The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-24
THE INTERPRETATION.

THE INTERPRETATION,
THE FEAsT.-The privileges and bless
ings of the Messah's kingdom, called the
kingdom of COP, and OF heaven, which is
equivalent to the opportunities and joys of
Christianity, the experiences of true relig-
ion, are frequently set forth in the Scriptures
under the figure of feast, and marriage
festival. The prophet Isaiah describes the
religious blessings which are to flow from
Israel to all peoples, by the figure of rich
feast which COP would prepare in Mount
Zion, the site of the Holy City, with its ma
tional Temple of worship, the center of the
Hebrew religion (xxv. g.. In the vision
which John saw in Patmos the blessedness
of triumphant Christianity is described as
the " Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Reve-
lation xix. 81. Employing this figure famil-
lar to the Jewish teachers, JESUS declares
that the kingdom of heaven, in respect to the
extension and enjoyment of its privileges
and blessings, the spiritual experiences and
joys of religion-resembles what he describes
as having occurred in connection with mar
rage festival of certain kings son. The
Marriage Feast represents the blessings of
COPS Son, frequently represented in the
New Testament as bridegroom married to
his church.
THE GUESTS.-The blessings of the Gospel
the kingdom of heaven-were first offered
to the Jews. From their earliest history the
Hebrew race and nation of Israel were in
vited to this marriage festival of His Son,
bn
feast was prepared, and the kingdom was at
hand, he sent forth his messengers to call
the Jewish people, who had been long invited
to enter in and enjoy its blessedness. Though
the gracious call was repeated with urgency,
they refused to heed it, doing their own will
rather than obey the call of their King, and
even causing the death of the messengers
sent to call them to partake of the joys of
the heavenly kingdom. John the Baptist
and JESUS both suffered martyrdom because
of the opposition of the Jewish rulers to their
Gospel message. The Jews having rejected
the Messiah missed the opportunity and bless
ings of his kingdom, and under the provi-
dence of COP were afterward destroyed as
nation, and Jerusalem, their capital city,
was burned by the Roman armies. There is
a sense in which the armies of men are GODS
armies, who overrules the movements OF
human history to accomplish mis- purpose
with mankind. The rejection of the Messiah
by the Jews did not destroy bis kingdom nor
prevent the success of the Gospel feast The
messengers of the Gospel we're commissioned
| to go to all nations and proclaim its bless
| ings, and call whomsoever will come and
| freely partake of the Bread and Water of
Life-the feast of fat things, the wine and
milk and honey of the Kings wedding ban
quet. The Jews to whom it was sent having
rejected the Gospel of the kingdom, it was
proclaimed among the Gentiles, many of
whom gladly accepted it, and by whom Chris
tianity has been promoted to benetcent in
| fuence and power in the world. The guests
that filled the bridal hall at the kings mar
rage feast in our Lords parable, represent
those of all nations who have embraced the
Christian religion by protesting their belief
in the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST.
THE WEDDING GARMENT.-The Gospel
Feast the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, is
spiritual festival and delight, and all the
| circumstances, conditions and requirements
are spiritual, pertaining to the soul and re-
lating to the religious character. Only the
truly devout can experience the Divine bless
ings, or enter into the joys of the heavenly
kingdom, which in reality is the sovereignty
and reign of the Divine Spirit of Love and
Truth in the heart, conforming the character
and conduct to the Divine image and will.
There is a correspondence in the language
we employ to describe our character and
habitual conduct and the clothing we wear.
We speak of habits of thought, feeling, con-
duct and dress. The same verbal correspon-
dence is maintained in the Scriptures. We
read of garments of praise" garments
of salvation" and of being "clothed with
faith and purity" Those who were seen in
the Revelator's vision at the Marriage Sup
per of the Lamb, are described as dressed in
"pure white robes" which, it is explained,
represent righteousness of the saints"
The " wedding garment represents purity
of heart and life, righteous character and
conduct, without which there can be no real
| enjoyment of the Gospel Feast. GoD, who
discerns the heart, will permit no contempt
| of his requirements. The man in the para
| BILE who was observed to be without the we'd
ding garment was thrust from the pleasant
banquet hall to the discomforts of the dark
ness without, to weep over his stubborn folly.
The professed Christian, not clothed with the
faith and purity of the Gospel, is in the dark
ness; he is incapable of spiritual enjoyment;
he is Divinely doomed to retributive suffer-
! ing and sorrow. This incident in the parable
illustrates the declaration of JESUS: mot
every one that saith unto me, Lord Lord ?
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is
in heaven" wi. 2D. Only he can possibly
enjoy Christian privilege, peace, Joy, saliva
ton, who is faithful to CHRIsT's law of love
and duty.
APPLICATION.
THE CALLED Tina annIieation of the