263. LUK 14:17. THE GOSPEL INVITATION

Luk_14:17. The Gospel Invitation

"Come, for all things are now ready."’97Luk_14:17.

Blessed are our eyes for what they see, &c. How superior the dispensation under which we live! Not an age of shadows, &c. Not an economy of sacrifices, &c. Now we have a Gospel-day, a day of grace, and of glad tidings to sinners, of salvation to a lost world. Now the arrangements of mercy are completed, and the heralds of the cross are sent forth to say "Come, for all things are now ready."

Observe,

I. The Feast.

II. The Invitation.

And,

III. The Motive urged.

Observe,

I. The Feast.

Notice,

1. The author of his feast.

The blessed God The Father of mercies, &c. See Pro_9:1; Isa_25:6; Mat_22:1.

Notice,

2. The provisions of this feast.

(1) It is abundant. God is the God of abundance. Nature, providence, and grace all teem with it. Blessings of the Gospel are infinite and inexhaustible.

(2) It is various. And as such, meets man’s varied wants, as guilty, polluted, wretched, lost, &c.

(3) It is suitable. Nothing else is Learning, wisdom, dignity, riches, &c., all unavailing. He requires the bread and water of life. Gilead’s balm, &c.

"Stung by the scorpion, sin," &c.

Then notice,

3. The characteristics of the feast.

And, observe,

(1) It is a sacrificial feast. All the ancient feasts were connected with sacrifices. This with the offering of Christ as of a lamb slain, &c. We should have had no bread of life, &c., if he had not given himself for the life of the world.

(2) It is a great and universal feast. For the universal family of man. The whole world.

(3) It is a gratuitous feast. Without money, &c. All of grace, &c.

(4) It is a heavenly feast. Author, blessings, influence, &c., all heavenly.

Mark,

II. The Invitation.

"Come." Now this implies distance. All men far from God, &c. Prodigal.

1. To what must they come?

To the word of God. To the preached Gospel. Rom_10:15. To the cross, look; and be ye saved, &c. To the throne of grace, "Let us draw near," &c. To the church of Christ; for first they gave themselves to God, and then to his people, &c.

2. How must they come?

By repentance. Humbly, believingly, unreservedly, immediately. For "behold now," &c.

3. To whom may this invitation be addressed?

To the young, middle-aged, and to the old. To the moralist, profligate, and backslider. To the rich and poor, the learned and illiterate. In one word, so all. "Ho! every one," &c.

Notice,

III. The Motive urged

"For all things are now ready."

1. The Father is ready. To embrace the repenting prodigal.

2. The Son is ready. To speak forgiveness and peace.

3. The Spirit is ready. To regenerate and save.

4. Ministers are ready. "And now then as ambassadors," &c.

5. The ordinances are ready. And you are freely welcome.

6. The church is ready. To own you as her sons, &c.

7. Angels are ready. To bear the tidings of your repentance to glory.

"All heaven is ready to resound,

The dead’s alive, the lost is found!"

Autor: JABEZ BURNS