THE UNMEET GUEST. MATTHEW xxii. 12. "Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment?" E blessings of religion are brought before us in the ptures as a feast; and often, as a marriage feast. worldly and the wicked, in their mistaken notions, ribe it, as if it were a gloomy and a sorrowful g; and if a feast at all, then like a funeral feast: ich are we to believe? Who knows best the real ure of religion—the righteous, or the wicked? erein can we most properly expect to find a true unt of the matter, in the Bible, or in the evering fancies of men? For my part, I turn to the e; and I invite you, dear brethren, to do the same; as a very apt illustration of the subject is afforded he gospel of the day, let us fasten our minds on May the gracious Father of our spirits be pleasto give us His blessing. he marriage of the King's son is intended by our THE UNMEET GUEST. MATTHEW xxii. 12. "Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding-garment?" E blessings of religion are brought before us in the ptures as a feast; and often, as a marriage feast. worldly and the wicked, in their mistaken notions, ribe it, as if it were a gloomy and a sorrowful g; and if a feast at all, then like a funeral feast: Ich are we to believe? Who knows best the real re of religion-the righteous, or the wicked? erein can we most properly expect to find a true unt of the matter, in the Bible, or in the evering fancies of men? For my part, I turn to the and I invite you, dear brethren, to do the same; as a very apt illustration of the subject is afforded he gospel of the day, let us fasten our minds on May the gracious Father of our spirits be pleaso give us His blessing. e; ne marriage of the King's son is intended by our Lord, to set forth the kingdom of God; or the striking facts and varied incidents and circumstances of the religion of Christ, in and amongst the children of men. We are all bidden to the feast. Special messages from We have all accepted the King have been sent to us. the invitation; and, here we are, seated at our Lord's board. Open your eyes, my brethren, the King himself is in our midst. He is come in to see the guests. There is something wrong. Somebody is present without the prepared and becoming robes. There is a false friend at table. The King makes use of these remarkable words of enquiry, addressing some one"Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on the wedding-garment?" We are surprised and concerned. The anxious questioning goes round-"Lord, is it I?" "is it I?" Let us try and find out. But before we do this, let us endeavour to understand the meaning of the parable itself, whence the words of the text are taken. Let us also try to realize its relation to us; that the blessings and privileges we enjoy may excite us to an anxious scrutiny of our character, so as to avoid the fearful end of him, who, though at the marriage feast, was not counted worthy to remain, because he had not on the wedding-gar ment. The king and his son truly and simply set before our minds the great God and His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The marriage feast means the provision made of God for our salvation. The guests are poor |