trencher, yet as thou sittest at the feast of the gospel, think of those poor souls, and that compassionately, who starve to dcalh for want of that bread with which thou art fed unto eternal life. There is an opinion which some have lately taken up, that the heathens may spell Christ out of the sim, moon, and stars. These may seem kinder than others have been to them, but I wish it doth not make them more cruel to them in the end ; I mean by not praying so heartily for gospel light to arise among them, as those must needs do, who believe them under a sad necessity of perishing without it. When a garrison is judged pretty well stored with provision for its defence, it is an occasion that relief and succour come the slower to it; and I wish Satan had not such a design against those forlorn souls in this principle : if such a lesson were to be got by the stars, we should before this have heard of some that had learned it. Indeed, I find a star led the wise men to Christ ; but they had a heavenly preacher to open the text to them, or else they would never have luulerstood it.
CHAPTER II.
A LAMENTATION FOR THE UNKIND WELCOME THAT GOSPEL NEWS FINDS IN THE world: WITH TWO OR THREE SAD GROUNDS OF FEAR AS TO US IN THIS NATION, TAKEN FROM THE PRESENT ENTERTAINMENT THE GOSPEL HATH AMONG US ; WITH A DOUBLE EXHORTATION TO THE SAINTS TO REJOICE IN THIS JOYOUS MESSAGE, AND CHIEFLY IN THIS.
Section I. — Use 2. A sad lamentation may be here taken up, that so good news should have such ill welcome as the gospel commonly finds in the world. When the tidings were first told at Jerusalem of a Saviour being born, one would liave thought, especially if we consider that the Scripture reckoning was now out for the birth of the Messias, and they big with expectation of his coming, that all hearts should have leaped within them for joy at the news, to see their hopes so happily delivered and accomplished ; but behold the contrary ! Christ's coming proves matter of trouble and distaste to them ; they take the alarm at his birth, as if an enemy, a destroyer, not a Saviour, were landed on their coast ; and as such Herod sends out against him, and makes him flee the country. But possibly, though at present they stumble at the meanness of his birth and pai'entage, yet when the rays of his divinity shall shine through his miracles, then they will religiously worship him whom now they contemn, when he comes forth into his public ministry, opens his commission, and shows his authority; yea, with his own blessed lips tells the joyful message he brings from his Father imto the sons of men ; then surely they will dearly love his person, and thankfully embrace, yea, greedily drink in the glad tidings of sal- vation which he preached to them : but no ! they persist in their cursed unbelief and obstinate rejection of him ; though the Scripture, which they seem to adore, bears so full a testimony for Christ, that it accuseth them to their own con- sciences, yet they will have none of him. Christ tells them so much: John V. 39, 40, * Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life.' Life they desired, yet will lose it rather than come to him for it. And is the world now amended .' doth Christ in his gospel meet with any kinder usage at the hands of most? The note that Christ sings is still the same, ' Come unto me, that you may have life. ' The worst hurt Christ does poor souls that come vmto him is, to put them into a state of life and salvation ; and yet where is the pei\son that likes the offer? O, it is other news that men generally listen after ; this makes the exchange, the market-place, so full, and the church so thin and empty. Most expect to hear their best news from the world; they look upon the news of the gospel as foreign, and that which doth not so much concern them, at least at present; it is time enough to mind tliis when they are going into another world. Alas, the gospel is not acconnuodated to their carnal desires ; it tells them of no fields and vineyards it hath to give, it lures them not with the gaieties of worldly honours and pleasures. Had Christ in his gospel but gratified the cravings of men's lusts with a few promises for these things, though he had promised less for another world, the news would have gone down better with these sots, who had rather hear one prophesy of wine and strong
g^^g THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.