Part 23

The servant again returns, but with a more pleasing answer than before, “Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” The words bespeak the servant to be full of joy at the thoughts of the success he had met with. None can tell, but those who experience it, what comfort ministers have in seeing their labours blest. “Now I live, (says the apostle) if you stand fast in the LORD. Ye are our joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD JESUS.” “Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded. The poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind, have been called, and have obeyed the summons, and I have brought them with me; yet, LORD, thy house, and thy supper is so great, there is room for more.” Hereby he insinuated that he wanted to be employed again, in calling more souls; and the more we do, the more may we do for GOD: “To him that hath, shall be given;” and present success is a great encouragement to future diligence. Such hints are pleasing to our Saviour. He delights to see his ministers ready for new work, and waiting for fresh orders. “The LORD, therefore, we are told, verse 23, said unto his servant, (the same servant,) Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled; 24. For I say unto you, that none of those who are bidden, shall taste of my supper.” O cutting words to those that sat at meat, if they had hearts to make the application! But glad tidings of great joy to the publicans, harlots, and Gentiles, who were rejected by the proud Pharisees, as aliens to the commonwealth of _Israel_, and strangers to the covenant of promise! This was fulfilled, when our LORD sent the apostles, not only into the streets and lanes of the city, and places bordering upon _Jerusalem_ and _Judea_; but when he gave them a commission to go out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, _Gentile_ as well as _Jew_; and not only gave them a command, but blessed their labours with such success, that three thousand were converted in one day. And I am not without hopes that it will be still further fulfilled, by the calling of some of you home this day: For however this parable was spoken originally to the _Jews_, and upon a particular occasion, as at a feast, yet it is applicable to us, and to our children, and to as many as are afar off; yea, to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call. It gives a sanction, methinks, to preaching in the fields, and other places besides the synagogues; and points out the reception the gospel meets with in these days, in such a lively manner, that one would think it had a particular reference to the present age. For is it not too, too plain, that the gospel-offers, and gospel-grace, have been slighted, and made light of, by many professors of this generation? We have been in the churches, telling them, again and again, that GOD has made a great supper (and has invited many, even them) and sent us by his providence and his spirit, “to say unto them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. Believe on the LORD JESUS, and you shall be saved.” But the generality of the laity have made light of it, they have given us the hearing, but are too busy in their farms and their merchandizes, their marrying and giving in marriage, to come and be blessed in the LORD of life. We have told them, again and again, that we do not want them to hide themselves from the world, but to teach them how they may live in, and yet not be of it. But all will not do. Many of the clergy also (like the letter-learned Scribes and Pharisees in our Saviour’s time) reject the kingdom of GOD against themselves, and deny us the use of the pulpits, for no other reason but because we preach the doctrine of justification in the sight of GOD by faith alone, and invite sinners to come and taste of the gospel feast freely, without money and without price.