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This life is opposite to the death incurred by sin, and by it is meant that whole estate of grace to which we are restored by Christ,, and chiefly our blessed and eternal life in heaven. We were in an estate of death when the doors of mercy were first opened to us ; we were dead as to the sentence of the law, dead as disabled for the service of the Creator, and from both excluded from the state of the blessed, and liable to eternal death. Now Christ came that we might not perish, but have everlasting life through him ; now they are worthy to perish for ever who love death rather than life, as all do that for base lusts and paltry vanities hazard their own salvation.
[4.] The way how all this is applied to us is by faith : ' That who- soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,' John iii. 16 ; and John vi. 29, ' This is the work of God, that ye be- lieve on him whom he hath sent.' This is the great duty which God requireth of us, faith in this Saviour that is given, that we should own and receive him to be what he is, and to do what God hath sent him to do, trusting ourselves entirely on the merit of his sacrifice and inter- cession, and taking the way that he prescribeth, that we may be ever- lastingly happy.
3. To bring about this faith in Christ crucified, he sendeth mes- sengers with these glad tidings where he will, and to whom he will ; for God is a free benefactor, and may do with his own as he lists. The dispensation of means as to the event is governed by God's providence; the general grant is, ' Go, preach the gospel to every creature,' Mark xvi. 16. That joyful news is to be published to all nations, that be- lievers shall be saved. No sorts of people are secluded out of our com- mission ; how else can they believe ? Kom. x. 14, 15, ' How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent ? ' Believing is not possible without hearing, and hear they cannot except they be preached unto, and that cannot be till God find preachers for them, fitting them with gifts, and furnishing them with abilities, and opening in the course of his providence a way for them. This is that which is represented in this parable, by sending forth his servants to bid his guests to the marriage. Now it is a great mercy and favour vouchsafed to us that we have a call, or are allowed the means of sal- vation: Acts xiii. 26, 'To you is the word of this salvation sent ; ' not brought, but sent. The journeys of the apostles were guided and directed by the Spirit, as well as their doctrine. It is a message from God ; and hereby they are left without excuse, who have the way to heaven laid open to them in the gospel, and will not walk therein.
4. The gospel, where it is sent, prevaileth not on all alike ; some believe, and others are hardened : Acts xvii. 4, 5, ' And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews who believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.' Some believe it with a lively, others with a dead faith, live not answerably thereunto. Certain it is all have not the faith of
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God's elect. They that believe not this gospel, the wrath of God abid- eth on them ; but those that receive it with a true and lively faith are freed from the wrath to come and eternal destruction, and have pardon of sins and eternal life bestowed on them : John iii. 36, ' He that be- lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.' He that giveth up himself to Christ to be saved and governed by him is in a course that will at length bring him to all felicity eternally ; but, on the contrary, he that neglecteth or despiseth the offers of grace is inevitably under the wrath of God due to him for his former sins, and the more due for this additional great transgression, slighting the methods of God for his recovery. Well, then, there is a difference. Now the cause of this difference must be inquired into. Therefore I shall prove two things —
(1.) Those that believe not, or receive not the gospel in a more worthy manner, the reason of their unbelief is not in God, but in themselves.