offend his juftice? And will you now venture to flight his mercy? This is worse than all your former fins, to refuse falvation that he freely offers from the guilt of

all.

If you fay you cannot, because of utter impotency, that shall be no ftop. You cannot believe, you cannot come to Chrift; but, as the word of falvation is fent to you, fo falvation is come to you, because you cannot come to it. The Saviour is come to you, because you cannot come to him: are you for him? The word of falvation is a word of power, and drawing power is in it, to draw you that cannot come: "When I am lifted up, I will draw all men after me." Are you willing to be drawn? Then the word of falvation hath fo far taken effect upon you, as to remove your unwillingness and to make you willing. Look for another pull of omnipotency; for the word of falvation is a word of omnipotency: It is the almighty word of the almighty God. Saving power, drawing power is in it. Welcome it as

fuch; and, in due time, you fhall be able as well as willing. Your faith is not to be acted in the fenfe of felf-ability and fufficiency, but in the fenfe of felf-inability and infufficiency. "Our fufficiency is of God;" falvation is of God; faving faith is of God; "All things are of God, who hath given to us the miniftry of reconciliation," 2 Cor. v. 18. and given to you this word of falvation: and it contains all your falvation. And if any part of it were left to you, it would not contain all your falvation. What you cannot do, this falvation can; therefore receive it, and blefs God for it, that To you is the word of this falvation fent,

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1.

SERMON

SERMON CXVI.

GOSPEL - COMPULSION; or, MINISTERIAL POWER AND AUTHORITY.*

LUKE xiv. 23.

-Compel them to come in, that my boufe may be filled.

MY

Y friends, though the work of fequestrating some to the MINISTERIAL OFFICE, be ordinary in the church of Chrift, yet the occafion and circumstances of this work to-day, among our hands, is extraordinary in many refpects, in fo much that there was fcarce ever a parallel it hath had in Scotland. But, as extraordinary cafes require extraordinary fervices; fo, it is matter of lamentation, that the defections and corruptions of the times fhould make it not only highly expedient, but abfolutely neceffary, for the relief of Chrift's scattered

* This fermon was preached at the Ordination of Mr. John Hunter, to the Paftoral Office, in the united congregations of Morbottle and Stitchel, by appointment of the Affociate Prefbytery, on the 17th Oct. 1739. being fet apart for, and observed as a day of, fafting and prayer at Gateshaw. The first edition of the fermon acquaints us, that it was published at the earneft defire, and repeated entreaty, of a great many hearers. To which is fubjoined an Appendix, directed more especially to the united focieties in and about the forefaid Morbottle and Stitchel, upon account of the much lamented death of the above Rev. Mr. John Hunter, who deceafed Jan. 7th, 1740.; not having been four complete months ordained minister.

fheep

fheep, and oppreffed heritage, thro' the violent measures of church judicatories*. But my business, at present, is to give a hint at the nature of that minifterial work to which one is to be fet apart here: and the text I have read, lays before us a fum of their work, as it relates to the finners with whom they have to do: their orders are, Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

These words are part of a parable, wherein the free grace of God, in Chrift, is reprefented by a rich man. making a great fupper; that is, the rich and bountiful Lord providing all the treasures and blessings of the new covenant, and inviting all poor, indigent finners, to whom the gospel comes, to come and share of thefe bleffings of everlasting life and happiness, to be had in Christ Jefus.

The entertainment, that this kind offer gets, is various; fome reject it, and others embrace it. The rejec ters make trifling excufes, preferring their ground, their oxen, their wives; that is, their worldly poffeffions and fenfual enjoyments, to all the bleffings of the everlasting gofpel.

Hereupon care is taken to furnifh his table; Go, fays he, to his fervants, pick up the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind; by whom might be meant the defpifed, out-caft Gentiles, who were taken in, when the Jews, who flighted Christ, were rejected of him.

But tho' many of this fort came in and embraced the offer, yet the fervant is brought in telling his Lord, say. ing, "It is done as thou haft commanded; and yet there is room." Minifters are to give account to Chrift, relating to their ministerial commiffion: 1. Of the execution of it; "It is done as thou haft commanded." 2. Of the fuccefs thereof; "Yet there is room :" intimating, that though feveral were come in, yet there was entertainment for many more.

Upon this a new warrant is given out to the fervants, to go to the high-ways and hedges, fince none among the

Mr. Hunter was the first probationer licensed by the Associate Prefbytery; and his fettlement in this new-erected congregation, the first of its kind that had taken place among thein.What these violent measures were, which occafioned this step, may be feen laid open, Vol. V. p. 298. 351. 389. 419. N3

Jews,

Jews, if it be not fome of the defpicable fort, the Publicans and finners, the halt and the blind, but none of the Scribes and Pharifees will come in; "Go out into the high ways and hedges, (i. e. to the open country; pick up the vagrant, the poor ftraggling Gentiles,) and compel them to come in, that my houfe may be filled." Where we may observe the three following particulars,

1. A commiffion given to minifters, fhewing what they are to do towards finners, to whom they minifter in facred things, or to whom they preach the gofpel, Compel

them. A:

2. The defign of this commiffion, what end they are to have in view and aim at by this compulfion, Compel them to come in..

3. The reafon affigned for all this work, of compel-, ling them to come in, namely, that my boufe may be fil led. As if the Matter fhould fay, Thefe whom you have to deal wit will be very fhy and backward, and will hardly believe that they fhall be welcome: therefore, there is a certain kind of compulfion must be used towards them; you must be in earneft, and very importunate with them to come in to me, and fhare of the provifion I have made for them, that by this means the numberof my ranfomed ones may be completed, the outcafts of Ifrael may be gathered, my table may be furnished, my church and houfe may be filled. But I refer the further explication of the words to the profecution of the following doctrine.

OBSERV. "The minifters of Chrift have a power and "warrant to compel finners to come in to him, that his houfe may be filled."

The doctrine being much the fame with the text, I need not ftand upon the proof of it. You have this matter very elegantly reprefented, Prov. ix. 1,-5. Wisdom hath builded her houfe, fhe hath hewn out her feven pillars. She hath killed her beafts, fhe hath mingled her wine; fhe hath alfo furnifhed her table. She hath fent forth her maidens, fhe crieth upon the higheft places of the city, Whofo is fimple, let him turn in hither: as for him that

want

wanteth understanding, fhe faith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled." Minifters have authority from their Mafter, to rebuke, exhort, command, and compel.

We fhall endeavour the profecution of this fubject, through divine aid, in the following method.

I. We shall speak of the minifterial commiffion and authority, imported in this word, Compel them. II. Of the end and defign of it, namely, that they come in; Compel them to come in..

III. We fhall peak of the reason, viz. That bis house may be filled.

IV. Make fome application of the whole.

I. We are to fpeak of this miniflerial power and authority, imported in this expreffion, Compel them. And here we are to touch at three things; 1. Who are they that have this authority to compel. 2. Whom they have warrant to compel. 3. What is the nature and import of this compulfion.

ift, Who are they that have this authority to compel. The context fhews, that they are the fervants of Chrifl; "The Lord faid unto the fervants, Go." Here is the office of the gofpel-minifter; he is the fervant of Chrift and of his church; " We preach not ourselves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord, and ourfelves your fervants for Jefus' fake," 2 Cor. iv. 5. Their flation in the church is not as lords of God's heritage, but fervants.

This does not at all detract from their minifterial office, while we confider that Chrift came not to be miniftred unto, but to minifter and serve. If he was the Father's fervant, and our fervant in his Father's bufinefs, furely it is no fmall honour to be his fervant, and a fervant to immortal fouls for his fake; only here we fee, that the apoftles themfelves did not pretend to be lordly Prelates, nor affume to themfelves a domination in the church, as having dominion over their faith, but as helpers of their joy, 2 Cor. i, 24.

Nor can it be conftructed a flavery, where it is for Jefus' fake, to promote the honour and intereft of Chrift in the church, and to act, not as an inferior, menial fer

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vant,