not cast out. He was it is true but one man “who had not the wedding garment. Cast him
out.” But why is he cast out? “For many are called, but few chosen.” Leave alone the few,
cast out the many. It is true, that man was but one. Yet undoubtedly that one not only was
many, but those many in numbers far surpassed the number of the good. For the good are
many also; but in comparison of the bad, they are few. In the crop there is much wheat;
compare it with the chaff, and the grains of corn are few. The same persons considered in
themselves are many, in comparison with the bad are few. How do we prove that in them-
selves they are many? “Many shall come from the East and from the West.” Whither shall
they come? To that feast, into which both good and bad enter. But speaking of another feast,
He subjoined, “and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven.”3005 That is the feast to which the bad shall not approach. Be that feast which now
is, received worthily, that we may attain to the other. The same then are many, who are also
few; in themselves many; in comparison with the bad few. Therefore what saith the Lord?
He found one, and said, “Let the many be cast out, the few remain.” For to say, “many are
called, but few chosen,” is nothing else than to show plainly who in this present feast are
accounted to be such, as to be brought to that other feast, where no bad men shall come.
5. What is it then? I would not that ye all who approach the Lord’s Table which is in
this life, should be with the many who are to be shut out, but with the few who are to be
reserved. And how shall ye be able to attain to this? Take “the wedding garment.” Ye will
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say, “Explain this ‘wedding garment’ to us.” Without a doubt, that is the garment which
none but the good have, who are to be left at the feast, reserved unto that other feast to which
no bad man approaches, who are to be brought safely thither by the grace of the Lord; these
have “the wedding garment.” Let us then, my Brethren, seek for those among the faithful
who have something which bad men have not, and this will be “the wedding garment.” If
we speak of sacraments, ye see how that these are common to the bad and good. Is it Baptism?
Without Baptism it is true no one attaineth to God; but not every one that hath Baptism
attaineth to Him. I cannot therefore understand Baptism, the Sacrament itself that is, to be
“the wedding garment;” for this garment I see in the good, I see in the bad. Peradventure it
is the Altar, or That which is received at the Altar. But no; we see that many eat, and “eat
and drink judgment to themselves.” What is it then? Is it fasting? The wicked fast also. Is it
running together to the Church? The wicked run thither also. Lastly, is it miracles? Not only
do the good and bad perform them, but sometimes the good perform them not. See, among
the ancient people Pharaoh’s magicians wrought miracles, the Israelites did not; among the
Israelites, Moses only and Aaron wrought them; the rest did not, but saw, and feared, and
believed.3006 Were the magicians of Pharaoh who did miracles, better men than the people
3005 Matt. viii. 11.
3006 Exod. vii.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 2, etc., about the marriage of the…