A Sacramental Discourse

A SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSE.

" Then the master of the house being angry," Ac.—Luke, xiv. 21-24

THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERMON.

I Proclaim to all in this assembly this day, (said the preacher,) all things are now ready; come unto the marriage. And why should you not all comply? why should any of you exclude yourselves ? Let every one resolve for himself, " for my part, I will not make myself that shocking exception?' How do you know but this resolution is now forming in the person that sits or stands next to you ? And shall you be left behind ? Will you, as it were, shut the door of heaven against yourselves with your own hand ? I once more assure you, there is yet room, room for all. There are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the patriarchs, and yet there is room. There are many from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south, and yet there is room. There are persecuting Manasseh and Paul; there are Mary Magdalene, the demoniac, and Zacchseus the publican, and yet there is room. There is the once incestuous and excommunicated, but afterwards penitent, Corinthian ; nay, there are several of the Corinthians, who, as St. Paul tells us, were once fornicators, idolaters, effeminate, Sodomites, covetous, thieves, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners, yet there they now are, washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God; and there may you also be, though, vile as they, if, with them, you come in at the call of the gospel, for yet there is room. There is, says St. John, (Rev. vii. 9,) a great multitude, which no man can number, out of every kindred, and tongue, and nation ; multitudes from Europe, Asia, Africa, and America; and yet there is room. There is room for you, poor negroes! and for you,

subdue it without violence, and sweetly captivate every thought into obedience to Christ.

These weapons, as far as they may be used in our age, I would try upon you. I would compel you to come in, by considerations so weighty and affecting, that they must prevail, unless reason, gratitude, and every generous principle, be entirely lost within you. By the consideration of your own extreme, perishing necessity; by the consideration of the freeness, the fullness, and sufficiency of the blessings offered; by the dread authority, by the mercy and love of God that made you, and is your constant benefactor ; by the meekness and the gentleness of Christ; by the labors and toils of his life; by the agonies of his death; by his repeated injunctions, and by his melting invitations; by the operation of the Holy Spirit upon your hearts, and by the warnings of your own consciences; by the eternal joys of heaven, and the eternal pains of hell; by these considerations, and by every thing sacred, important, and dear to you, I exhort, I entreat, I charge, I adjure you, I would compel you to come in. You have refused, you have loitered, you have hesitated long enough; therefore now at length come in; come in immediately, without delay. Come in, that these rich provisions may not be lost for want of partakers, and that God's house may be completely furnished with guests. As yet there is room; as yet the guests are invited ; as j^ret the door is not shut. The number of those who shall enjoy this great salvation, is not yet made up. Therefore you may press in among them, and be added to their happy company. But, ere long, the ministry of the gospel will be withdrawn, the servants be recalled, and no longer be sent to search for you. The door of heaven will be shut against all the workers of iniquity. Therefore, now is the time to come in. I shall only urge, as another persuasive, the awful denunciation that concludes my text: 1 say unto you, none of those men who were bidden, and refused the invitation, shall taste of my supper ; that is, none who refuse to receive the blessings of the gospel, as they are offered, shall ever enjoy any of them; but must consume away a miserable eternity in the want of all that is good and happy.

xxvni.