Compel Them to Come In
T. Boston, D. D., C. H. Spurgeon. Luke 14:16-24 Then said he to him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:… I. SINNERS NATURALLY ARE OUT. II. It is the great errand of the friends of the bridegroom to BRING THEM IN THAT ARE OUT. III. SINNERS MAY COME IN. IV. SINNERS ARE DESIRED TO COME IN. Will ye then refuse? V. SINNERS MUST COME IN. Compel them to come in. VI. SINNERS SHALL COME IN. (T. Boston, D. D.) Compel them to come in: — I. First, I must FIND YOU OUT. Yes, I see you this morning, you that are poor. I am to compel you to come in. You are poor in circumstances, but this is no barrier to the kingdom of heaven, for God hath not exempted from His grace the man that shivers in rags, and who is destitute of bread. But especially I must speak to you who are poor, spiritually. You have no faith, you have no virtue, yea have no good work, you have no grace, and what is poverty worse still, you have no hope. Ah, my Master has sent you a gracious invitation. And now I see you again. You are not only poor, but you are maimed. There was a time when you thought you could work out your own salvation without God's help, when you could perform good works, attend to ceremonies, and get to heaven by yourselves; but now you are maimed, the sword of the law has cut off your hands, and now you can work no longer. You have lost all power now to obey the law; you feel that when you would do good, evil is present with you. You feel that you are utterly undone, powerless in every respect to do anything that can be pleasing to God. There is yet another class. You are halt. You are halting between two opinions. You are sometimes seriously inclined, and at another time worldly gaiety calls you away. And yet I see another class — the blind. Yes, you that cannot see yourselves, that think yourselves good when you are full of evil, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, darkness for light and light for darkness; to you am I sent. Now, I pause after having described the character, I pause to look at the herculean labour that lies before me. Well did Melancthon say, "Old Adam was too strong for young Melancthon." As well might a little child seek to compel a Samson, as I seek to lead a sinner to the Cross of Christ. If God saith do it, if I attempt it in faith it shall be done; and if with a groaning, struggling, and weeping heart, I so seek this day to compel sinners to come to Christ, the sweet compulsions of the Holy Spirit shall go with every word, and some indeed shall be compelled to come in. II. And now to the work — directly to the work. Unconverted, unreconciled, unregenerate men and women. I am to COMPEL YOU TO COME IN. Permit me first of all to accost you in the highways of sin and tell you over again my errand. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: WEB: But he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.