Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

2. Others there were who came, and yet were unworthy guests, for coming unpreparedly; for in the midst of the feast the King comes in to view his guests, and beholds a man, that did not refuse to come, but yet came without his wedding garment, and so came unworthily for not coming preparedly. Ye see then there may be an unworthiness in those that do come, since they come unfitted and in a dress unbeseeming such a banquet. They are unworthy receivers of the Lords body, and he accounts it an irreverent usage of him. In like manner may some say touching the Ministry of the Word; May not I read a good Sermon at home with as much profit? What needs all this stir? Why, here's the advantage and privilege you get in the public Ministry of the Word: God himself comes down, as a King amongst us, he views his guests, and considers, who comes with his wedding garment, who comes preparedly. Christ comes and looks on us, and where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he hath promised to be in the midst of them: Math. 18.20. He walks in the midst of the golden Candlesticks: The Ministers of his Word; he takes a special view of those, that come and frequent his Ordinances, and is ready ever to reward them. You see then what it is to eat worthily; its to do it with that reverence, that is requisite where the King of Heaven is the Master of the Feast. Now this being the sin, unmannerliness, and unprepared approaching his Table; we come to the second thing, viz.

2. Others there were who came, and yet were unworthy guests, for coming unpreparedly; for in the midst of the feast the King comes in to view his guests, and beholds a man, that did not refuse to come, but yet came without his wedding garment, and so came unworthily for not coming preparedly. Ye see then there may be an unworthiness in those that do come, since they come unfitted and in a dress unbeseeming such a banquet. They are unworthy receivers of the Lords body, and he accounts it an irreverent usage of him. In like manner may some say touching the Ministery of the Word; May not I read a good Sermon at home with as much profit? What needs all this stir? Why, here's the advantage and priviledge you get in the publick Ministery of the Word: God himself comes down, as a King amongst us, he views his guests, and considers, who comes with his wedding garment, who comes preparedly. Christ comes and looks on us, and where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he hath promised to be in the midst of them: