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I. GOD IS VERY URGENT WITH MEN TO ACCEPT OF GOSPEL-PROVISION FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS. He speaks once and again (Jeremiah 7:25). This truth will thus appear:

1. By the several acts of God put forth in gospel-provision for man's salvation.

(1) He has prepared the provision without any desert or desire of ours (Titus 3:4, 5).

(2) The means of grace are vouchsafed to many that do not improve them (Matthew 11:16, 17, 21).

(3) God propounds a way, and offers help to do us good, before we inquire after it (Isaiah 65:1).

(4) God forbears His wrath when we do not presently close with His mercy. He stays, though man lingers.

(5) God reproves where we are defective, and happy are the wounds of such a friend. He who first reproves is unwilling to punish.

(6) God stops our way when we are running headlong to our own misery (Hosea 2:6). Many times He keeps us short that He may keep us humble.

(7) God makes us consider our ways, and recollect our thoughts, whither our course tends (Haggai 1:5).

(8) Notwithstanding our obstinacy, God persuades us by a sweet and holy violence. He not only stops our way, but changes our wills.

2. By the manner of God's speaking to sinners in the Scriptures.

(1) By way of interrogation — "Why will ye die?" (Ezekiel 18:31).

(2) By way of lamentation (Luke 19:41, 42).

(3) By way of protestation with the strongest asseveration (Ezekiel 33:11).Uses.

1. This informs us that the destruction of man is a thing displeasing to God.

2. But though God be thus urgent about the salvation of man, yet He is quick and peremptory in the destruction of many. Although He seem to come slowly to punish man, yet His hand will fall heavily upon those who abuse His patience.

3. Answer God's urgency with you to accept of gospel-provision.

(1) Be urgent with your own hearts to turn to the Lord by faith; and then be as urgent to bless His name for turning them.

(2) Urge your hearts to turn from all sin by true repentance.

II. THE SERVANTS SENT OUT.

1. All the prophets.

2. Pre-eminently, Christ Himself.

3. The servants of Christ.

III. THE TIME OF SENDING THE SERVANTS. Supper-time; the fulness of time, the very nick of time for man's redemption. Now is the accepted time; improve it.

IV. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE MESSAGE IS TO BE DELIVERED. By word of mouth. Uses.

1. Information.

(1) The gift of utterance is very requisite for a minister (Ephesians 6:19).

(2) The calling of the ministry is very useful (Titus 1:2, 3).

2. Ministers should not only preach with their tongues, but likewise with their hearts feelingly, and with their lives.

3. Let us be thankful to God that the Word of faith is so nigh us in the preaching of the Word (Romans 10:6, 7, 8). Manna falls at our very doors; we have but to step out and take it up.

V. THE WORD OF INVITATION — "Come."

1. Whither God would have us come.

(1) To ourselves (Luke 15:17).

(2) To His people (Hebrews 12:22).

(3) To Him.

(a)  The Father would have us come (Jeremiah 4:1).

(b)  The Son would have us come (Matthew 11:28).

(c)  The Spirit would have us come (Revelation 22:17). He comes to us, that we may come to Him to get victory over our sin.

2. By what means we should come.

(1) By the use of all means of grace (Psalm 95:6).

(2) By the exercise of the truth of grace, and especially the acting of faith (Hebrews 11:6).

(3) By pressing forward towards the perfection of grace (Philippians 3:12).

3. In what manner we should come.

(1) Humbly (Luke 15:19).

(2) Speedily (Luke 19:6).

(3) Joyfully, as we come to a feast.

VI. THE READINESS OF ALL THINGS.

1. The mind of God, concerning the salvation of all His elect, is ready (2 Timothy 2:19).

2. The work of Christ for the recovery of lost man is ready (Hebrews 10:12). The incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, are all over.

3. The remission of sin upon the score and account of Christ is ready (Nehemiah 9:17; 2 Corinthians 5:19).

4. The glorious inheritance in heaven is now ready (Hebrews 2:16).Uses.

1. For information. Man has nothing to do toward his own happiness, but to receive what God has prepared, and to walk as he has received it. The receiving is by faith.

2. For caution. Though all things be said to be "now ready," we must not think, as if all were hut now ready: we must know that Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), so that Christ's blood in its virtue, and God's acceptation was of force for man's salvation long before He came personally into the world. Then, again: though all things are said to be "now ready," yet there is much to be done before all the elect come to heaven; many enemies of Christ must be pulled down, etc.

3. Be exhorted to answer this readiness of God.

(1)  Be ready to receive this grace of the gospel.

(2)  Be ready to express this grace of the gospel.

(a)  In acts of piety towards Him.

(b)  In acts of charity towards men.

(John Crump.)

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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.