Two or three Moral Irſtruftions we have in this Parable. I. That the Law of Chriſt juſtifieth none in any rudeneſs and incivility. 2. That the Diſciples of Chriſt ought to have a regard to their Re- utation, to do nothing they may be aſhamed of. 3. That 1t 15 aC- cording to the Will of God, that honour ſhould be given to thoſ:. to whom honour belongetiz 3 that the more hononrable Perſons, ſhould fit in the more honourable Places. Grace gives Men no CX- tcriour preference z tho it makes Men all glorious, yet 1t 15 within. Put the more Spiritual Inſtruftion (for which our Saviour put forth this FYarable) is in v. 11. Our Saviour had but now in the ſight of theſe Phariſees, curcd a Man of a bodily Droptie he 1s now attempt- ing of a cure of the Spiritual Dropfie, of Fride in their Souls. He had before denounced a Woe againſt the Phariſees, for loving the zrppermcSi places in the Synagogues, ch. 11. 43+ and told us, ay 22. 6. that they [ved the uppermoſt Rooms at Feaſts, and poſivly he might at this Feaſt ſee ſomething of it: He therefore applieth his diſcourſe by preſſing upon them Humility, and ſhewving them the danger of Pride, which tho it be a vice ſeated in the heart, yet by ſach little things diſcovercth it ſelf in the outward Converſation. He tells them, That God is ſech an Enemy to Pride, that he ordinarily {o crdereth 1t in the Government of the World, that uſually ſclt- exaiting P-ople arc by cnz means or other abaſed, and brought to ſhame, and contempt, and thoſe that are low in their Own eyes are exalted, and if it doth not fo fall out here, yet this will be, what ih at che lait Day befal them, in the Day of God's righteous judg- ment. Sce the Notes on Matth. 23. 12. We ſhall meet with the ſame again, ap. 18% v. 14+ 12 Then faid he allo to him that bade him, When thou make a dinner or a ſupper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kin{men, nor thy rich neigh- bours ; leſt they alſo bid thee again, and a recompence be
made thee. |
13 Eur* when thou makefſt a feaſt, call the poor, the maimed, rhe lame, the blind :
14 And thou ſhalt be bleſſed ; fer they cannot recom- penſe thee : for thou ſhalc be recompented at the refur- rection of the juſt.
Many :hings are delivercd in Scripture in the form of an abſolute and univerſai Prohibition, which muſt not be ſo underſtood,amongſt which tis is oze inſtance; none muſt think that our Saviour doth here a' 'olutely, or univerſally forbid, our invitations of our Brethren, or Kinſmen, or :ic}: Neighbours, or Friends, to Dinners, or Suppers with us; there was nothing more ordinarily praCtiſed amongſt the Jews, Chriſt himſelf was at divers Meals ; but Chriſt by this teach- eth us, I. That this*is m aft of Charity, it is indeed a Lawful a& of Humanity and Civilityz and of a good tendency ſometimes to procure Amity and Friendſhip amongſt Neighbours and Friends, but no ſuch A of Charity, as they could exped an heavenly re- ward for, . 2. That ſuch Feaſtings ought not to be upheld in pre- judice to our Duty in relieving the Poor; that 1s, they ought not to be maintaned in ſuch exceffes 'and immoderate degrees; as by them we ſhall diſable our fſeives from that relief of the Poor which God requireth of us as our Duty, with reſpe& to the eſtate with which he hath Bleſſed us. 3. That we may moſt reaſonably expect a re- compence from Heaven for ſuch good Works as we do, for which we are not recompenſed on Earth. 4. That God's recompences of us for doing our duty in obedience to his Commands, are often
fail abedient Souls, ]
15 And when one of them that fate at meat with him heard theſe things, he faid-unto him, * Bleſſed 5 he that. ſhall eat bread inthe kingdom of God.
Whether this Perſon had any groſs Conceptions of the Kingdom of God, as a State of cxternial Happineſs, and ſenſible Satisfattions T cannot ſay, tho it be the opitnton of ſome valuable interpreters, he might mean no'more than, Bleffed 1s he that ſhill come to Hea- ven, and enjoy the Celeſtial Pleaſures ard Satisfattions there, for that Bleſſed State is called the Mar/iage Supper of the Lamb; and Chriſt ſpake to his Diſciples in this Diale&t, when he ſpake of drink- ing Wine with them in his Kingdom. But this paſſage, both lets us know the g9cd intluence of, ſpiritual diſcourſe to ſet the Tongues of others on Work, and alto_it lets us ſee, what good HeCitations may be founded almoſt *upon any Subjefs, if we have any heart thereunto. This gives our Saviour an occation to- put forth the fgl-
16 Then aid he unto him, A certain man made a great | ſupper, and bade many: - ,
17 And * ſent his ſervants at {upper-time to ſay to] them that were bidden, .Come, for -all things are now ready. 7 18 And they all: withone con/ezt began to make excuſe; him, Ihave bough a piece of ground, and I muſt needs goand ſee it: 1 pray 'thee haveme excu-
T9 And another ſaid, I have bought five yoke of
Ss. LUKE.
ES.1 y 4 wi; to| Oxen, and I go to prove them : I pray thee have ve this man place, a:d thou begin with ſhame 2 Ine ex- thee, Give this man place, P culed.
ter me, cannot be my diſciple.
20 And another ſaid, I have married a wife, and there
fore [| cannot come.
21 So that ſervant came, and ſhewed his lord theſ.
things. Then rhe maſter of the houſe being angry, aid to his ſervant, Go out quickly intothe ſtreeis and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimeg and the halt, and the blind. ;
22 And the ſervant ſaid, Lord, it is done as thoy haſt:
commanded, and yet there is room,
23 And thelord taid unto the ſervant, Go out into the
high-ways and hedges, and compel thent to come in, thi;
my houſe may be filled.
24 For[fay unto you, that none of thoſe men whick were bidden ſhall taſte of my ſupper.