there I break the bread, and set it before you to be eaten. For He said, when he who had not
“the wedding garment was cast out thence into outer darkness,” He said and added imme-
diately, “for many are called, but few chosen.”3152 Thou hast cast forth one man from hence,
and Thou sayest, “for many are called, but few chosen.” Without doubt the chosen are not
cast forth; and they were the few guests who remained; and the “many” were represented
in that one, because that one who hath not “the wedding garment” is the body of the wicked.
7. What is “the wedding garment”? Let us search for it in the Holy Scriptures. What is
“the wedding garment”? Without doubt it is something which the bad and good have not
in common; let us discover this, and we shall discover “the wedding garment.” Among the
gifts of God, what have not the good and bad in common?3153 That we are men and not
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beasts, is a gift of God; but this is common to good and bad. That the light from heaven rises
upon us, that the rain descends from the cloud, the fountains flow, the fields yield their fruit;
these are gifts, but common to the good and bad. Let us go to the marriage feast, let us leave
the others without, who being called come not. Let us consider the guests themselves, that
is, Christians. Baptism is a gift of God, the good and bad have it. The Sacraments of the Altar
the good and bad receive together. Saul prophesied for all his wickedness, and in his rage
against a holy and most righteous man, even while he was persecuting him, he prophesied.
Are the good only said to believe? “The devils also believe and tremble.”3154 What shall I
do? I have sifted all, and have not yet come to “the wedding garment.” I have unfolded my
envelopings, I have considered all, or almost all, and have not yet come to that garment.
The Apostle Paul in a certain place has brought me a great collection3155 of excellent things;
he has laid them open before me, and I have said to him, “Show me, if so be thou hast found
among them that ‘wedding garment.’” He begins to unfold them one by one, and to say,
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, though I have all knowledge, and
the gift of prophecy, and all faith, so that I could remove mountains; though I distribute all
my goods to the poor, and give my body to be burned.”3156 Precious garments! nevertheless,
there is not yet here that “wedding garment.” Now bring out to us “the wedding garment.”
Why dost thou keep us in suspense, O Apostle? Peradventure prophecy is a gift of God
which both good and bad have not. “If,” says He, “I have not charity, nothing profiteth me.”
See “the wedding garment;” put it on, ye guests, that ye may sit down securely. Do not say;
“we are too poor to have that garment.” Clothe others, and ye are clothed yourselves. It is
winter, clothe the naked. Christ is naked; and He will give you that “wedding garment”
3152 Matt. xxii. 14.
3153 Vid. Serm. xl. (xc. Ben.) 5, etc.
3154 Jas. ii. 19.
3155 Involucrum.
3156 1 Cor. xiii. 1, etc.
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On the words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 5, etc., where the miracle of the…