A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

when they were invited, they made light of it, they did not take it into their Care and Thoughts, did not seriously think with themselves, O that God should invite us to the Marriage of his Son! They do not absolutely deny, but make excuse; they do not say, non placet, but non vacant, they are not at leisure; and this made the King angry. When all things are ready, and God sets forth the Treasures and Riches of his Grace, and Men will not bethink themselves, their Hearts are not ready; How will this make God angry? Such kind of Neglecters are said to judg themselves unworthy of Eternal Life, Acts 13.46. You will say, Is there any Fault in that? Who is worthy? Should we not judg our selves to be vile forlorn Creatures, unworthy of a look from God, much more of Eternal Life? I answer, It is not spoken of self-humbling, or of a holy self-condemning, but of those that turn their back upon Grace. Grace comes to save them, and God makes them an Offer, as though they were worthy; and they judg themselves unworthy, and plainly declare they were altogether not worthy of this Grace. All Men are unworthy enough of Eternal Life, and God hath cause enough to condemn them; but they chiefly judg themselves unworthy, that is, in Fact declare themselves to be so, that have received the Honour and Favour of a Call; Grace hath spoken unto them, and made them an Offer of Pardon and Salvation, and they turn the Back upon it, as if it were not worth the taking up on God's Terms; and such are all ignorant Sots, and deaf Worldlings.

when they were invited, they made light of it, they did not take it into their Care and Thoughts, did not seriously think with themselves, O that God should invite us to the Marriage of his Son! They do not absolutely deny, but make excuse; they do not say, non placet, but non vacant, they are not at leasure; and this made the King angry. When all things are ready, and God sets forth the Treasures and Riches of his Grace, and Men will not bethink themselves, their Hearts are not ready; How will this make God angry? Such kind of Neglecters are said to judg themselves unworthy of Eternal Life, Acts 13.46. You will say, Is there any Fault in that? Who is worthy? Should we not judg our selves to be vile forlorn Creatures, unworthy of a look from God, much more of Eternal Life? I answer, It is not spoken of self-humbling, or of a holy self-condemning, but of those that turn their back upon Grace. Grace comes to save them, and God makes them an Offer, as thô they were worthy; and they judg themselves unworthy, and plainly declare they were altogether not worthy of this Grace. All Men are unworthy enough of Eternal Life, and God hath cause enough to condemn them; but they chiefly judg themselves unworthy, that is, in Fact declare themselves to be so, that have received the Honour and Favour of a Call; Grace hath spoken unto them, and made them an Offer of Pardon and Salvation, and they turn the Back upon it, as if it were not worth the taking up on God's Terms; and such are all ignorant Sots, and deaf Worldlings.