September 23

But there is one feast to which are invited the occupiers of the highways and hedges, and the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. Belshazzar the king made a great feast; but it was to "a thousand of his lords." Ahasuerus made a great feast; but it was "unto all his princes and servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and rulers of the provinces being before him." It is true that at the close of it "the king made a feast unto all the people that were found in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace." But how large soever the court of the garden was, it could contain only a few thousand partakers, while millions in his one hundred and twenty-seven provinces were excluded from the festivity. But in this mountain the Lord makes "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."

That he is able to do this shows his greatness and all-sufficiency. That he is willing to do this shows the exceeding riches of his mercy and grace. It serves to distinguish Christianity from Judaism. The provisions of the latter were chiefly confined to one people, and comparatively a very small nation: but here there is no difference between Jew or Greek. Jesus is the Saviour of the world; in his Name shall the Gentiles trust; in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

It displays the unchristianism of monopoly. It is lamentable to think how fond some are of inclusion, and still more, if possible, of exclusion. If God was to sanction the anathemas of his rash and erring creatures, how few would be saved! But if, though they should call upon him as long and as loud as the worshippers called upon Baal, he will not hear them. And if they were fairly to consult his word, his word would tell them that they know not what manner of spirit they are of. If they were in a good frame of mind, though they would not wish to sacrifice truth to candour, they would rejoice in the thought that others, all others are invited as well as themselves, and that for all there is enough, and to spare.

This universality should also check despondency. "I feel my need of these blessings, more than of my necessary food, and long, above all things, to partake of them. And O my soul, what hinders me? If the feast be made for all, why may not I come, and partake freely? The inviters were ordered to bid as many as they should find, both bad and good to the marriage. It would therefore be, not humility, but even disobedience, to refuse the command of the king. And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ."

Here too is the annihilation of excuse. You will be able hereafter to plead no peculiarity in your circumstances as a reason for your irreligion. You will see persons at the right hand, of the same country, connexions, calling, condition; and of the same nature, weakness, passions, and depravity too, with yourselves. Truth will not allow you to say, I perished because there was no Saviour able or ready to save me; because no redress adequate to my relief was proposed to my hope, and placed within my reach. I sought deliverance, but could not obtain it. He turned away my prayer, and said, you are an exception—the benefit was free for all