But

dom and goodness, as He judges expedient to the case of each individual. this divine grace is not communicated for the mere purpose of producing a glowing affection, a familiar experience, an enraptured view of spiritual things: nor can any inward feelings alone prove that such grace has been administered at all: the proof must be manifested, in the way pointed out by the text: the new man "is created, after God, in righteousness and true holiness." A holy character and a righteous life are the proper and indispensable evidences of such a change; a faithful walking with God, a sober self-government, an upright dealing with all mankind.

I counsel you, my brethren, in the language of truth and the spirit of affection, to be content with no other evidence : equally far be you removed from that carnal profession of the gospel, which despises or neglects the mighty change required of every sincere believer; and from those fanciful notions of spiritual

THE NEW MAN.

experience, which leave the heart and the character arrayed in the spotted garment of sin: both in the one case and the other, you will be "grieving the spirit," and "quenching the spirit." principles and life, as well as in your views and affections and desires, “let old things pass away, and all things become new ;”*

In your

put off the old man with the deceitful lusts," and thus let the new man be put on. "Abhor that which is evil: cleave to that which is good."+ This is the method ordained of God, by which we are to “work out our salvation ;" this our plain, this our necessary duty. Pray we fervently, strive we diligently, that we may be thus effectually turned from sin to holiness, "from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God."+

*

2 Cor. v. 17. † Rom. xii. 9. Acis xxvi. 18.

X

SERMON XIII.

THE WEDDING GARMENT.

MATT. xxii. 2.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for

his son.

IT is my intention, in this discourse, to explain the several particulars of the parable before us; which may be regarded, in the first place, as descriptive of the dispensation of the gospel to the people of Israel and the world at large; and, in the second place, as instructing us in that peculiar fitness necessary to all, who shall be admitted to enjoy the privileges and happiness of the kingdom of God.

The state of the gospel, our Saviour informs us, may be compared to the conduct of a king at the marriage of his son;

or rather, as the meaning is, at the marriage feast which he gave on that occasion: the circumstances which might, in that case, be supposed to occur, aptly represent a variety of particulars belonging to the gospel dispensation.

Before, however, we enter upon the parable, it may be remarked, that spiritual blessings are frequently set forth in the holy scriptures, under allusions to feasting and refreshment. Thus Solomon of old: "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.' And thus the prophet Isaiah, in describing the state of the gospel:"In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on * Prov; ix. 16,

THE WEDDING GARMENT.

the lees well refined."* And thus our blessed Lord Himself: "I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath appointed unto Me, that ye may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.”+

1. Let us now proceed with the parable: "He sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding (feast); ́ and they would not come." This probably alludes to the first period of the promulgation of the gospel; under the preaching of John the Baptist and of the earliest disciples; the former endeavouring to prepare the hearts of men for the kingdom and coming of Christ; and the latter proclaiming His glorious arrival, preaching the truth of His gospel, and confirming the word by a display of miraculous power. But the Jews had been a carnal people, "holding the truth in unrighteousness ;" and they refused to give ear to those holy instructions, which called upon them to "lay the axe to the root of all sin," and to "bring † Luke xxii. 29, 30.

* Isaiah xxv. 6.