the sinner, convinced of his lost condition, but to receive with an empty hand and humble heart what infinite beneficence freely offers. Mercy’s door is open. The ministers of Christ invite you in. The master of the feast bids you welcome, saying, “Eat, O friends, drink; yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” Solomon’s Song, v. 1. The table is spread with ten thousand rich and costly benefits. The banquet is a feast of love; and “the spirit and the bride say, _Come_, and let him that heareth, say, _Come_, and let him that is athirst, _Come_, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. xxii. 17.—But this leads me to urge, III. The grand argument mentioned in the text to excite obedience to the invitation, viz. “All things are ready.” This head of the discourse will contain little more than a recapitulation of the principal subjects already considered; and they might, indeed, on that account, be thought superfluous. But, as upon occasion of a sumptuous entertainment, it would engage the attendance of a guest more, to see presented all together the several delicacies to which he is invited, than to hear a logical discussion about their various qualities; I shall, therefore, now bring together in one view, all that a God of rich grace and profuse munificence hath exhibited in the gospel feast; praying, if it be his blessed will, that all who hear the invitation this day may have grace to accept it. “All things are ready.”—The great _deed_ is ready, that recites the covenant stipulations between the Father and the Son, and records the names of all the ransomed of the Lord; signed by infinite truth, and sealed with blood. Psal. xl. 6–9. Heb. x. 5–9. The great _sacrifice_ is ready; on which the fire of vindictive justice fell, in the day of our Lord’s crucifixion; prefigured by the beasts that bled for a long succession of ages on Jewish altars; typified in Isaac, but realized in that propitiatory victim, the crucified Jesus. Heb. x. 1,12. A _pardon_ is ready; procured for infinite offence; for crimes of the deepest dye; for sinners of the most flagrant complexion; and which speaks its value infinite, bought with the blood of God incarnate. Ephes. i. 7. Acts, xx. 28. A _righteousness_ is ready; wrought out by the obedience and death of Messiah; the imputation of which covers guilt, screens from the curse of the law; fulfils its precepts, and satisfies justice; a righteousness, which “justifieth from ALL things, and is _unto_ all” as a free gift, “and” as a spotless robe “_upon_ all them that believe.” Acts, xiii. 39. Rom. iii. 20. This is the wedding-garment. Mat. xxii. 11. A _fountain_ is ready; that gushes from the Saviour’s side, with a mingled stream of water and blood; to wash away the guilt and filth of sin; of efficacy to purify from all uncleanness; where thousands have bathed their leprous souls, and in which thousands more may wash and be clean as an angel of light. Zech. xiii. 1.