Perused by those that were intrusted to revise his Writings.
London, Printed for John Rothwell at the Sun and Fountaine in Pauls
Church yard, neare the little North- doore. 1660.
Viz
TO THE EEADER
So mnch of late hath been written about the times, that spii'i trial discourses are now almost out of season. Men's minds are so hurried up and down, that it is to be feared they are much discomposed to think seriously as they ought, of their eternal concernments. Alas ! Christians have lost much of their communion v/ith Christ and his saints — the heaven upon earth — -whilst they have wofully disputed away and dispirited the life of religion and the power of godliness, into dry and sapless controversies about government of church and state. To recover therefore thy spiritual relish of savoury practical truths, these sermons of that excellent man of God, of precious memory, are published. Wherein thou art presented.
I. With an invitation to a great and ivonderfal feast, the marriage feast of the Lamb. An admirable feast indeed ; wherein Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the bridegroom, where every believer that hath ' put on' the Lord Jesus, Rom. xiii. 14, ' the wedding garment,' Mat. xxii. 11, is not only the guest, but the spouse of Christ, and the bride at this wedding sup- per. Here Jesus Christ is the master of the feast, and the cheer and pro- \'ision too. He is the ' Lamb of God,' John i. 29, the ' ram caught in the thicket,' Gen. xxii. 13. He is the 'fatted calf,' Luke. xv. 23. When he was sacrificed, ' wisdom killed her beasts,' Prov. ix. 2. At his death, 'the oxen andf atlings were killed,' Mat. xxii. 4. 'A/.tj^w; (S^uxrig x.ai cO'.riQug -rrceig. His ' flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed,' John vi. 55. And that thou mayest be fully delighted at this feast, Christ is the ' rose of Sharon,' the ' lily of the valley,' Cant. ii. 1. He is a ' bundle of mvorh,' Cant. i. 13, a ' cluster of camphire,' Cant. i. 14 ; his name is ' an ointment poured out,' Cant. i. 3, and ' his love is better than wine,' Cant. i. 2. In Christ are ' all things ready,' Mat. xxii. 4, for ' Christ is all in all,' Col. iii. 11. And great is the feast that Christ makes for believers, for it is the mar- riage feast which the great King ' makes for his Son,' Mat. xxii. 2 ; the great design and aim of the gospel being to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, and give * him a name above every name,' Philip, ii. 10. Great is the company that are bid, Luke xiv. 16, Jews and Gentiles. God keeps open house, ' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come,' Isa Iv. 1, and ' whosoever will, let him come, and freely take of the water of life,' Rev. xxii. 17. Great is the cheer that is provided. Every guest here hath Asher's portion, ' royal dainties and bread of fatness,' Gen. xlix 20. Here is all excellent best wine, ' vnn& upon the lees well refined,' Isa. xxv. 6. Here is ' fat things,' yea, ' fat things full of marrow,' Rev. ii. 17, the 'water of life,' Rev. xxii. 17, and the fruit of ' the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God,' Gen. ii. 9. All that is at this feast is of the best, yea, the best of the best.
440 TO THE READEB.
Here is variety and plenty too. Here is ' bread enough and to spare.' Caligula and Heliogabalus their feasts, who ransacked the earth, air, and sea to fui'nish their tables, were nothing to this. And above all, here is welcome for every hungry, thirsty soul. Super omnia vultus accessere boni. He that bids thee come, will bid thee welcome. He will not say eat when his heart is not with thee. The invitation is free, the preparation great, and the entertainment at this feast — suiting the magnificence of the great King — is full and bountiful. All which is at large treated of in these ex- cellent sennons, which are therefore deservedly entitled, ' The marriage Feast between Christ and his Chui'ch.' We read of a philosopher that, having prepared an excellent treatise of happiness, and presenting it unto a great king, the king answered him, ' Keep your book to youi'self, I am not now at leisure,' (a). Here is an excellent treasure put into thy hand ; do not answer us, I am not now at leisure. Oh, do not let Christ stand
* knocking at thy heart, who will come and sup with thee,' Rev. iii. 20, and bring his cheer with him. Oh, let not a ' deceived heart turn thee any longer aside to feed upon ashes,' Isa. xhv. 20 ; feed no longer with swine
* upon husks,' Luke xv. 16, while thou mayest be filled and satisfied ' with bread in thy father's house,' Luke xv. 17.
But this is not all ; if thou wilt be pleased to peruse this book, thou wilt find there are many other useful, seasonable, and excellent subjects handled besides the marriage-feast.
n. Jesus Christ hath not only provided a feast, but because he is desirous that all those for whom it is provided should come to it (which only they do that believe), he takes awai/ the veil of ignorance and luthelief from of their hearts ; and here you shall find this skilful preacher hath excellently discoursed what this veil is, how it naturally Has upon all, and is only removed by the Spirit of Christ. And if the Lord hath ' destroyed this covering from off thy heart,' we doubt not, but the truth of this heavenly doctrine will shine comfortably into thy soul.