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 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.” In your principles and life, as well as in your views and affections and desires, “let old things pass away, and all things become new;” { 229a} “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.” { 229b} 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.” { 229c}
_The kingdom of heaven is like unto 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.” { 231} 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 the lees well refined.” { 232a} 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.” { 232b}