586 MAKING LIGHT OF CHRIST. cerely, not only looking at thepleasure ofthe feast, that is, at the par- don of sin, and deliverance from the wrath of God, but also at the honor of themarriage, that is, of the Redeemer, and their profession bygiving up themselves to a holy conversation. But some come in only for the feast, that is, justification by Christ, having not the wedding garment of sound resolution for obedience in their life, and looking only at themselves in believing, and not to the glory of their Redeemer ; and these are sentenced to everlasting misery, and speed as ill as those that came not in at all ; seeing a faith that will not work is but like that of the devil ; and they that look to be pardoned and saved by it are mistaken, as James showeth, chap. ii. 24. The words of my text contain a narration of the ill entertain- ment that the gospel findeth with many to whom it is sent, even after a first and second invitation. They make light of it, and are taken up with other things. Thought it be the Jews that were first guilty, they have too many followers among us Gentiles to this day. Doct. `For all the wonderful love and mercy that God bath manifested in giving his Son to be the Redeemer of the world; and which the Son bath manifested in redeeming them by his blood ; for all his full preparation by being a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of all; for all his personal excellencies, and that full and glorious salvation that he hathprocured ; and for all his free offers of these, and frequent and earnest invitation of sinners ; yet many do make light of all this, and prefer their worldly enjoyments before it. The ordinary entertainment of all is by contempt' Not that all do so, or that all continue to do so, who were once guilty of it ; for God hath his chosen, whom he will compel to come in. But till the Spirit of grace overpower the dead and obstinate hearts of men, they hear the gospel as a comuion story, and the great matters contained in it go not to the heart. The method in which I shall handle this doctrine is this: I. I shall show you what it is that men make light of. II. What this sin of making, light of it is. III. The cause of the sin. IV. The use of the doctrine. I. The thing that carnal hearers make light òf, is, 1. The doc- trine of the gospel itself, which they hear regardlessly. 2. The benefits offered them therein; which are, 1. Christ himself. 2. The benefits which he giveth. 1. Concerning Christ himself, the gospel, (1.) Declareth his person and nature, and the great things that he bath done and suffered for man ; his redeeming him from the wrath of God by his blood, and procuring a grant of salvation with himself. (2.) Fur-
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