710 SE R M 0 N VII. f~~~h~~ ~~1 ~~F~~~ ~l~a;~i~~i~~~in~~~%:J.fence and W~r01ip wa~ their Privilege, and The Servants employed in the Invitation were, lir!l:, Mo{es and the Pro~hets, indu. ~~~;.J;,~· fively to Jolm.the Baptij/; all to !Vbom the Oracles of Got(•veruommitted and oy whom the eternal Counfels of his Wlfclom were declar'd concerning the Meiflas. All the;r Prophecies, as fo many Lmes, meet m tlus CcntCr. The other Servants were the Apofiles, who were commanded to preach the Gnjjel jirjl at Jerufalcm. The fir£\ order of Servants, and the fecond, both propofed the fame Meilias, as the Object of our Faith and Love ; but the Prophets under Shadows and Figures in the Prom1fes, the Apofile~ clearly m _rhe Truth and Acco.mphthm~nt. The fir!l: invited while the Preparations :~J~~;~~~;eg;"~~~:~~- El~~g~~~~~m~~~!~~r~,:rect~~~er~~d~e~f ~i~~.r~~~~'is~h:'~fi thmmg and fenfible Ev1dence of theTruth of the Chri!l:ian Religion, for the Marks of Jt are dear m .the Prophecies by the1r_ exaCt References to the Accompli01ment in the Pcrlon ofChnfi ; and they are clear m the Accomplithment by the Correfpondence to the Prophecies. Who ~an fufpend Alfent that our Redemption by Jdus Chrift is the Work of DlVlne Prov1dence, when the defign of it is [o exactly delineated in the Prophecy? Thus the unchange:Jble Firmnefs .and Stability of God's Counfei is the Foundation of ~~riX~ith. The Confummation of the Marriage will be at the fecond coming of Luk.t4·''•;;: 11. The Succefs of the Invitation is related, 1hey all ovitb one Confent tegan to male Excufo. The jirjl ja1d, l ha'Ue bought a ptece of Ground, and I muj/ needs go to jee it, Another faid, I ba'Ue bought'ji'Ue Toke ofOxen, and go to pro'Ue them' And another laid, [ ha'Ue married aWife, and I cannot cume. All the Carnal Affections are readily and prefently confpmng 10 the refi1fal. It may feem thatthe Allegations of a Purchafe and Mar· riage for not coming to a Feaft were very reafonabJe : but the Feafi: reprefents Celefii:ll Happinefs, in comparifon of which all the Profits and Pleafi1res of this World are but Lofs and Dung: 'Tis evident then, their Excufes are firong Accufations of their Folly and Ingratitude: Of Folly in preferring Shadows before fubfiantial Felicity, Moments before Eternity: Of Ingratitude, in reJecting conturnelioufly the moft gracious and earne!l: Offer of fuch a Happinefs. This is fpoken of the 'Jeovs, who lived in the time of the Son of God's Defcent for the Salvation of Men: The love of the World caufed them to defpife his mean Appearance, and neglect the Call of humble Mercy. Upon their re· v". u: fufal, the SeMJant came andfheoved his Lord theft things; Tben the Ma}ler of the Houft being. Angry, {aid to his Servant, Go out quickly into tbe Streets and Lanes ef tbe City, a11J bri1tg in hither the Poor, and the Maimed, and tbe Halt, a11d tbe Blind. And the Servant Ver. lJ. ~:~tt 01e~::::, d~:eo:~ :::: ::f ~;;~:~~~/J"1/eJ~e~:Je~~js,:;:;~·tiJ~:~/::m;;;~~:~ V<r••,. my Houfe may he filled. For [Jay untoyou, that none of thofo Men that were bidden, jhall taj/;1% F!'e~{~{:~re for ever excluded from the Joy of this Royal Feafi, being as unworthy as unwilling to partake of it. This Judgment is !l:ill vi!iblc upon the Nation of the Jews, who confent to their Progenitors rejeCting and condemning the Meffias, and wtH. not be convinced of the obfiinate Impofiure that was devifed to prevent the Belief o! his Refurrection. But it did not become the Wifdpm and Goodnefs of God, that fuch cofily Preparations thould be lofi: it was requifite that Come Perfons thould aCtually come to the Feafi, that is, obey the Heavenly Call, and receive the Gofpel; for otherwife the Redemption the Son ofGod fo dearly" acquir'd, had been without Fruit, he had rra. 4 • 9 , e. died in vain, which is directly contrary to the Promife of God to him. l will givt thee for a Light to the Gentiles, that thou mayf/ be my Sal'Uation to tbe ends of tbe Earth. Ac· cordingly the Servant is ordered to bring m the Poor, tht Lame, awd the Blind, and to go into tbe Hiy,J;.ovays and Hedges,and compel tbem to come in, tbat t!JC Houfo may hjilled. Thefe ExpreJ11ons declare the extream Mifery of the Heathens, who were at that time Ephef. :t, u. wit/Jout Cbrijl, Aliens from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, Strangers from the Covenants -of Promife, ha'Ving no Hope, and witbout God in the World. Compel tbem to come in. The Papifis allege this_ Text to give colour to tf1eir Cruelty, in their violent ways of makmg Profelytes to thC!f Idolatry. ThClf convmcmg Arguments are S\\·ords, and Racks, and G1bbers, and Fires. Jf this be aproperMethod of convert ing Men to Religion, the greatefi Tyrants are the moll: infalltble Teachers. The Vatn.itf.yi~~J~~~~;(. t~ ~~~fo~ete::,c~~~v}~r~I~~a~b[,,~~f~~~~~~f~n End: for the Under- !l:anding is a reafonable Faculty, and can only be convinc"d by inflruding Reaf~~s~n~~
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