of yours should have been filled with the sweetness of the Honey and the Honey-comb are there not some of you have thrown aside the Cup of Salvation and taken up the Cup of the Drunkards have you not changed the Glory of all that Holy Bill of Fare to shame yea into such a shame thro' your own beastly Intemperance as the Prophet expresseth by a shameful Spewing Hab. 2.14 Oh! how sad is it with you while you come and look upon the Provisions here and as soon as you have turn'd your Backs and are gone Week after Week should be found in the Devil's Company or about the Devil's Work again eating and drinking your own Damnation dare any of you thus to prophane the Table of the Lord And you that are Scoffers ridicule the Provisions make his Meat contemptible Again How do you think after this Plenty that God takes it at your Hands you that break the Third Command and customarily take his Name in vain Exo. 20.7 irreverently wickedly and prophanely in your mouths upon every slight Occasion blaspheming and dishonouring that worthy Name which should only have been praised for his Bounty and Goodness to us Would you thank that Guest who should go away reproaching and ungratefully vilify your own Names after you had either kindly entertain'd him or offered courteously to treat him I trow not And what Luk. 17.9 shall the Great God of Heaven and Earth be dishonoured in his Name after he hath created preserved and provided all and spread so large a Table with Blessings of Heaven above Gen. 49.25 and Blessings of the Deep that lieth under Further dare any of you be Disobedient to Parents and tho' you have heard of so much at God's Table yet continue as cursed Slips instead of Olive-Plants round about Their Table Psa 128.3 Surely miserable is the Congregation of the Wicked and sad is your state that have the Opportunities of Gospel-Grace and yet do but see it with your Eyes and never eat thereof and that hear of Heaven but must never if you be not changed enter in there Rev. 21.27 for there shall in no wise enter into it any Thing that desileth Let those words 1 Cor. 6.9 10. dwell much upon you Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicaters nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Remember all these Things must pass away and there must be nothing of them remain but only to testifie of the Grace of God that such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 12 Inf. 12. Continuance in Vnbelief and a Refusal of these All Things is Dreadful The State of Unbelievers must be miserable that hath no Portion in these Things and the Sin of Unbelievers must needs become provoking that keeps them from laying hold upon them Did you believe Rom. 6.1 you dare not trifle or continue in sin when Grace thus abounds You dare not grow loose if you did believe or joyn with this Grace that was made to knit our Hearts to Christ Oh! your Unbelief which carries all your other sins in the Belly of it is a Monster big with Aggravation Let me represent the Dreadfulness of your Sin in two or three Instances 1. You refuse the only Remedy You sin against Grace and Works cannot save you These all things are for the reconciling you unto God Col. 1.21 and yet you prefer to be Enemies in your Minds and in your ways by wicked Works They are for sanctifying and renewing your Abominable polluted Natures and yet you choose to remain Filthy still Rev. 22.11 They are for healing you and yet you will die of your Wounds before They are for feeding and cloathing you and yet you will be starv'd and then turn'd out naked to the Judgment Seat of God! In one Word they are for saving you and yet you will die and be damn'd for ever Prov. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul all they that hate me love Death 2. You rebell against the Light You have heard you have seen enough to cast you if you do not quickly cry for Mercy and if Jesus the Son of God have not mercy on you Mark 10.47 48. Oh! where will you flee to hide when Christ lays this Sin at your Door that you had been inform'd of the Provisions made for Sinners and the more you knew the more you hated God's Offers made to you See John 15.24 If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did they had not had sin i. e. nothing in comparison of what they now have but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father You have heard of what Importance this Feast is and therefore it is a Rebelling against the Light to make light of it 3. You trample upon Distinguishing Grace that comes with outward Peace to you God might have kept a Market with the Enemy Psal 44.11 and given you as Sheep appointed for meat Asaph enditeth a sad Complaint of this nature Psal 79.1 2. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy Holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps the Dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth And v. 3. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem Consider others have been fain to break thro' the Hosts of the Mighty to come at Bread or fetch a supply of Living Water but you are offer'd Both in a Day of Gracious Liberty when you need not get your Bread with the Peril of your Lives Lam. 5.9 Oh! come and see the Works of the Lord abroad Psa 46.8 what Desolations he maketh in the Earth while he provides a Sanctuary for You that is not desolate for the Lord's sake Dan. 9.17 How do Wars ruine and eat up the Countries round you while you have Peace in your Borders Ps 147.14 and meat to eat which they know not of Oh! the Distinguishing Grace of God that he should on you be raining Mannah when on so many Thousands in the World he has been seen raining Blood Ah! Could you have lookt into Neighbouring Countries and seeen the Frights the Perplexities the Distress of Nations Luk. 21.25 the Groans of Dying wounded Men the Revenge of Armies boiling in their Blood the Thunder of the Captains and the shouting Could you see that Supper which God hath been making beyond the Seas for the Fowls upon slain Carkases as the Holy Ghost signifieth when he speaks of an Eagle flying in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. and crying with a loud voice saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves together
with Joh. 7.37 7. It is a large and comprehensive Invitation 7 Propert. A Come that shall reach Jew and Gentile both the Arms of Love shall make a wider Circle Many are called Matth. 22.14 and all Israel shall be gathered People Nations and Languages will be invited to come and hear the Gospel Mark 16.15 Go into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature i. e. (x) Cuivis hominum ordini Poli Synops omni Generi singulorum non omnibus singulis Generum to Men of every Rank and Order to men indifferently of any Quality Character or Degree to all the Kinds be they Barbarian Scythian Bond or Free tho' not to every Individual neither appertaining to those Kinds Again to every Creature i. e. as the word Creature is restrained to Mankind Thus Eve is called the Mother of all Living Gen. 3.26 i. e. of all Mankind Living be they Male or Female but not to be understood of Living Creatures produced of any other kind Well the Call of the Gospel shall be a wider a more extensive Call than now The Hour is coming in the which there shall be no Speech nor Language where their Voice Psa 19.3 the Voice of them that will be Called to Preach Glad Tidings shall not come But however it is a large Come an extended Call at present God speaks it in the Ears of many Nations Come fill your selves with Fatness Kings are exhorted to accept of it to be wise and Kiss the Son Psa 2.12 i.e. be subject to him alluding to the Kiss of Homage which was used by the Jews Cities Towns and Villages are spoken to Families and single Persons have a Message of Grace sent them and the Voice still cryeth Come You particularly of this Congregation in Cambridge are invited to come near and hearken to incline your Ear to near and your Souls shall live Isa 55.3 it is large and comprehensive the Voice Cryes to many 8. It is a Pressing 8 Property Earnest Invitation It gives no rest but solliciteth and thro' the forbearance and long-suffering and goodness of God follows thee Day after Day Rom. 2.4 The Call refused hath become a Call repeated Isa 62.11 Once hast thou heard it yea twice that Grace and Mercy as well as Power belongeth unto God If thou art slow that shouldst be swift to hear upon one Week or Sabbath-Day that 's past thee Godâ— hath followed thee with another and try'd thee by his Goodness once again if Instruction may but enter and thine Ear be bor'd at last Thou hast now a Call if thou wilt but come in and embrace it with this Day 's Mercies The Apostle expresseth this Earnestness with an as tho' God did beseech you by us 2 Cor. 5.20 The Call is urgent with Thee as the Angel was with Lot to hasten him While he lingred Gen. 19.16 the Men laid hold upon his Hand the Lord being merciful unto him Mercy was earnest Mercy press'd him it would not leave him to be consum'd with a Sodom burning round about him Why thus Mercy pleads with thee Why wilt thou dye Ezek. 18.31 Mercy is urgent it lays hold upon thee Sinner and would pluck thee as a Brand out of Everlasting Fire Zech. 3.2 Mercy is loth to give thee up for ever It comes with a sweet and gracious Importunity it cryes continually in thine Ears Judg. 16.16 presseth thee with words and would draw thee with Bands of Love to Jesus 9. It is a seasonable Invitation 9 Propert. It is Mercy that is not come too late He calls thee while it is yet Day Joh. 9.4 that thou mayst see thy way before the Night cometh He sends out to invite thee with a Summons of Love before the Sun be down and therefore let not this Day 's Sun go down upon his Wrath Eph. 4.26 before thou art willing to come and Sup with him If you lose him now you may lose him ever if you dye in your sins Joh. 8.24 you drop without Recovery when thy Mouth shall be stopt with Dirt thou wilt not eat of this Bread that strengtheneth Man's Heart Psa 104 15 Death like a Thief is stealing in upon thee and may rob thee of thy Table before thou take thy Food it may come with a rough Hand apace to overthrow thy Table and snatch away Cloth and Thee and All for ever but of this more under the next Doctrine 10. Lastly 10 Property It is an effectual saving Call to all the Elect of God If God's Power be accompanyed with his Voice we may add that of Paul to the Invitation who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 when the opening of God's Mouth is joyn'd with the out-stretching of his Arm then calling and saving us do both go together Now God doth this to make the Call effectual he puts forth his Hand and the Sinner comes to God's Foot immediately Eph. 3.7 The Gift of Grace and the Effectual Working of his Power do meet and make the Invitation saving When God saith Come to those he intends to bring in he wakeneth their Ear to hear Isa 50.4 and gives them Feet to walk He removes all Obstructions and will make the very mountainous way to Zion become a Plain Zech. 4.7 when he intends to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7.25 Isa 30.21 and saith this is the way walk ye in it Every Lost Sheep shall be found and brought home before the Shepherd hath done crying after it The Second Thing is to open the Nature of Man's Coming II. when God's Call prevails Coming in the General implyes a coming off from some Things and a coming on to others For in all Motion suppose it Natural there be two opposite and contrary Terms Terminis a Quo and Terminus ad Quem one from which we pass the other to which we arrive 'T is the same Thing in spirituals in the Motion of the Soul towards God We must come from many Hinderances before we come to Him There is much within us to be forsaken and much to be left without us before we break thro' all our way to Him First I shall rank the Terms From which we must begin our motion in the Lord and place them under these four General Heads Sin Satan our Selves and this present evil World When we come when we run after Him that calls us we must start from every one of These We must come off from these four Terms like those four Points in the Compass if we begin a new distinct motion that is if we are Spiritual and do not walk as Men for it is not Northwards or Southwards towards the East or towards the West but a sursum corda our Hearts only upwards 1. Sin is a Term we must be sure to come from The Invitation of the Gospel is a Holy Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 and
are like the Slain that lye in the Grave Psa 88.5 whom it remembreth no more Well but now Life continues and there is some capacity of Improvement some Help and a Possibility of Recovery by the means of Grace It is said of him that is joined to all the Living there is Hope Eccles 9.4 We are now thro' the Merciful Providence and Good Hand of our God Living Men Neh. 2.8 God hath not yet rooted us out of the Land of the Living Isa 52.5 where our Place shall know us no more Job 7.10 but we may yet thro' Mercy walk before him in the Light of the Living Psa 56.13 The Angel hath not yet Sworn it in our Hearing even the Messenger of Death by a Sentence of Death within us 2 Cor. 1.9 Rev. 10.6 that Time shall be no longer but God hath spar'd us to recover strength after many a Humbling Visitation that had brought and once kept us low He hath rais'd us when we were fallen upon a Sick-bed and did not know whether ever we should come down from that Bed on which we were gone up but might surely die This is therefore the Season unto us who are all here present before the Lord Act. 10.33 because Life continues with us and to us whom he hath granted Life and Favour in a Recovery from Sickness Job 10.12 and his Visitation that hath preserved our Spirit 2. Now ready when Grace is now offered This may be opened in Two Things 1. Now when Crace is offered unto Saints to comfort them that mourn in Sion 2. Now when Grace is offered unto Sinners to bring them in to Christ 1. These Provisions are Now ready when Grace is offered unto Saints to comfort them that Mourn in Zion Isa 61.3 The Soul that thinks it hath had a Repulse yet shall not like Jordan now be driven back tho' thou hast cry'd out of a Denial in Months past Psa 114.5 Job 29.2 yet thou shalt not be deny'd thy Supper or kept without it Fasting when Grace is now offer'd We do not only hear of the Kingdom but if we believe Luk. 12.32 it is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom that we might eat and drink in it Luke 22.29 30. And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me that ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom There is now the offer of a Gift to Saints in whatsoever of Spirituals they may be profitted withal Mat. 15.5 Mark 5.43 Christ hath commanded that something should be given them as he did unto Her that was heal'd to eat Tho' thou hast been afraid that Christ did frown upon thy coming heretofore yet lo Song 3.9 10. now he cometh unto the Table in a Chariot Pav'd with Love to meet thee Tho' thou hast cry'd under a sorrowful Spirit he would turn thee out of Doors yet lo now he puts forth his Hand upon the Handles of the Lock Song 5.5 to let thee in presently This Key of David shall be turned for Rev. 3.7 and not against thee to make thee lose thy Supper Grace is offer'd Grace is now ready for thee thy Redeemer is entred into the Chambers of his Love upon a Blessed Feast-Day to see thee When thou hast wept in secret and in solitary Retirements sighed out thy Case Christ hath heard the voice of thy mourning and is still taken with it he loves the Musick that is made by the Organs which he himself hath chosen see Cantic 2.14 Oh my Dove that art in the Clefts of the Rock in the secret Places of the Stairs let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy Countenance is comely The Poor Soul may often be compared to the (u) See Durham upon the Place Frighted Dove that runs into Holes instead of flying in at the Windows to hide it self Some fierce Temptation perhaps like a Hawk pursues thee and thou like a Poor Dove for shelter art scar'd into a Hole to hide thee and there thou lyest mourning in secret and durst not venture forth well however Grace is now offer'd and tho' thou canst not come home of thy self Christ hath sent to fetch thee Thou shalt now be guarded to come forth with others that are made to fly as the Doves to their Windows Isa 60.8 He will not abhor and reject or cast thee off but doth remember that now is a Time to embrace Eccles 3.5 Christ listens to the complaint of the Frighted Soul and is resolv'd to make it welcome Let me see thy Countenance let me hear thy Voice as much as to say Come now into my Presence venture to my Table 's side and see if I do not make thee welcome Ask what thou wilt and it shall be given thee even double to the half of the Kingdom Est 5.3 For Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out John 6.37 latter part 2. These Provisions in the Gospel are now ready when Grace is offered unto Sinners to bring them now in to Christ There is a fit opportunity upon the offer of Mercy for Sinners to be made now welcome to it Feasts are ready when the Guests have an opportunity to go and be made welcome at them so the Gospel is then ready when Sinners may have the Freedom to hear the Doctrines of Salvation on publisht it is Then for Sinners to listen after and lay hold of some Good Thing tender'd by the Lord God of Israel when they hear the Name of the Lord proclaimed even the Name Immanuel Mat. 1.23 which is God with us being proclaimed the Lord the Lord God Merciful and Gracious Long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth Exod. 34.6 while he makes all his Goodness pass before us in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Exod. 33.19 This is an opportunity to be made welcome So it is in the Preaching and Proclamations of it A Sinner may be now accepted at this Blessed Entertainment for it is called an Accepted Time 2 Cor. 6.2 A Time that God hath accepted for Sinners and a Time in which he accepts also of them The Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven are set wide open to receive Sinners now in Jesus Christ now opens to let in every Sinner that comes to Him The Gate of Mercy shall be lockt against none that have been knocking at it to come in Oh! how fit is the Present opportunity for Sinners to be made welcome how chearfully how abundantly might they come and be refresht at the Solemn Feasts Ezek. 46.9 Oh! how readily is Christ now opening of the Treasures of his Grace and Love to welcome Sinners to him What multitudes might there now step in while the Banquetting House is open Song 2.4 Oh! why is it that there is but one of a Family and Two of a Tribe Jer. 3.14 when
the Night preceding as that famous Apologer cited in the Margent observeth in a Learned Tract And it must needs be a Thick Darkness upon the Pagan World while the Divine Light did but faintly shine in Goshen God's own People had but some Prelibations and Fore-tasts so early not a full Gospelmeal Holy Diet was more sparing thô they were sed with never so many slain Beasts both in the Morning and at Noon because the Chief Meal in the Day of Grace at the Supper of our God was not then come But we under the Gospel may say now ready even we of this Age to whom the Gospel is Now come Job 8.9 We are but indeed of yesterday upon the Earth and our Span will reach but a little way tho' it extendeth most upwards Luk. 1.78 yet no sooner did the Day-spring from on high visit our Quarters but God sent in Provision with it 1 Sam. 25.8 We come in a Good Day that are born at the Hour of Supper We are come forth into this World a little before Night and just as the Gospel hath met us reeking in our Pollution Ezck. 16.6 and lying in our Blood as it passeth by the Grace of it unto us may be dated now ready It is ready for poor Dark Families that have been full of the Habitations of Cruelty Psa 74.20 and Dark Souls even now when God springs in with Light and reformeth the Times of this Ignorance which before he winked at coming now in the Preaching of the Gospel to command them every where to repent Acts 17.30 And the Times of this Ignorance God winked at There was a Time when the Nations were in the Dark and God took no Notice of them he * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overlookt them as the Word is he had not an Eye of Mercy for them but lookt over their Dark Times to instruct other Ages in the Knowledge of Saving Truth so we have a Paralel Testimony given us Acts 14.16 Who in times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In times past he did so that is in the Ages and Generations of Men that are gone such whom Time hath now carried us off a great way from But God hath now alter'd the Case in Mercy and tho' he did shut his Eyes on Them and righteously wink and overlook them yet his Eyes are not contracted at this Day but he opens and graciously fixeth them to look full on us And now commandeth all Men every where to repent That is the Times in which the Gospel comes are the Times in which a People do receive the Grace of God in Christ and therefore God looks to such Heb. 9.10 and expects they should be I imes of Reformation Well the Gospel is now ready for you of this Age when God hath taken that which letteth out of the way be it any obstruction whatsoever and it comes in the Preaching of it to you 'T is now ready to give understanding unto the simple when God perceives of most of you that you are ignorant and unlearned Men and hereby will have your poor Ignorant Neighbours and your Carnal Kindred and Acquaintants who it may be will not be perswaded to come along with you take Knowledge that you have been with Jesus He sends the Light of the Gospel among you to acquaint you with the Things of your Peace which perhaps you had lived all your Days in the World some of you and never knew till now 'T is now ready to regenerate and save such of you as have been Dead and Lost until now the Gospel hath been excellently made known by many a Saint that is now Dead and now in the Grave and yet speaketh whose Testimony agreeth with some that are alive and remain that now confirm the same Gospel also You have Great Things that have been made known in this Age I speak particularly of this 17th Century since Christ whereas our Ancestors in some Ages and Generations past were nurst up universally in the Darkness of Popery and again before that in the blackest Shades of (ſ) See Verstegan's Antiquities Chap. 3. from p. 73. to p. 89. mibi 8º Edit 1673. Paganism and never had a Glimpse of the True Light that now shineth or a Taste of the Supper now ready 3. The Supper of the Gospel is now ready in regard of the opportunity or special season now afforded us Opportunity is that happy juncture which (t) Jenkyn Supplement to the Morning Exercise pag. 92. Sect. 7. one expresseth thus The Spiritual Market-day for the procuring of saving Provisions for our Souls upon which we are to live for ever The original expresseth the opportunity of Time by a Distinct word 1 Cor. 7.29 We translate it the Time is short but the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek readeth it The opportunity is short it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall consider this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Punctum Temporis or present Readiness of the Gospel according to the Season under a Five fold Division 1. Now ready while Life now continues Life is in a continual Lapse it is a Thread that slips and hath nothing but a succession of present Moments that like Points hold it together in continuity now we have no more properly for our Season than these instant Points or Moments We can say only of Time past it was Punctum est quod vivimus of Time to come it is not and therefore it remains only that we possess the Time that now is Life consequently is a going and the work of it for our Souls must be done can be only done while Time 's a lasting John 9.4 I must work the works of him that hath sent me while it is Day the Night cometh when no Man can work The Night of your Departure is at hand and drawing on apace in which you can neither eat nor see to walk or work Now you hear is but a Point and 't is always Passing Life never standeth still the Time is short if we measure it from one end to the other with our common Span. Alas what is Methuselah's Age to Eternity Gen. 5.27 And what is Threescore years and Ten to Methuselah's Psa 90.10 and what is to Morrow that we cannot boast of Prov. 27.1 to Threescore years and Ten And yet we have but such a short and uncertain season of Life to come and receive Mercy in Mercy if we refuse it can but follow us all the days of our Life Psa 23.6 tho' often Mercy steps back and leaves a Sinner to himself sooner and doth not follow him I speak of the offers of Saving Mercy to his Live's end However after Death if the Time of Life be slipt Psa 6.5 in the Grave there will be no Remembrance of us the Gospel can be only ready for us now before we
Bed will the offers of Christ neglected now become an Advantage when we are gone hereafter if Death should clinch our Hands could we open them in the Grave or the Belly of Hell Jonah 2.2 to close with Jesus Christ 't is Sup now Close now with Christ and Welcome God now accepteth thy Works but there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 There will be no feeding for Sinners upon Dainties Psa 49.14 when Death shall feed on Them In a word no rising from their Beds when they lye down and sleep in the Dust of the Earth Dan. 12.2 to come in again to Supper The Third and last Thing will be to Apply it III. and the uses will be only Two 1. Of Information to instruct and 2. Of Exhortation to perswade The First Use is of Information in these Thirteen following Points I. If the Gospel is a Feast in which all its Provisions are now ready Then 1. We may learn of the Times and Seasons that the Father hath put them in his own Power 1 Ins This is evidently cleared in those words of Christ wherewith he checkt his Disciple's Curiosity Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the Times and the Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power The Present Readiness of this Supper argues that the fixing and ordering of Times and Seasons for the Dispensing of Grace to Sinners is solely in the Hands of God and at his Soveraign Disposal It was an Act of Soveraignty to prepare the Gospel and make it ready in the Time that now is As our Times are in Goa's Hand Psal 31.15 so are all our Mercies It was decreed in his Soveraign Purpose and fore-ordained according to the Good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 Prov. 16.33 Eccles 3.1 what Blessings of Grace should be the Lot to be cast into our Lap in the latter Ages As there is a Time to every Purpose and to every Thing a Season so God is the Judge to dispose of it and order every Thing in it If the Master of the Feast had order'd it his Supper had been ready before such a Time of Day and he could have gotten courser Fare at Night He that spreadeth the Morning upon the Mountains could have gotten up the Provisions early even at the First break of Day and at that Breakfast of the Promise made in the Garden of Eden to our First Parents before he drove out the Man Gen. 3.15.24 But he was Soveraign and would stay to bring in this till Supper 2. We may learn from this now 2 Inf. in the Text that God finds out some special Season for the Things of our Peace when he deals in Mercy with us There is a Peculiar Day of Grace nay sometimes a Particular Hour of that Day more than ordinary being a season more highly valuable than any time that we have besides in General Our Gain or Loss of the Season proves the Gain or Loss of all for ever Thus it is hinted of Jerusalem to the same purpose by our Blessed Lord Luke 19.42 Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Thou Jerusalem in time to come maist remember that thou hadst once a Day of Grace offer'd Once thou mighst have sound Mercy but now thou hast lost thy Season There was a Particular time an express Day of Grace in which Christ Preacht up the Provisions of a Gospel Entertainment a Day in which they were brought even to Jerusalem now ready Christ tells them the Happy Minute which the Men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem might once have closed with Isa 5.3 He had a special Season of shewing Mercy and offering the Terms of Salvation among the Jews a Season-day a Day of a choicer opportunity than any of their Time had been before or was likely in that Generation to prove again The Lord was pleased also thus to pitch upon a Particular special Season under the Old Testament to bring Glad-tydings of Good Things to Judah and Jerusalem by the Prophet Rom. 10.15 Isa 1.18 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 Wooll As much as to say I am now willing for your good if you can but hit the Season and let us now argue the Thing together And likewise afterwards in the same Prophesie Isa 40.2 when God speaketh comfortably to Jerusalem he takes notice of it as a special Season and expresseth it as an extraordinary particular time of his Dealing thus with her Isa 44.1 Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant and Ifrael whom I have chosen Altho' God had been otherwise dealing with them for their Sins as may be gathered from sundry passages in the former Chapter yet he Records it as a special time in which he would change his Dealings with them Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant When God hath shewn Mercy either to Saints or Sinners to bring in one or eminently build up the other he has taken a Peculiar Time that may be styled their Day of special opportunity And as we have heard of it in old Time even so it is now God is wont to come in still with the Provisions of this Gospel Supper Peace Pardon Reconciliation to himself in the Blood of Christ and lay the Foundation of a Saving Work of Grace upon the Heart of a Sinner in some special Season not indifferently upon any common Time He does it when the Particulars of the Feast in the Provisions of Gospel-grace may be said to be even now upon a Feast-day ready The Gospel must in some present Day affect and work a change in Men. The Provisions that have now of a long time been ready to relieve one and wrought also effectually according to the working of his mighty Power even to Salvation upon some of you Eph. 1.19 may not be accompanied with the Arm of the Lord till now upon others found among you Isa 53.1 One may have met with it as a special Season formerly and have been provoked by the Love of God to be ready for a close with the Gospel a year ago 2 Cor. 9.2 or it may be many years since whereas another may not have found it to be a Time of Love till lately or a Time of Love till now God meets with some of his Elect under one subject of Grace and brings them in sooner to Jesus Christ then he sends out under another subject or another Sermon or another Preacher with the Invitations and Proposals of Grace again and makes new ones come in as Guests that his House may be filled with them He 'll run over the Olive and turn up the Branches of his
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Great gaping or parting asunder of the Two Countreys by such a wide Division you can never step over There is no passing from the Regions of the shadow of Death Mat. 4.16 even of the second Death to the Better Countrey Heb. 11.16 Luk. 16.26 so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence The state will be fixt and the offers of Grace ended God will feed nothing in Hell but the Worm that dieth not Mar. 9.44 46 48. and the Fire that is not quenched Conscience indeed will have a stinging Remembrance to gnaw upon but the Sinner will have no Refreshment with such a Guest for ever God will drink to you no more Sinners in a Lake of Fire Rev. 19.20 c. unless it be in the Wine of his wrath which will be poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation Rev. 14.10 There can be no rising to Supper if he should cast you out to lodge in a Bed of Flames These are the Motives and Oh! that God would fasten them upon your Minds by his Spirit Isa 22.23 as a Nail in a sure place Secondly As to Counsel I would leave these following Directions with you and close up the whole Subject 1. Now consider this ye that forget God Psal 50.22 Consider it that Grace is now offered and the Statute of Refusal will next be executed God is now calling but remember if you will not hearken you will be then crying Mercy doth now invite you but Fury will then Fall upon you Know therefore this Day and consider it in thine Heart as Moses in that Solemn Advice to Israel Deut. 4.39 Let Sinners that are desperate and hard hearted or careless and unregardful of themselves consider this What will ye do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come from far to whom will ye flee for Help and where will ye leave your Glory Isa 10.3 What Provision canst thou have if thou hast none of this Supper Canst thou bear it to Sup with Devils and reject Angel's Food What will become of all that airy Glory thy Mind is now Feasting on what will it avail thee that thou hast Supt on Vanity if thou must be fed with Torments when thy Day of Grace is ended Remember thou art going as swift as Time can post thee into the Land of Forgetfulness Oh! thou busie distracted Worldling that hast forgotten to eat thy Bread Psal 102.4 Men indeed will forget thee Jam. 1.24 Psal 95.11 what manner of man thou wast but God will swear in his wrath if thou wilt not meddle 〈◊〉 the Grace he offers Amos 8.7 that surely he will neâ—er forget any of thy Works but will remember thy Faults that Day 2. Acquaint now thy self with God Job 22.21 Be not a Stranger now to the God who will one Day take such knowledge of thee as either infallibly to save or else in Hell destroy thee Look to it Oh thou young Man and remember now thy Creator in the days of thy Youth Eccles 12.1 Look to it thou ignorant Man and lay up sound Knowledge that thou maist say with the Blind Man when Christ had opened his Eyes John 9.25 One Thing I know that whereas I was Blind now I see If the Provisions are now ready let them be no longer as a strange Thing unto thee Be acquainted that this is Life Eternal under the Gospel for poor condemned Malefactors already dead in Law to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 Thou wilt never taste and see Psal 34.8 till thou art acquainting thine Heart with Wisdom 3. Get now into Friendship with a Lover of Hospitality Tit. 1.8 Be not an Enemy in thy Heart or in thy ways to this Feast-Maker under one call more Be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee Throw down your Arms and beg for Quâ—rter if you would find mercy with thâ—â—ord in that Day for he spares none with their Weapons of War about them You spoil your Banquet so long as you run upon the thick Bâ—sses of his Buckler Be reconciled and made Friends to God presently for he will have none but Friends to come in and Sup with him Enemies must fall but shall not be Feasted Luke 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not have me to reign over them bring hither and stay them before me Provoke not God by Delays when his Supper is now ready if his wrath be kindled Spiritual Mannah will melt away from you as Corporal Mannah did from the Israelites when the Sun waxed hot Exod. 16.21 See that the Master of this Feast and you are made one or at least if Two yet you may either walk together Amos 3 3. or sit together at Meat when by Grace ye are so agreed Be reconcil'd and go make your Friend sure Do this now my Son and deliver thy Self when thou art come into the Hand of thy Friend go humble thy self and make sure thy Friend Prov. 6.3 As thou art now once again invited into the Banqueting-House of Love come prostrate in the Dust and lye at Christ's Feet the lower you chuse to sink the higher you shall rise when you sit at Christ's Hand Friend go up higher theâ— shalt thou have worship in the Presence of them that sit at Meat Luke 14.10 4. Now accept of Grace Put forth thy Hand now and lay hold upon Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6.12 Tho' you have staid out from this Feast long yet make the more haste and be not afraid or asham'd Now to come at last Take Encouragement and knock at the Gate of Mercy for tho' the Sun be low yet if you are in earnest for admission 't is not too late to be let in 5. Be now more Holy if you partake of what is now ready Serve the Lord better and Act for the Interest of Christ to keep up the Reputation and Honour of this Feast more than ever Omit nothing which may advance the Gospel and do nothing that may tend to make the Provisions of it sink More especially Now yield your Members Servants of Righteousness unto Holiness Rom. 6.19 Let your Eyes be more stedfastly fixed where you have seen his Salvation let your Ears be more attentive that even the Ear may now try words and the Mouth taste his Meat Job 12.11 Let the string of your Tongue be loosed and speak of these All Things now ready in the Language of Canaan plainly Stretch out your Hands unto God that he may not stretch out his to you in vain Refrain your Feet from every evil way Let your Loins be girt about with Truth Keep your Hearts with all Diligence Take Wisdom as an Ornament to bind about your Heads and set your Faces in reality towards Sion This is to be Holy Rom.
6.19 and to yield your Members Servants of Righteonsness unto Holiness 6. Now cry and make Intercession to the Lord of Hosts Save now I beseech thee O Lord Psal 118.25 In the Morning direct thy Prayer unto God and look up Psal 147.9 that He who giveth unto the young Ravens when they cry would refresh thee with good Things And at Evening do thou return Psal 59.6 and beg thou maist not lye down upon thy Bed until thou hast Supt upon Jesus Christ Beseech the Lord that he would impart to thee this Hidden Treasure and fill thee as a Vessel of Mercy with it Pray that he would change thy Diet and give thee Righteousness Peace and Holiness not suffering thee however under some kinds of Spiritual Sickness thou maist have evil Longings to eat that which is common or unclean 7. Now take Pains rather than lose such Provision now ready It is a shame to be so forward to encrease in Goods and so backward to lay in Grace Take but as much Pains on a Lord's Day to Occupy with your Talent as you have done upon the Week to save or gain a Penny Lay up for your Souls as you are wont to do for your selves Get up and travel to a Meeting as you could to Traffique in a Market the Day before Go thro' as many inconveniences wet wind and weather to obtain a sure reward as you are wont to venture thro' to partake of uncertain Riches Think not a Few Miles to be short enough for your Pleasure or your Profit and then too long when you compute them for a Sabbath-Day's Journey Think how ill Christ takes it who travell'd farther to buy in Provisions for you than you can to fetch them now from Him while he sees how backward you are to walk a Mile to hear the Word of God and yet are compell'd by other Motives to go Twain yea many to accomplish other Work If you think you dwell from Jerusalem more than a Sabbath-Day's Journey come then to a Feast as you would to a Fair get up and Ride and be not like the Horse or the Mule which have no understanding Remember Psal 32.9 that perhaps you have borrowed or hir'd a Horse to Trade with but never did so in all your Days to get to the Means of Grace tho' you could not come on Foot Oh! think you that have been negligent under this pretence of Distance what Conscience will say unto it if it were awakened in the Hour of Death or what God himself will if he tries it without Mercy at the Day of Judgment 8. Beg of God that this Holy Diet may now agree with you It would be sad that when God hath made ready his Supper should be too strong for you while you discovered an Aversation to the Pure Worship or the Pure Ways of God! It is a sign of a most weak and sickly Stomach when you can't bear it perhaps sometimes Amos 5.21 so much as to smell in the Solemn Feasts the very smell of Holiness offends you and you cannot endure the Religion of the Apostle because it is pure and undefiled Jam. 1.27 9. Don't think the Ordinances of God Tedious or that you sit too long at Meals-Consider that Ordinances and the Opportunities of Grace are Eating Hours don't grudge your Time then in your way to Heaven while you are Baiting at any Inn that 's needful The People of God when they sit at Meat are often troubled they rise so soon and art thou complaining thou art made to sit too long To say Behold what a weariness is it as Mal. 1.13 is not a sign that you are qualify'd to be for ever with the Lord. 1 Thes 4.17 Psal 118.4 10. Let them now that fear the Lord say That his Mercy endureth for ever Remember Him that is staying you with Flaggons and say with the Church Now will I sing to my well-beloved Isa 5.1 11. Keep up an Honourable Esteem of Jesus Christ Oh! don't come to a Feast and now at last upon the close of all murmur against the Good Man of the House Blessed is he that is not offended in me Mat. 11.6 12. Lastly Now bear Afflictions If he breaketh thy Bones yet bless him for Christ our Passeover Joh. 19.36 where not a Bone of him shall be broken Do not refuse Correction tho' God sometimes Carves out thy Sorrowful Meat Job 6.7 as Job calls his Afflictions Isa 30.20 If he gives thee the Bread of Affliction and the Water of Adversity do not impatiently or frowardly spit it out again Psal 111.5 seeing he will be ever mindful of his Covenant and hath given Meat unto them that fear him Psal 23.5 And thy Cup of Mercy that now runneth over may encourage thee to take a sip of that other Bitter Cup he gives thee Thy Cup is a little Cup to Christ's A Drop of Wormwood His a Draught of Gall and full of Dregs at Bottom yet the Cup which my Father hath given me Joh. 18.11 shall I not drink it Well then take Encouragement O Believer under thy Trials and now do not faint Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 bear his Reproofs seeing thou art now in the Banqueting House of Love He will not kick thee from the Table tho' now he chides thee at it He will not be always wroth Isa 57.16 tho' now he seems to have hid his Face at the upper-end from thee Wait for the Cup of Consolation tho' thou hast mingled thy Drink with weeping Psal 102.9 Bear it with Christian Patience with a Holy Faith and Submission 1 Pet. 1.6 tho' now for a Season if need be ye are in Heaviness through manifold Temptations There is enough of Love prepar'd to ease thee of thy Burdens now and in Time to take them off from thee Do not think the worse of the Lamb of God John 1.29.36 tho' thou must eat it as the Jews did their Lamb in the Posseover Exod. 12.8 with Bitter Herbs God may entertain thee with Grace in a Winter's Day which tho' short yet is dark and stormy But let it comfort thee in thy Tribulation Mat. 24.32 that Summer is now nigh at Hand When all the Bread in thy Basket is spent and no more for thee in the City of our God here Psal 48.8 but Mannah it self fails and Grace is ended yet still God hath provided thee a Summer's Store in Glory Come therefore for all Things are now ready The END