Selected quad for the lemma: father_n
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A45234
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The Gospel-feast opened, or, The great supper of the parable by Joseph Hussey.
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Hussey, Joseph, d. 1726.
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1692
(1692)
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Wing H3813; ESTC R27439
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219,419
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481
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walking But however the Gospel provideth to work thine Eye-sight better tho' Pharisees who object in scorn Are we blind also Joh. 8.40 despise such Clay and Spittle Tho' thro' Blindness thou hast wandered far about yet the Gospel provideth to bring thee by a way as Joshua saith unto the Israelites Josh 9.4 which ye have not passed heretofore yea as saith the Spirit by the Prophet Isa 42.16 I will bring the Blind by a way that they knew not I will lead them in Paths that they have not known I will make darkness light before them That Promise indeed as * Arthur Jackson Vol. 4th upon Isai a Judicious Interpreter observes might litterally and then more immediately refer to the Jew's Return out of Babylon who saw nothing of their approaching Deliverance any more than Blind Men and knew not which way to turn themselves But nevertheless spiritually it was a Promise suited to these Times of Refreshing which are come thus far from the Presence of the Lord already Acts 3.19 as to enlighten Blind Eyes and bring Man into the only way of Salvation which he never saw before Nah. 2.5 Tho' thou stumblest in thy Walk for want of Light to guide thee yet God's Word is prepared to be a Lamp unto thy Feet and a Light unto thy Path Psal 119.105 as also the Entrance of thy words giveth light Psal 119.130 it giveth understanding to the simple And his Testimonies are so suited Psal 19.7 that they are sure making wise the simple Tho' thou art a Child of a very low Capacity Jam. 1.17 yet there be Beams of Knowledge from the Father of Lights will reach thee The Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ is made ready for thy need to be a Light shining forth in Darkness The Night it may be puzzles thee to find the way to thy Father's House but God hath made ready something for thee to whom the Night shineth as the Day Psal 139.12 and he prepares to shew thee both as to the Darkness and the Light what thou never sawst before Mal. 4.2 The Sun of Righteousness is ready to pierce thro' all the black and dismal Shades that cover thee and tho' Darkness hath hid thy self as well as God from thee Psa 42.8 yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time and find out what thou couldst not in the dark take Notice of thy self Psa 139.12 for the darkness and the Light are both alike to Him Thirdly The Gospel hath Expiating Provisions suited to the Condition of guilty and condemned Souls Expiating that is Reconciling making Peace for thee * Reconciliare nihil aliud est quà m amicitiam offâ—nsione aliquâ gravi diremptam resarcire sic inimicos in pristinam Concordiam reducere Davenant Exposit ad Coloss in versic 20. pag. 126. To reconcile is to piece up a Friendship that hath been broken off by some grand Miscarriage and so to bring Enemies to their old Amity and Accord again This is the state of the Case as it lyes between God and Man from hence it cometh to pass that tho' thou art guilty thro' the Offence of one Rom. 5.15 even the First Adam that involv'd thee and guilty thro' thy own Personal Offence besides yet here is this Provision for thee in the Gospel that thou art to do with a God not imputing Trespasses 2 Cor. 5.19 This account the Scripture gives of it that when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Rom. 5.10 when we were Enemies or as the words are read * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Enemies the first Look of Kindness which Heaven cast upon us beheld Enmity in our Hearts and the Weapons of Rebellion in our Hands Yet then were we reconciled by the Death of his Son the Foundation of our actual Reconcilement was then laid that the saving Application of the Death of Christ might be evidenc'd in our Effectual Calling This the Apostle pursues further 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them Reconciling the World The World is to be understood as * Charnock Vol. 2d p. 1187. a great Divine expounds it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all Ages all Times of the World as he observes the same to be meant 1 Joh. 2.2 Reconciling the World Tho' the World be a World at Variance with God 1 Joh. 5.19 and a World that lyes in wickedness yet God will be so far reconciled unto this World Gen. 6.12 where All Flesh have Corrupted his way upon the Earth Rom. 3.10 as it is written there is none Righteous no not one that he will find outhis chosen and bring in them to Christ that they in Christ shall be reconciled also unto God The Holy Ghost witnesseth to the same purpose in those words of Peter Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father 1 Pet. 1.2 through sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ Grace unto you you Elect and Peace be multiplied So that when God comes to manifest that thou art one of these by calling thee out from the World by a gracious and mighty Operation of his Spirit he then actually reconciles Thee by the Atonement and shews thou art one to whom this Blood of the Atonment belongs Rom. 5.11 by whom we have Now received the Atonement Now tho' thou art never so sensible of indwelling Enmity convinced that thou art an Enemy by Nature and hast manifested the Carriage of an Enemy a thousand times over yet the Gospel provideth a Pacifying Reconcilement to make God and Thee Friends i. e. To make Reconciliation for Iniquity Dan. 9.24 Thou hast an High-Priest in things pertaining to God that remembred thy Name upon the List among those Few Names in Sardis Rev. 3.4 when he made Reconciliation for the sins of the People Heb. 2.19 This is most excellently and fully described Col. 1.20 Having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself God was fallen out with the Creation for the Creature 's sin but he looks amicably again in Christ upon an apostate revolted Creature nothing is reconciled but by the Blood of his Cross only Now tho' Guilt and Enmity as considered absolutely in the Creature may both tend to drive thee from God yet while both are pursuing thee Isa 64.5 they drive thee where thou meetest him that rejoyceth to procure thee a gracious Friendship and bring thee back through the Atonement reconciled to God again The Law of God condemns but by Vertue of this Reconcilement in Christ it is God himself justifies Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is God God hath a Prerogative of Grace upon the Mercy seat to absolve a Trembling Criminal as well as of
not buy a Sacrifice much less could it mix with the Price of Blood to sanctify Mat. 27.6 It would not avail to procure a Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 how could it joyn then in purchasing a Satisfaction Mic. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a Year old Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression The Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul Our largest Offers had been infinitely too little for one of the least of God's All things to have come at our Price Mat. 25.40 5. All These Things must surely put a Dignity upon all True Gnests 5 Inf. What an Honour have all his Saints while the Palace of the King sends to treat the Cottage Psal 45.15 What a Preferment is it that God should stoop down to maintain a Communion with us That our Lord should prepare so great a Feast and then gird himself to come forth and serve us Luk. 12.37 These mighty Things will make Believers great tho otherwise they are little both in their own and other men's Eyes The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Mat. 10.42 Prov. 12.16 If we state all Accounts truly little ones God's Little ones are greatest The All Things do put an Honour upon the Brother of Low Degree whom others make the Footstool Jam. 1.9 Such as are highly favoured of God shall not be found Ignoble Luke 1.28 Tho' he sends out into the High-ways and takes up Beggars Mat. 22.9 yet here 's a Feast that makes them Kings and Priests unto our God Rev. 1.6 6. It informs also of the Happiness as well as the Dignity of True Guests that have got the Gospel-Feast Theirs 6 Inf. They are not only by an Advancement set up but are a People saved by the Lord. Oh! Deut. 33.29 we may break out into Admiration when we think deeply of the Blessedness of the People of God who may come freely and partake of all these Things as their own The Gospel is not to feed thy Phancy and please a meer Imagination as if there were no richer or more satisfying Good to the owners thereof Eccl. 5.11 saving the beholding of it with their Eyes as Solomon speaks of the Increase of the best Earthly Things But 't is a Feast made ready to be Thine to fill thee brim-full with thy own share of Christ Oh! blessed are they that have believed and obeyed God who requires the Obedience of Faith as that Work of God which will give them a Right unto the Tree of Life Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life God doth not require his People to look up as Strangers Eph. 2.19 but as Citizens belonging unto Sion and as Servants that have * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orders from their Lord to meddle with it Authority to appropriate the Tree of Life to ' em A Right to the Tree of Life says (k) Durham on the Revelation one is a Right to Jesus Christ and Glory in Heaven with him Now how rich and happy are they that have an Interest by Faith in the Riches of the King's Son Oh! 1 Sam. 17.25 he endows them with great Riches and Honour they can never want Portion and he gives them this Entertainment that they may be Happy in all things and never want Provision An Interest in the Son of God doth not only make the best the most but all things thy own Matth. 4.9 Luk. 4.7 If thou wilt fall down and worship him all shall be thine He hath purchas'd that thou mayst get Possession Oh! blessed View of Faith that can appropriate Gospel-Grace tho' it be a Self-emptying Grace that will lye at Christ's Foot 'till the Soul cry out I am a vile Wretch Isa 6.5 I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips yet is a Grace that exalts a Saviour and will not leave the Soul hanging off from Christ but clinging fast and crying out with Thomas My Lord and My God! Joh. 20.28 God's Children that have his Spirit witnessing see the Gospel for themselves and not another exclusively Job 19.27 The Saints of the most High have a Priviledge beyond all other Men. We have an Altar whereof they have no Right says the Apostle to eat that serve the Tabernacle Heb. 13.10 The Apostle there means that the Faithful in Christ Jesus had such Priviledges by Christ as others had no Right to who adhered to Jewish Customs and Superstitions So there is a Spiritual Divine Participation which natural unsanctified Men have nothing to do with Oh! blessed therefore are the Houshold Gal. 6.10 Eph. 2.12 13. the Houshold of Faith that be not aliens and strangers afar off and having nothing to do with these Things Blessed are the Family that come in to the Feast because God hath given them Meat and 't is now their own Food They have Children's Bread Mat. 15.26 Luk. 6.20 and Blessed be ye Children for yours is this Bread 7. An outward Liberty and a safe Protection of the Guests at God's Table is a great Mercy If all Things be ready 7 Inf. it is an Excellent Security that affords a Protection under the Roof of God's House to enjoy them None indeed shall be able to keep God's Children out of their Fathers House that come nigh the Door with their Father's Name written in their Foreheads Rev. 14.1 The Lord of the Feast doth also plant a special Providence that guards the Table while his Guests are plac'd about it Heb. 1.14 He hath Ministring Spirits that are set for the Defence of the Gospel Phil. 1.17 they stand as watchful Centinels for the Good of his Chosen Psa 106.5 because he maketh a House of Defence to save them Psa 31.2 He hath given his Angels a charge over them Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 that his Guests may partake of the Feast in Quietness and when He giveth outward Quietness in a Day of Liberty Job 34.29 as well as internal Peace and Calmness who then can make Trouble and Disturbance while he entertains us The Lord hath made a Hedge and a Wall so high about his People Job 1.10 that none shall climb over or break thro' to destroy the Gospel-Banquet and spoil that Holy Festival Vpon all the Glory shall be a Defence Isa 4.5 The Holy Mountain is safely fenced round The Guest may trust to a Protection where he tasteth God's Provision For He that hath said Bread shall be given him his Waters shall be sure hath said also that his Place of Defence shall be the Munitions of Rocks Isa 33.6 2 Cor. 6.7 There is the Armour of Righteousness