A29369:497
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons ... by that learned and judicious divine, Mr. William Bridge ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior ..., 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermons › Sermon 8: THE Dignity and Duty OF Gods Called-ones.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance. The Gifts of the Creation was not without Repentance. God repented that he had made man, Gen. 6.6. But the Gift of effectual Calling is without Repentance; Therefore the more obliged to God for calling; and therefore our duty to walk worthy of our Calling.
Fourthly, The more dangerous it is to refuse the Call of God; The more mercy it is to be called: And the more obliged we are to walk worthy of God who hath so called us. Prov. 1.24. Because I called, and ye refused, I will also laugh at your ⟨p. 193⟩calamity, &c. But that I would have you consider, in the Two and twentieth of Matthew, and the first Verse. If you mark the Parable, you will find three Threes run Parallel one with another. First, Three Invitations, Verse the third. He sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden (to the Wedding-feast) formerly. Then Verse the fourth; there is the third Invitation. Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner, &c. all things are ready, come to the marriage. Three Refusals run parallel with these three Invitations: At the third Verse; They that were bidden formerly, at the second time of the servants being sent to call them, would not come. And again, Verse the fourth; He sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, behold all things are ready, come to the Marriage; but they made light of it. Verse the fifth (there is the third Invitation) And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them, Verse the sixth. Observe three Judgments run Parallel with these three Refusals, Luke 14.24. For it is one and the same Parable. In Matth. 22.8. it is said, That when the King heard thereof, he was wroth, and said, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. And in Luke, I say unto you, says he, not one of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper. And Verse the seventh, The King sent forth his armies (there is a second Judgment) and destroyed these murderers; And burnt up their city, that was a third Judgment. What a dangerous