THE MARRIAGE FEAST.

MATTHEW xxii. 1-14.

Teacher.-Our lesson commences at the 22nd chapter of St. Matthew this morning.

First scholar, ver. 1.-" And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,"

Second scholar, ver. 2.-" The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,"

Third scholar, ver. 3.-"And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come."

Fourth scholar, ver. 4.—“Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage,"

Teacher. Now, why do you think the king invited these guests?

First scholar.-Because he wanted them to do honour to his son.

Second scholar. Because he thought they would like to come.

Teacher.-How many times does he send?
Second scholar.-Twice.

Teacher. And that shows-?

Third scholar.-That he was very patient, else he would not have sent again.

Teacher.-Instead of their keeping away, what might we have expected to see at the wedding table?

Third scholar-A great crowd.

Teacher.-Yes; a person told me the other day, that when a great banquet was given to the Duke of Wellington, some years ago, at Dover, he heard twenty guineas offered for a ticket of admission, and refused; so great was the eagerness to be present on that occasion. But this banquet was upon the wedding of a king's son ; and we might have expected that the anxiety to be present, would have been proportionate to the importance of the occasion, and the splendour of the entertainment. Let us see whether it was so.

Fifth scholar, ver. 5.-" But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandize :"

Teacher.-Now, what kept the first from the wedding?

First scholar. He had to go farming.

Teacher. And how often did he go farming?
Second scholar.-Every day.

Teacher. So that it was just an ordinary work of daily occurrence which occasioned his absence. He could not for a single day forget his oxen,

and his ploughs, and leave his reapers to themselves, though it were to do honour to a prince. No, he cannot come : he is wholly engrossed with his farm. And the next, what prevented him?

Third scholar. He went to his merchandize. Teacher.-Yes. Now suppose

Fourth scholar.-Teacher, what is merchandize?

Teacher.-Charles, can you tell Edward what merchandize is?

First scholar.-Trading.

Second scholar.-Buying and selling. Teacher.-Probably this was it. Now, suppose he had suspended the sale of his wares for a single day, or had committed them to the charge of another, I think he would not have been a loser; for it was the marriage of a king's son to which he was invited, and the friendship of the king would probably have been of use to him in his trade. And yet he also goes his way. Now, how was it, do you think, that these persons were so foolish as to neglect even a royal invitation?

First scholar. I should think that they had been so used to their own work, that they didn't take delight in anything else.

Teacher.-Now, do you think that this was an invitation that they might accept or decline at their pleasure?

Fifth scholar.-Yes.

Teacher.-I think not.

Fifth scholar.-The king.

Who gives it?

Teacher. And if a king calls to a wedding feast, do you not think it is the duty, as well as the interest, of the persons invited to attend to his wishes?

Fifth scholar.-Yes, if a king invites, it is.
Teacher. Certainly, but they refused.

mark the next verse.

And

Seventh scholar, ver. 6.—" And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them."

Teacher.-Yes; we see the kindness and condescension of the king met with the most insolent neglect, and the basest ingratitude. Had this parable not been spoken by Jesus, and had not the truths it involves have become matter of history, we might almost have said that it was too improbable to be credited. But it is all too true. Tell me to whom it was addressed.

First scholar. To the Jews-the chief priests and Pharisees; for it says so in the 21st chapter of Matthew, 45th verse.

Teacher.-And what had it to do with the Jews? Had any feast been made for them? Second scholar.-Yes; God had made a feast for them.

Teacher.-What feast?

Third scholar.-The gospel feast.

Teacher.-Yes, I think that is correct.

Did

he first make it at the time that Jesus was now speaking, or had he made it before?

Fourth scholar.-He had made it before. Teacher.-Yes, it is prophesied of in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, which we lately read; and if you turn to the 55th chapter of Isaiah, 1st verse, you will find the invitation given to sinners to

come.

First scholar.-"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Teacher. And did they come in Isaiah's day? Scholars.-No.

Teacher.-Read the 1st and the 6th verses of the 53rd chapter of Isaiah.

Second scholar." Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Third scholar.-"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Teacher.-Yes; "all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way." Do you mark that? There is the farmer riding off to his farm; there is the merchant busy in disposing of his merchandize; though the prophet