Luke 14

O what a change is here, him has GOD highly exalted! Branch 2. Was Christ first humble and then exalted, hence learn the way to true honor is humility (Luke 14:11): He that humbles himself shall be exalted. The world looks upon humility as that which will make one contemptible,…

First, To the reproaches of men. They will divide both you and your profession (Luke 14:28). This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

So Christ has furnished his table, set bread and wine (representing his body and blood) before his guests, and they willfully turn their backs upon the ordinance, Christ looks upon it as a slighting of his love, and that makes the fury rise up in his face. (Luke 14:24) For I say…

4. Question: What are the means conducing to perseverance, or what shall we do that we may hold out to the kingdom? Response 1. Take up religion upon good grounds, not in a fit or humor, or out of worldly design, but be deliberate, weigh things well in the balance (Luke 14:28):…

2. Do we prefer God's glory before our relations? Relations are near, they are of our flesh and bone, but God's glory must be dearer (Luke 14:26). If any man come after me and hate not father and mother, he cannot be my Disciple.

So saith Christ (the wisdom of God) of the wisdom of this world: and the like also he saith for war, that no Prince will fight with his enemy on unequal terms, but will know himself able to sustain the encounter. Luke 14:28, 31. So the calling of a Christian, is to profess the G…

First, we must cast with ourselves, what may be the worst that can befall us, when trial and persecution shall come. This is the counsel of our Savior Christ to those that would follow him constantly as good disciples: they must, as good builders, consider of the cost, before th…

The resurrection of the former is called [in non-Latin alphabet] (John 5:29), the resurrection of life, that is, which is to life eternal, the means of entrance into it. This is called [in non-Latin alphabet], the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14). And so [in non-Latin alpha…

Consider then what an affront you put upon grace, when every vile thing is preferred before it. When the Lord offered Canaan to the Israelites, and they preferred Egypt before it, he swore, They should not enter into his rest: and those that preferred a yoke of oxen, a farm, or…

But God does so alienate and separate between you and them, by his overruling providence, discovering their designs against you, and their deep engagements to the Popish party; as if he would say to them, you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:20).…

Fourthly, consider the expressions under which He sets out His being affected, (to say so,) with this sin; He was so affected with it (Mark 3:5) that it's said, He was grieved for their unbelief, He had many sorrows and griefs, and suffered many things, but this grieved Him in s…

Many strive to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:24). Many lay a foundation, and are not able to finish (Luke 14:29). Many hunt, and catch nothing: many have storms of conscience, as Cain, and Judas, who go never one step further.

This is life eternal to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent: Now when the soul esteems nothing more worth the knowing than Jesus Christ, this is an honoring of him (1 Corinthians 2:2). I determined not to know anything among you, save Christ and him c…

5. The necessity of this self-denying, resignation of ourselves to God to bring us to Heaven in his own way is necessary. That we may begin with God (Luke 14:26): If any man come to me and hate not father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, indeed, and his…

Chron. 34. 32. The king at the marriage feast of his sonne says of the guests, Compell them to enter in, Luk 14:23. It is obiected, that men may not be compelled to believe.

II. Luk 14:26. He that will be a disciple of Christ, must hate father, and mother, and his own soule.

But to look to the recompense of reward in the second place, after the glory of God, the performance of our duty, and discharge of a good conscience, is no property of a hireling; seeing God has promised to give to them which by continuance in well doing, seek glory, and honor,…

41. For whoever shall give to you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. Luke 14:25-32 25. And great multitudes went with him, and he turned, and said to them,

Is it not that it may be put on a candlestick? Luke 14:34-35 34. Salt is good: but if salt shall have become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?

14. For many are called, but few are chosen. Luke 14:15-24 15. And when one of those who sat at table with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God.

Even as in the old Testament, the Lord oftentimes advanced young men, to bear chief office and principality, where he saw them to excel the elder in wisdom and foresight. The same lesson teaches Christ (Luke 14): When you are bidden to a feast, set not yourself down in the highe…

Hence such are apt to put themselves forward among God's people, and as it were to take place above them, as if there was no doubt of it but it belonged to them. They, as it were, naturally do that which Christ forbids, Luke 14:7, etc., take the highest room. This they do, by ta…

But this we must do, if we would follow those who are truly turning to God. We must not only forsake sin, but must, in a sense, forsake all the world (Luke 14:33). That is, he must forsake all in his heart, and must come to a thorough disposition and readiness actually to quit a…

Thirdly, you that plead your outward calling in the world, to be an excuse why you cannot hearken to your effectual calling by Jesus Christ, consider this, that this plea has damned many a soul before you, and will damn you also, if you look not to it. This has been an ancient p…

And it should seem on this ground, that on that day, they might not labor neither to take it away before a flood, nor remove it from an approaching fire. So some of the masters think, although our Savior convince them from their own practice, in relieving cattle fallen into pits…

1. Then feasting is sinful, when any over-charge their estates; and lavish out what will but serve their necessities or conveniences upon delights and superfluities; to such, feasting is a sin. 2. When the rich feast the rich, and never think upon the poor (Luke 14:12-13). When…

Perish you must, and shall, and that for ever. Remember the Parable of our savior, Luke 14:31, 32. What king, going to make warre, against another king, sitts not down first, and consults whether he be able with Ten Thousand to meet him that coms against him with Twenty Thousand…

And thus to have her vineyard before her, signifies watchfulness and tenderness, as those who have their eye always on their orchard or vineyard. And it does import, 1. Watchfulness, as has been said. 2. Diligence and carefulness, so it's opposed to the hiding of the talent (Luk…

3. What is the scope of these allegories, in other Scriptures, as that of Psalm 45, that of planting a vineyard (Matthew 21), that of marriage (Matthew 22), (which none can deny) is meant of espousing spiritually. (See this same allegory of marriage, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2-3, Ezeki…

Seventhly, Another rule is this, That the commands of the first table, so far forth as they are purely moral, supersede our obedience to the commands of the second table, when they are not both consistent. As for instance, We are in the second table required to obey our parents,…

2. And he is condemned as one who judges the things of the Gospel foolishness. John 6:44, No man can come to me, except the Father draw him; and that is a most wicked shift of him who married a wife (Luke 14:20), therefore I cannot come; we excuse such wicked weakness with this,…

And where the love of God is spread abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, which is given (Romans 5:5), and has a seat in the heart (John 21:15; John 14:15; Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 6:4, 5, 6; Deuteronomy 30:6), as the habitual fear of God has also; what doubt is there but…

Therefore let no man fear that he can go too far, that there can be too much holiness and strictness in our ways: but let him remember the great God of heaven and earth, and what is due to him, and then think how far you fall short of that which you should do to him. It is an ex…

Note what he says in this case, He who loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). And again, If any come to me, and hate not his father and mother, he cannot be mine (Luke 14:26). To hate here, is to be so far from preferring father and mother befo…

But chiefly this is meant at the Day of Judgment; then those which pray in secret, their heavenly Father will reward them openly. When you relieve the poor, and show comfort to the needy, they cannot recompense you; but then you shall be recompensed, at the resurrection of the j…

If the Covenant of Grace is altogether absolute and unconditional, requiring nothing to be done on our part to entitle us to its benefits, then it cannot be man's duty in entering covenant with God to deliberate the terms, count the cost, or give his consent by word or writing,…

Men may refrain from wonted ways of sin for a little while, and may deny their lusts in a partial degree, with less difficulty; but it is heart-rending work finally to part with all sin, and give our dearest lusts a bill of divorce, utterly to send them away. But this we must do…

He that does not want a heart, will not want an occasion of interposing somewhat for God. This was Christ's manner (Luke 14:15): when he was eating bread in the Pharisee's house, he discourses, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. There will be a feast in he…

Look as it sees all things in God, so it sees God in all things. Thus Christ at Jacob's Well discourses of the Well of Life (John 4), at the Miracle of the Loaves, discourses of Manna (John 6), and (John 7) at the Feast of Tabernacles, of living waters; at the Pharisees' Supper,…

Life must be willingly laid down, when we cannot keep it but with forsaking the word. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren and sisters, indeed and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). The life of et…

You must make God a good allowance when you embark with him; though called not only to dispute, but to die for religion, you must willingly submit. If any man come to me, and hate not his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). How soon the fire may be kindled, we canno…

The servants of God beg this gift (Acts 4:29): Grant to your servants, that with all boldness we may speak your word; when the world rages against them. 2. Though it be a special gift of God, yet the duty is contained in our first dedication and resignation of ourselves to Chris…

She did not delay till the Army came, and the city was surprised. When the Lord is marching against sinners with vengeance and fury, you cannot come soon enough to God to prevent it (Luke 14:32). That King that had twenty thousand marching against him, does not stay till they we…

1. We entered upon the profession of Christianity on these terms (Matthew 16:24): If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Life, wealth, and honors must be forsaken (Luke 14:26): If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and…

This proud pronoun Ego, I, I, is always interposing; this Babel which I have built: We are sacrificing to this proud self, This I have done; and if God be mentioned, it is but for fashion-sake, as those women in the Prophet Isaiah, Only call us by your name, we will eat our own…

Do you know what it is? Rash undertakings will necessarily be accompanied with a feeble prosecution; and therefore count the charges, lest you repent of the bargain (Luke 14:23). 2. Make Christ a liberal allowance, if you would come to a resolution (Matthew 16:24): He that will…

Though a Christian be not always to talk of grace, yet he is always to talk so, as to show himself a gracious person. Our very table talk, as well as our meat, should be seasoned with salt, it should be with the first and second course; for salt is the first put on, and the last…

We are not only to eschew evil, but to do good also (1 Peter 3:11). And I the rather insist a little here on this, because many are more apt and prone to omit duties, to be neglectful of doing good, than to commit (especially) gross and palpable evils; and withal, to look upon i…

You little know the desperate straits to which we are driven, were you but in our places, we are persuaded you would not only pity us in what we have done, but would do the same things; Alas, would you have us beggar ourselves? undo our families? destroy our liberties and comfor…

Thus in (Luke 24:29), it is said by pressing importunity they compelled our Savior to stay with them, who otherwise would have gone further. (Luke 14:23) Compel them to come in. This the Jesuits, and Papists, and many of the School, conceive and conclude marvelously, peremptoril…