God's terrible voice in the city

When the King sent forth his servants to call the guests to the Wedding-feast, and they make light of it and excuse themselves, and go away, one to his Farm, another to his Merchandise, and the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them: The King was wroth, and sent forth his Armies to destroy those murderers, and burn their City. Matth. 22. from v. 1. to v. 8. God hath sent forth his servants to call Londoners to this Feast; how many invitations have they had to come unto Christ, to accept of him, to save them, and feed upon him, from whom alone they can get any Spiritual nourishment; but how many in London have had their excuses, they have been following their Merchandise and other business, and could not come; and what entertainment his servants hath had; the Lord knows: I do not say that London hath entertained them despitefully, and slain them; but have not their message been slighted by London? and is it a wonder then if the King that sent them be wroth, and send a Fire to burn down the City? No greater favour could be showed, no greater privilege could be enjoyed, than to have the Gospel powerfully preached, and ordinances purely administered; but hath ⟨p. 102⟩it been generally so accounted in London? hath not Merchandise, and thriving in the world (which yet they have not thrived in) been preferred before this by many thousands in the City? when God hath been at such an expense to work out a way for mans salvation; when he hath discovered such wonders of astonishing Love in sending his only begotten Son out of Heaven to clothe himself in our flesh, that therein he might purchase life and salvation for us who were sunk so low from our Primitive state by sin, and were exposed to death and wrath, & unavoidable endless misery in Hell; and hath sent his Ambassadors of peace to bring unto us the glad tidings hereof, and in his name to make known the thing, the Author, the terms, the way; and to entreat us that we would accept of life and reconciliation to God, who without any injury to himself could ruin us everlastingly, and get himself a name thereby; and yet when the Gospel is preached that we should undervalue and slight both messenger & message; surely this hath been an affront to the Lord, who hath sent his Ambassadors on this errand, and doth carry with it such ingratitude as cannot be paralleled.

When the King sent forth his servants to call the guests to the Wedding-feast, and they make light of it and excuse themselves, and go away, one to his Farm, another to his Merchandize, and the remnant took his servants and entreated them spightfully and slew them: The King was wroth, and sent forth his Armies to destroy those murderers, and burn their City.