I Go to Prepare a Place for You.
This sermon emphasizes the work of Christ in preparing a place for believers and the call for believers to trust in this work.
Edward Taylor preaches about the incomprehensible love and grace of God towards humanity, highlighting how God, the King of Kings, humbly came to earth to save sinful mankind, paying the ultimate cost to redeem us from our transgressions. Taylor marvels at the sacrificial act of Jesus, who not only conquered death but also prepared a place of eternal joy for believers, adorning them with His grace and leading them to heavenly realms filled with praises and glory.
Text
What shall a Mote up to a Monarch rise?
An Emmet match an Emperor in might?
If Princes make their personall Exercise
Betriming mouse holes, painting with delight!
Or hanging Hornets nests with rich attire
All that pretende to Wisdome would admire.
The Highest Office and Highst Officer
Expende on lowest intrest in the world
The greatest Cost and wealthiest treasure far
Twould shew mans wisdom's up in folly furld.
That Humane Wisdom's hatcht within the nest
Of addle brains which wisdom ne'er possesst.
But blush, poor Soule, at th' thought of such a thought
Touching my Lord, the King of Kings most bright
As acting thus, for us all over nought,
Worse than poor Ants, or Spider catchers mite
Who goes away t'prepare's a place most cleare
Whose Shine o're shines the shining Sunshine here.
Ye Heavens wonder, shall your maker come
To Crumbs of Clay, bing'd all and drencht in Sin
To stop the gap with Graces bought, defray
The Cost the Law transgresst, doth on us bring?
Thy head layst down under the axe on th'block
That for our Sins did off the same there lop:
But that's not all: Thou now didst sweep Death's Cave
Clean with thy hand: and leavest not a dust
Of Flesh, or Bone that there th'Elect dropt have,
But bringst out all, new buildst the Fabrick just,
(Having the Scrowle of Gods Displeasure clear'd)
Bringst back the Soule putst in its tent new rear'd.
But thats not all: Now from Deaths realm, erect,
Thou gloriously gost to thy Fathers Hall:
And pleadst their Case preparst them place well dect
All with thy Merits hung. Blesst Mansions all.
Dost ope the Doore locks fast 'gainst Sins that so
These Holy Rooms admit them may thereto.
But thats not all. Leaving these dolefull roomes
Thou com'st and takst them by the hands, Most High,
Dost them translate out from their Death bed toombs,
To th'rooms prepar'd filld with Eternall joy.
Them Crownst and thronst there, there their lips be shall
Pearld with Eternall Praises that's but all.
Lord Let me bee one of these Crumbs of thine.
And though Im dust adorn me with thy graces
That though all flect with Sin, thy Grace may shine
As thou Conductst me to these furnisht places.
Make mee, thy Golden trumpet, sounded bee,
By thy Good Spirits melody to thee.
Sermon Outline
- The Folly of Human Wisdom
- The Work of Christ
- The Call to Believers
- Believers are called to trust in Christ's work
- Believers are called to be transformed by God's grace
- Christ has prepared a place of eternal joy for believers
Key Quotes
“What shall a Mote up to a Monarch rise? An Emmet match an Emperor in might?” — Edward Taylor
“But that''s not all: Thou now didst sweep Death''s Cave Clean with thy hand: and leavest not a dust Of Flesh, or Bone that there th''Elect dropt have, But bringst out all, new buildst the Fabrick just, (Having the Scrowle of Gods Displeasure clear''d)” — Edward Taylor
“Lord Let me bee one of these Crumbs of thine. And though Im dust adorn me with thy graces That though all flect with Sin, thy Grace may shine As thou Conductst me to these furnisht places.” — Edward Taylor
Application Points
- Trust in Christ's work and the promise of eternal life.
- Recognize the foolishness of human wisdom in comparison to God's wisdom.
- Seek transformation by God's grace and not by human effort.