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are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

"Behold I have prepared my dinner." It is of God's preparing, and salvation is freely offered to us. Behold, also, the riches of God's patience and forbearance; and how he allures us, by setting before us the plenty of good things he has provided. We might be ashamed to refuse his first invitation, let us not harden ourselves against a second. We should come at once, if he called us to nothing else but oxen and fatlings.

"All things are ready." The Saviour, in all his offices, always; peace with God, rest for the soul in his favour, and newness of life by the Spirit.

"Come unto the marriage." Think who says, Come, Think you hear his voice now from heaven, and that you may never hear it again. Are you come? If you are not, and will not, what farther proof do you need of the desperate wickedness, and natural aversion of your heart from God?

and to what grace and mercy you are invited.

5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

Merchandise, and the farm, must not be neglected. The Scripture is as much for honest industry as any book in the world. Nevertheless, the preferring of anything to God, to our interest in Christ, and the grace of the Gospel, is a damnable state, and a great part of mankind are ruined by the necessary business of the world. You think, verily, you do not make light of the invitation; and yet you may bring the matter to a short issue with yourselves. Do you read the Scripture to know, to what you are invited, and with prayer to have it opened to you? Do you rejoice to hear of God's love in Christ, and is it the great wish of your hearts to be partakers of it?

6. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

This is mentioned as a still higher degree of wickedness. Such is the nature of men; and such too often the return they make to those who are sent to them with the truth, and declare it faithfully.

7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

This part of divine Revelation is sadly slighted. We do not believe God's anger or righteous judgment, though the Scripture so plainly declares it, and abounds with examples of it; and this threatening, especially, was fully executed upon the Jews for a warning and instruction to mankind.

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

Called, though unworthy; and always unworthy of so great a mercy; but absolutely and finally unworthy by their refusal of it, or living unreformed under it.

9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

Go to the Gentiles; they were sent to us, who were sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death, that "all the ends of the earth might remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord." Blessed be God; here is no exception of any; the invitation is as much made to every one of us, as if our names had been particularly set down in writing.

10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good and the wedding was furnished with guests.

The servants sent out were apostles, and a great company of preachers. They still speak to us, and invite us in their writings; and other servants in their words, by commission and authority from Christ.

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They gathered, both bad and good." The kingdom of heaven here upon earth, or Christ's church, consists of a mixture of good and bad; and many are gathered into it by baptism and outward profession, who do not truly belong to it. Consider upon what ground you stand forth. Attend carefully to what follows.

11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Where shall we hide ourselves from that eye? O! where from our own, in the day when the king comes in to see the guests, if we have not on the wedding garment? For we shall then be as naked and open to ourselves, as we are always to him. God be merciful to us, and bring us to such a sight of ourselves now, as may qualify us to understand the design of the Gospel, and prepare us for the mercy of it?

What can the wedding garment be but faith in the righteousness of Christ, and the holiness which springs from it, or a conscience purged from the guilt of sin, and a heart from the love of it?

12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?

What vain confidence is this, and upon what pretence art thou here, in a garb so different from the rest, and with a heart so unsuitable to the place and company? Let us hear God now speaking to each one of us in love, and whilst there is hope: "Why dost thou call thyself a Christian, and expect to be owned as such, without taking Christ as the covering of thy soul, and being clothed with the graces of the Spirit?" How dreadful would it be to hear it said, or but to think it may be said, This is no place for thee, and not have a word to reply!

12. And he was speechless.

What will you have to say then for your good hearts and good meanings, smooth life or good-nature, if you have not

been rooted and grounded in Christ, and followers of him in faith and love?

13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

O severe judgment, and yet kind warning! Mercy waits on us, pleads with us, and calls aloud to us now; but, as sure as we read these words, will be at an end with us for ever, if we do not embrace and make use of it whilst we live. To be cast out of the place of feasting, finely illuminated, and furnished with everything to gratify and delight the senses, into outer darkness, is a faint, and but a very faint resemblance of the misery of eternal separation from the splendor and glories of heaven, and confinement to the horrible darkness of the bottomless pit.

14. For many are called, but few are chosen.

All are called that they might be chosen; and then why are they not? They will find the answer in themselves. You have heard it already; they will not come, they make light of the call, think more of the world than of Christ, and will not seek him according to the will of God.

SECTION LVIII.

Chap. xxii. ver. 15–22.

OF PAYING TRIBUTE.

15. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men.

17. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

The Pharisees refused subjection to the Roman government; the Herodians were opposite to them in this point, and their design was to entrap him, let him answer how he would.

18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19. Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

20. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription.

21. They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's;

This was for the Pharisees, who were against paying tribute to Cæsar, and would please the Herodians.

21. And unto God the things that are God's.

This was for the Herodians, who were loose in their notions of religion, and would please the Pharisees. It is remarkable, that, without giving a direct answer to their question, he reproved and pleased both, and so avoided the snare they had laid for him.

22. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Were struck dumb with admiration of his wisdom.

Let not our Lord's command to pay the tribute pass without notice. If selling and buying uncustomed goods is not a downright breach of it, what is? And nothing is more common, so there is nothing in which men may more easily discover the unsoundness, of their principles, and the rottenness of their hearts. No reputation is lost by it, and, therefore, conscience can be quite easy in the matter. The same may be said concerning God's due from us to the poor, and the payment of tithes, which we may very well suppose to be included in the command, to render to God the things that are God's.

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