On Matthew 22:2-4, by James Durham. The following contains an excerpt from his work, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, and of Grace and Glory In and Through Him".

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
~ Matthew 13:24

For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
~ Matthew 25:14

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
~ 2 Corinthians 11:2

And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
~ Jeremiah 25:4

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
~ Psalm 68:11

Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
~ Zephaniah 1:7

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
~ Luke 13:34

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
~ Matthew 22:8

For many are called, but few are chosen.
~ Matthew 22:14

We shall in the second Place, a little more particularly clear and confirme every one of them. The First was, that, There is a Marriage betwixt Christ and souls held forth and made offer of in this Gospel. We take this for granted: for here is the Kings Son, and some bidden to his marriage, and those that are bidden are not worthy: they are all Professors & members of the visible Church, the scope of the Parable being to shew, that the offer of this Marriage was first made to the Jews, and again renewed to them, and then from them it came to the Gentiles, I shall in passing give you a litle hint of the nature of this Marriage in these four: 1. There is by this Gospel a real union made up betwixt Christ and the souls of Believers; Which union is not with the Ordinances, nor with sense, nor with the Benefits which flow from Christ; but with Christ himself Primarily and Principally, and it is so near a •ye and very close, that it is preferred unto and goeth beyond the union that is betwixt the Husband and Wife: Ephes. 5.30. We are (says the Apostle) Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his bones, Where alluding to that union betwixt Husband and Wife, he not only makes the union reall, but makes the one much straiter then the other. Secondly the nature of this union is such, that it is Mutual; the Bridegroom hath in a manne (to speak so, with reverence of his Majesty) no Power over himself, when he is Married un•o the Bride; and the Bride hath no Power over her self, but the Bridegroom: So that here there is a sort of mutuall upgiving of the Bridegroom to the Bride, and of the Bride to the Bridegroom; according to those wonderfully condescending words, Hosea 3.3. Thou shalt not be for another man, So will I also be for thee: The Lord hath Believers under a peculiar tye to him, and he hath tyed himself Peculiarly to them, so that (if we may speak thus) neither of them is Master of themselves; The Lord Jesus doth some way account himself not to be master of himself, he is so engaged to them to be theirs and for them; and cannot but be answerable to his engagement; and they are oblidged to be no more Masters of themselves, but to be absolutlie and altogether at his disposing. Thirdly this union is made up by mutuall consent of Parties, and the consent must be willing; His consent comes in his Word; He says from thence, Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man will hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me; I come, (as if he had said) in my Gospel to woo, and if any will consent to take me on the terms on which I offer my self, I will be theirs: The souls consent is given by Faith in his word, which is called John 1.12. receiving of him, and is relative to the offer: The offer is indeed backed and quickned by the Spirit, without which it would never be received; yet notwithstanding, that which our faith lays hold on, is not the Spirit, but the word quickened by the spirit. Fourthly consider here the effects that follow immediatly and instantly on this Marriage union, Christ with all that is his becomes ours, and we with all that is ours become his; our debt is imputed to him, he is lyable to it and must pay it, and provide for us and be our head and Husband; and his righteousness, the Purchase of his Death and sufferings, viz. Justification, Sanctification, his Spirit, Grace and Glory, and every good thing that he hath, become ours, and at length the Bride is taken into the Kings ivory Palaces.

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