is at hand so before Christ's nativity a star appeared whence the wise men concluded that the Sun of Righteousness was rising Here also observe that we have one priviledge above them who lived before Christ came in the flesh they had the dawning of the morning but we the light at noon-day Col. 1.26 They had the Parable we the interpretation of it The Gospel was once confined to one Country the Land of Judea but now the Commission is to preach it in every Country to every creature Mark 16.15 And generally believers in the new Testament have a greater measure of grace than those in the old Testament There have been more plentiful effusions of the spirit since Christ came in the flesh Joh. 7.39 Use 2. For caution This doth not make but that many before Christ came in the flesh did partake of this Gospel-provision and went to heaven in the strength of this food Witness those many worthies Heb. 11. in all ages of the world who lived and died in the faith of Jesus Christ the true Messias So 1 Cor. 10.3 Rom. 4.11 Use 3. Be exhorted to answer the time of Christ's seasonable coming by knowing the time or season of our salvation Rom. 13.11 The Apostle calls upon us as men upon their servants to go about their work because the Sun is up Now is the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 Christ counselleth you to improve this time now ye may be accepted John 12.35.36 'T is very sad if you do not Luke 19.42 CHAP. III. To say to them that were bidden c. THese words contain the manner or way how or wherein the Gospel-errand is to be delivered and that 's by word of mouth The servant sent was Praedicator to say is Praedicare The servant here sent is not as an ordinary messenger to carry a Letter but as an extraordinary officer of state appointed an Embassadour commissionated to treat with others such is the dispensation of the Gospel in the ministry thereof Hence I observe Obser That the word spoken by the ministry of men appointed thereunto is the way which God useth to save men This is the usual way of propounding Gospel-invitations the real acceptance whereof tends to salvation 1 Pet. 1.23 25. Sect. 1. Quest 1. What is meant by the word which is to be spoken or said unto people for their souls good Resp. 'T is the revealed will of God fully made known in the holy Scriptures for man's eternal good those writings being inspired of God for matter and words the perfect distribution of which is set forth by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.16 profitable 1. For doctrine containing all things needful to be known or believed in reference to our salvation as the Doctrine of our innocence of our fall of our recovery There is not a syllable of this in any of the Volums of the Heathens Psal 147.20 These things are revealed only by the Scripture 2. For reproof to confute all those false Doctrines which oppose the true Truth discovereth and consoundeth errour Isa 8.20 3. For correction to reprehend the vices and ill manners of those that walk contrary to this word 4. For instruction to direct us to lead our lives according to this word And all this must be as is added in righteousness and it must be so seeing this word is the truth 1 Pet. 1.22 which cannot justily be contradicted Sect. 2. Quest 2. How must this word be spoken Resp. I. If we look at God from whom 't is spoken it must be spoken 1. Exactly according to his mind what we deliver to others must be received from him 1 Cor. 11.23 Ministers must learn as well as teach hear before they speak Ezek. 3.17 what the Prophets and Apostles had immediatly Ministers now have mediately 2. Reverently as in his sight 2 Cor. 5.11 before whose dreadful tribunal born speakers and hearers must one day appear 3. Authoritatively as in his stead 2 Cor. 5.20 as Writs
surely hereafter they will Lord remember that heretofore I stood before thee to interceed for this people that they might be blest but now I stand before thee to accuse them that they may be curst The reasons why God's messengers must do thus are these 1. Because God is their Lord in a peculiar sense according to the phrase in our Text unto whom they stand responsible for all that they have done in the work of the ministry 2. Because God made them witnesses Act. 26.16 and they must not be false witnesses Surely as their persons so their labours and their lives and their sufferings will all come in as witnesses at the great day 3. Because God hath made them stewards 1 Cor. 4.1 and so they must give a true account I have observed in the Courts of Judicature here below at our Assizes when those that are called do make default the officer is called who summoned them an Oath administred to the Baily of such an hundred and then this is propounded to him By virtue of the Oath which you have taken did you warn such a man Yes saith he then is he liable to the censure of the Court. Thus methinks 't will be at the Great Assizes speak you Ministers of such a City of such a Town of such a Village did you not warn such a people did you not leave such a summons with them did you not preach such a Doctrine among them make many a prayer for them yea Lord but they refused to bear thy Sons yoke they would not reform their lives according to thy Laws This will be dreadful against all the refusers of the Gospel CHAP. VI. Use 1. HEre ye may see Omnis praedicator est vir rixarum judiciâ— ac cogitur ex officio reprehendere quicquid vitiosum est non habita ratione vel personae vel officii in auditoribus Luther why ministers are so much despised by many it is because their employment is to discover the faults of others and that displeaseth those that are faulty Act. 19.28 not only the profane but the erroneous too do fall out with sound and faithful teachers When the truth is spoken against errours it causeth many enemies Gal. 4.16 The preachers office displeaseth those that allow themselves in any sin and so consequentially it cannot be but their persons are opposed Again it is but a folly for any to think to fare the better for their acquaintance with the messengers of the Gospel when they refuse the message of the Gospel for they must relate things as they are 'T is required in stewards that a man be sound faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 Though the hearer should be Wife Brother or Sister to the preacher and should live contrary to the Doctrine of holiness which he preacheth yet none of them shall be advantaged by their relation to him Use 2. Yet 't is not the messenger of the Gospel Malitia tua te ad mortem adduxit non nos Lyran. but the refusal of the Gospel-message that condemneth men it is mens own sin that casteth them Witnesses of old were wont to put their hand upon the head of the offendor and say it is thine own wickedness that condemneth thee and not we The most obstinate man the Heretick is condemned of himself Tit. 3.14 holding such an erroneous opinion he doth vertually condemn himself declaring that he is fallen from the truth and is an opposer of the same Now though God's messengers make a report to God yet it is not to inform him as though he did not know those things without that report God is greater than our reports yea than our hearts and knows all things 1 John 3.20 all things are naked and open in his sight Heb. 4.12 Use 3. Then let this Doctrine be a watch-word to you that are our hearers Ministers must do your errand Must Ministers shew to the Lord what you do oh then take heed what ye do Venture not upon any known sin upon any pretence Prov. 1.10 Think with your self would you do such a thing if the passages of it should be told to the whole Town oh then why will ye venture upon such sinful practices which must be reported unto God before all the world at the last day do not continue in any known sin be not as the men of this world who lie in wickedness 1 John 5.19 Ye that will go on in the ways of your own heart know ye that for all these things God will bring you to judgment Eccl. 11.9 If it be thus then consider what answer will ye now give to the messenger of the Gospel to be returned in your behalf 1. Let it not be a refractory answer like that of the Jews to Jeremiah We will not walk therein Jer. 6.16 oh let not your hearts rise and swell against the holy word of God 2. Let it not be a delatory answer like that of Felix to Paul I will call for thee when I have a convenient season Act. 24.25 A meer put-off to spin out time 3. Let it not be a cursory answer like that of Israel to Joshua All that thou commandest we will do Josh 1.16 suddenly spoken without the consideration of what was to be done or with what strength they would do it as appears by their frequent revolting afterwards Some people are ready to answer as fast as a Minister can ask them will you forsake the Devil and all his works the pomp and vanity of the world oh yes we will do any thing but alas they little consider what they say as appeareth by their soon turning aside from the paths of holiness 4. Let it not be a nugatory answer with those gâ—ests in our parable who preferred the trifles of this world before the eternal good things of the Gospel But let it be an humble holy answer like that of the Psalmist Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes in answer to that Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently Psal 119.4 5. SERM. XII Luke 14.21 Then the Master of the house being angry c. CHAP. I. THese words begin the fourth general part of the parable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noting one that ruleth over things as if he had them tyed in bands the Result upon the former the resolution of him who made the feast upon the Contempt offered by some to fill up his table with other guests Then When the report was returned of the excuses made by those who refused the Gospel-provision The master of the house or the Master of the family He of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named the father of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 3.14 15. or the Master or that house which is the Church of the living God 1 Tim. 3.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appetere sc vindictam Being angry the Greek word signifies the inflammation of the mind with a purpose of revenge proper