many. Here some diligent hearer may answer me, and say, “I have no wish for you to tell
me your guesses; I wish to have it proved to me that that one represented many.”2997 By
the Lord’s present help, I will prove it clearly; nor will I search far, that I may be able to
prove it. God will assist me in His own words in this place, and will furnish you by my
ministry with a plain proof of it. “The Master of the house came in to see the guests.”2998
See, my Brethren, the servants’ business was only to invite and bring in the good and bad;
see that it is not said, that the servants took notice of the guests, and found among them a
man which had not on a wedding garment, and spoke to him. This is not written. The
Master of the house saw him, the Master of the house discovered, the Master of the house
inspected, the Master of the house separated him out. It was not right to pass over this. But
I have undertaken to establish another point, how that that one signifies many. “The Master
of the house” then “came in to see the guests, and He found there a man which had not on
a wedding garment. And He saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having
a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”2999 For He who questioned him was One, to
whom he could give no feigned reply. The garment that was looked for is in the heart, not
on the body; for had it been put on externally, it could not have been concealed even from
the servants. Where that wedding garment must be put on, hear in the words, “Let thy priests
be clothed with righteousness.”3000 Of that garment the Apostle speaks,3001 “If so be that
we shall be found clothed, and not naked.”3002 Therefore was he discovered by the Lord,
who escaped the notice of the servants. Being questioned, he is speechless: he is bound, cast
out, and condemned one by many. I have said, Lord, that Thou teachest us that in this Thou
dost give warning to all. Recollect then with me, my Brethren, the words which ye have
heard, and ye will at once discover, at once determine, that that one was many. True it was
one man whom the Lord questioned, to one He said, “Friend, how camest thou in hither?”
It was one who was speechless, and of that same one was it said, “Bind him hand and foot,
and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”3003 Why?
“For many are called, but few chosen.”3004 How can any one gainsay this manifestation of
the truth? “Cast him,” He saith, “into outer darkness.” “Him,” that one man assuredly, of
whom the Lord saith, “for many are called, but few chosen.” So then it is the few who are
2997 Serm. xlv. (xcv. Ben.) 6.
2998 Matt. xxii. 11.
2999 Matt. xxii. 12.
3000 Ps. cxxxii. 9.
3001 See note, Serm. viii. (lviii. Ben.) 13 (xi.).
3002 2 Cor. v. 3.
3003 Matt. xxii. 13.
3004 Matt. xxii. 14.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 2, etc., about the marriage of the…