630 offecJual Calling. S s cT. XI I O & tonfcience is called a continual feaft, Prov.15.15. And theProphetlfaiah (peak- ing of the precious promifesand excellenciesunder theGofpel, he cals them A feaft of fat things, Ifa.a5 6. At thy righthand, faith the Preload, are pleafures for evermore ; Chrift is raid Toknockat the door (the outward Call here fpoken of) andif anyadmit him, he Will come in andflip with him, Reve1.3.zo. So then you fee, to be called to the graces and duties of theGofpel, is matter of great joy andcomfort ; Infomuch thatthe kingdomof Heaven isfaidtobe in righre ;oufnes,peaceandjoy in theholy Ghoft,yea its calledunmeakable joy and fallof glory. Oh then how great is the madnelfe and folly ofallRecufants to this gracious of- fer I You are prejudiced againft godlineffe, as if it broughtnothing but melan- choly anddefpair, as if it would berottenneffe to the bones , and like the worm to the tree that confumes thevery entrailsof it. No, its tobe called to a feaft, to matter of joyand heavenly pleafure ; certainly did the jolly worldling and merry voluptuous man, confider there things, how would he defie and with in- dignation renounce all his former pleafures ? hewould call them miferable com- forters, and fay, Though they were honey inthe mouth, yet they were gravel in thebelly. Go to the world, or to thy lulls, What is the feaftthey call thee to? What are the pleafures they invite thee to? Are they not like that herb which puts a man into a laughter, but kill him therewith ? Seeing then that Vi- ta non eft vivere, fed valere , To live is not meetly to live, but to be healthful and chearful, and comfortable: Oh knowthis can never be, till thou art parta- ker of this Peals. What thoughyou feeungodly menjolly and merry, having their heartscafe, and nothing troubles them, this is but a blaze ? the crackling of thorns ; Itsbut Jonah's Gourd that gives him force refrefhmentfor a feafon. This is but Tweet poifon, the flings and torments will be the greater. The poor- eft godly man, that bath no raiment for covering, no food to expel hunger, may yet lit down at thisFeaft with Chrilì every day. And there is no evil eye to grudge ; but in the Canticles the Spode bids themDrink, yea drinkabandanrly, Cant.S t. And if the godly at any time are dejefted, go bowed down, have no- thing but gall to eat, and vinegar to drink, without any comfort, anyjoy ; Its their own fault, theirown imperfec'Iion. They drink not of this good wine, they feéd not on thefe fat things by faith ; and therefore let the godly confider, that its their dirty towalkwith joyandcbearfulneffe; All thewhile thou walk- eft in diffidence and dejedions, thougoeft without a wedding garment, thou art not ina fumble pofture to a marriage- feaft. Thy praying, thy hearing is without awedding garment,thy mourningdifparagech the feaft. Thirdly, Here is by this phrafe implied, she great glory and honour ehat.God wouldput on all rhofe Whom heGals. He makes thee his choice friend, and gives thee this token of friendfhip; Davidexpressing a friend, laid, Weace bread toge- ther. Haman , how did he boaft when the King made a great feaft for the O een, AndI am invitedalfo, faith Haman. And certainly wecannot be capa- ble of greater honour, then to be called to this communionand fellowfhip with God , yea to this familiarity ; hence all the faithful, as Abraham, are called Godsfriends; Now were faith alive in mens brefs, they would never refute Gods calling, for is it not from flavery andbondage toan heavenly freedom ? Is itnot fromcommunion withthedevil in hisworks Of darknelfe, to fociety with God and hisAngels? Thus you feehow eminently this Parable fets forth thepriviledges of the Go- fpel in the tender thereof, you wouldwonderany in the world jhould refuk, Many called that all didnot come in by an holy violence : yet in the next place, fee the fad ones reje& she event, how ill this love is requited : For Gofpel-feaa. Firft, Thereare many pee/ono thus outwardy called, that are prophane Atheifts, t believe none of there things. All thefeParables of our Saviour, and all thefe ex- cellent refemblances,theymake butnotions and phantafrek. David complained of this, Pfal.q. whenheexhorted men toferve the Lord, and to offer cute hinu tb,
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