earthly things secure to himself the possession of the prize he has obtained, for any reasonable time; or spend, what is called, a Life in the enjoyment of it; some little might be said in his excusenothing, indeed, to justify the wisdom of his choice; yet something, however, to excuse the folly of his prevention. But, alas! the case is much otherwise. His glory shrinks like a shadow from his gripe, even while he is attending to the acclamations of his triumph. Either the time, employed in the pursuit, hath drawn out life to its dregs; or the fatigues, attendant on the contest, have broken and destroyed the basis of his Frame and Constitution; so that the Garland, woven to celebrate his Victory, serves only to ornament his Herse. Or, if haply he succeed while in the fullvigour of life, he is then often to undergo a second struggle, as hazardous, and generally more toilsome, than the first-to preserve from the Envious what he had fairly won from his Emulators.

But he who runs the race which Religion sets before us, is subject to none of these reverses of fate or fortune. All is peace, and joy in believing here below; and hereafter the sure possession of an eternal Crown of Glory.

Since then it is so clearly seen on which side the advantage lies, let us act like Men; like such who know how to form a reasonable Choice; and make our greatest interest our principal concern.

But then, in this spiritual Adventure, let us carry with us our worldly prudence: Let us not so run (to use the Apostle's expression) as one that beateth

.the

the air. Let us not give ear either to the delusions of Bigotry, or Fanaticism. Let us not deceive ourselves, with the fancy that we may, on the one hand, obtain the prize, by the observance of idle and superstitious Ceremonies; or, on the other, by the delusive feelings, or ecstatic visions of Enthusiasm : but let us, as the same divine Guide directs us, so run that we may obtain: that is, advance steadily in that sober Course, which the Gospel has marked out to us-of repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; under the guidance, and with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

SERMON XXIV.

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SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE.

MATT. chap. xxii. ver. 12.

AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, FRIEND, HOW CAMEST

THOU IN HITHER, NOT HAVING A WEDDING

GARMENT? AND HE WAS SPEECHLESS. THEN

THE KING SAID TO HIS SERVANTS, BIND HIM HAND AND FOOT, AND TAKE HIM AWAY.

N this Parable of the marriage-feast of the King's

IN

Son, a select company was first bidden; and they refusing the invitation, every wanderer that occurred was indiscriminately entertained. The Parable was told by our blessed Master, to shadow out the nature and fortune of his Gospel; first offered to the chosen people of God, the Jews; and, on their rejection of it, laid open to the acceptance of the Gentiles of every denomination. So far concerning the general fortune of the Gospel.

But in that part of it from whence the words of my text are taken, its peculiar nature is, in a very lively manner, set before us. The bidding to a marriage-feast is a free and gracious favour; and that Guest

H 3

Guest was deemed unworthy of it who did not come in such a habit as was the customary mark of his receiving the honour done him, with reverence and gratitude. The Wedding Garment was the symbolum which admitted him to the Feast: to be found without it was an evidence of his being an Intruder; and justly subjected him to the resentment of the Lord and Founder of the entertainment. For in ancient times it was the custom for him who was bidden to a marriage, to come in a robe of ceremony, so fashioned and adorned as to be expressive of the Characters and Circumstances of the wedded Pair, by which it became a badge denoting the relation he bore unto them.

Now, this Marriage was the Marriage of Christ with his Church: and the Feast to which the Elect were invited, was life and immortality. So that if we consider the state and condition of things, the Wedding Garment will appear to mean nothing but FAITH in Christ the Saviour; this sacred badge being peculiarly characteristic of the nature and genius of the Gospel. So that the worthy bidden Guest was he who was clothed upon (as the Apostle expresses it) with Christ Jesus.

In its more general turn, the Parable was fitted to represent every age of the Church. Some who were bidden would not come; and some who accepted the invitation would come irreverently and profanely; would be so far from complying with the terms of the invitation, as insolently to affix to it different terms of their own.

But do Age hath so well exemplified the disobe