We met with the ſame Parable, Matth. 22. r, 2, 3. where we hag the moſt of what 1s here, and many other coniiderable Circumſtar. ces. See the Notes on that Chapter. Chriſt's Primary 1atention by this Parable, was certainly to foretel the Rejedion of the Fews fo; their Contempt of his Goſpel, and the Reception of the Gentiles, They were thoſe who were firſt bidden, that.1s, called, and invited by the Preaching of Fohn the Baptiſt, Chriſt himſelf, and the Apoſtles, to the Receiving of Chriſt, that ſo they might be prepared for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, mentioned, Rev. 19. 9. The Gentiles as a mae Ruſtick People, are ſet out under the notion of ſuch as were in Lanes, Streets and High-Ways, It alſo informeth us of ſome great Cauſes of Mens reje&tion of the Grace of God offered them in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. x. Their Worldly Cares, and buſineſſes, 2, Their Senſible injoyments, and pleaſures, which did not hinder mg On- ly, but one or other of which hinders the moſt of People till from receiving the Grace of Chriſt tendred in the Goſpel. They ar: cither not at leiſure to attend their Souls, or they muſt enjoy things ſenſible and ſenſual in a degree in which the enjoyment ot them 1s incon- ſiſtent with that Duty which God requireth of them who would he ſaved. Perimus licitis, moſt Men Periſh by their Sinful x/e (or 4. buſe rather) of things 1a themſelves lawful. It may be obſerved a1. fo, that the two firſt ſorts made a kind of mannerly excuſe, ſaying, T pray thee have us excuſed ; but the laſt Peremtorily ſaid, I cant c1me. Tho ſecular imployments be great diverſions of us, and 6 hinderances of our minding things of htzgheſt Concernment, yet Sen. ſual ſatisfaQtions and pleaſures do moſt Drown, and Swallow up the Soul of Man, and keep it from minding Heaven, and Heaven! things. There have been a great many Words ſpent about theſs Words, Compel them to come in, v. 23. It appeareth to be almoſt the unanimous Senſe of the Ancients, That no man ought by Tempy al Puniſhments to be compelled to the Profeſſion of the true Fajth. Some of them have a little differed about ſuch as having once embraced the Dodrine of the true Faith, and afterwards ſwerved from it ; tho the truth of it is, they can be no more Compe!led than the other, for the Will admits of no V7olence. Be the Truth what i* will in thoſe points, certain it is, that External Compulſton,hath no Colour of Foundation in this Text. They are the Miniſters of the Goſpel thar ar< thus ſpoken to, who we know by Chriſt's Commiſſion had no Civil Poy- er committed to them. Nor do we ever read tiat they exerciſed any in order to the bringing of the Gentiles to the embracing of
the Faith, nor do Servants ſent out to invite Men to Feaſts (5 the were_) uſe to pull them in by Head and Shoulders, or to drive them in by Whips, and Cudgels, only to uſe the beſt Arguments they can to perſwade them. Chriſt never preſcribed any S;.:»ifþ Converſins of People. Man is preſumed tobe a Rational Creature, and taveii even by Nature to chuſe things, which he ſees are or may be 0: higheſt Importance and Concern. So that the very opening to Men the Riches of Divine Grace, fitted to their loſt and undone State (which muſt alſo be ſhewed them) is a Compullion of them, or would at leaſt be ſo, if Men by the tall were not Corrupted s t» their Wills, ſo as they will not follow the DiRate of their under- ftanding- But notwithſtanding the depravation and averſeneſs of the Carnal will, yet as many as the Lord will pleafe to ſhew Mercy to, by joyning the efficacious Operations of his Spirit with the Exteri- our call in the Miniſtry of the Word, ſhall come in. The Words are dvayuacoy world make it neceſſary for them to come in, which no Cudgels, no bodily puniſhments can do, for they hare their choice, whether they will dye, or do it. I4. 22» in it 15 certain he uſed no Swords or Staves, or Whips, cr pcCuni- ary Multts to inforce them. A Word of as high an import is uſed, Chap. 24. 29. of the two Diſciples compelling Chriſt to ſtay with them arageficoas]:, fo Gal. 2. 14. avayrdtes, Why doft thou force the Gentiles to Judaize 2? Yet it 1s certain Petey neither exerciſed,nor ca'led in the Power of the Magiſtrate, to force the Gentiles. But 'whenMen began to ſpare their pains as to their tongues, to aver-Pover -and prevail upon Mens Hearts, then they began to compel them by Civil Ceercions, and to call in the Civil Magiftrate, to the effetting of what they would have, whiles they themſelves would do nothing, and thus contrary to all Senſe and Reaſon, they expounded enete * Words, Compel them to coine in, |
It is uſed, Matth, Chriſt compelled his Diſciples to go into a Ship, iydynarw,
25 And there went great multicudes with him ; and he rurned, and faid uato them, | 26 * If any man come to me, and hate not his fa- « p.
ther, and mother, and wife, and children, aud brethren; :.-: and liſters, yea, and his own life al{o,he cannot be my difci- 'ple.
27 And whoſoever doth not bear his croſs, and come af-
We met with'much the. ſame, Matth. ro. 279. Thc fum pow Words is, That no Man can be a true Diſciple of Chriit, att veth any Friend, or anything a preference to Chriſt 10 fc a __
p
Chap, KV aj
I. S! Build, new | they « 151nfh like tc they r not be Parab dition: up of Priace Confec politio Deril; can do Not rec flght w by a fir *12ht, NaNag
34 Where
35 hil ; bi him he
Sce th the moſi Saviour gu0d, a x 4dN Outyy, away fro 1s Profe
damnah], &d to ha\ lie be ſea lome thi make wit 211nſt thy en hear, Often thy Nercfore 0 My Re
Y ip. XIV.
=>... Tk. ©. ab I: ire