The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-05-05

4To UoW ro00y.-AuEo E.u.
TYNH-russdsy. April Z A d. = tness
oayv bsfors the ctuc1dxioa: two dayU Aftsr
cur last lesson. ttft
PLACE.-rhs temple q Jsrusalsn.
EXPLANATION.
I. The Bridegroom, and the Bride
Va. 1, .. For His Som Jesus the Christ
who loves the Bible. His church, woos her.
makes her His own, takes her 70 His
homo to abide In unspeaksble love and
Joy forever. He 10 our SOULS Ideal, and
never dsappoints us. He has IN the
highest spiritual sense all that can be
desired-rank, wealth, home, resources,
character. love, usefulness. attractive
The Bride. ''The church % an ideal
whole is the bride; the Individual be-
levers are the true guests. Riddle.
We have in Rev. Fl and 20 q most de-
lightful picture Of the lambs wife,
"a bride adorned for her husband" In
conceivably beautiful, like gold. as II
were transparent glass;" shining with
the light Of God. pure rs crystal, with
IL manner of fruits, and useful for the
healing of the nations.
II. The Invitation to the Wedding
VS.. 3, 4. II Is still customary in the
east not only TO give an invitation some
time beforehand, but to send round
servants at the proper time to inform
the invited guests that all things are
ready.-Kitto. This notification was
easy because "the guests were close to-
gether in an eastern city," and neces-
sary, because "they were not generally
supplied with umepieces."-Broadus.
The Wedding Feast Was Ready. The
fulness Of the time had como. The
world was in the best condition for the
coming of Christ. Never before or
since has there been 10 fitting time
one government, one language, peace,
roads, synsgogues Of the Jews every
where. The Staying Of the animals IL an
sllusion to sacrifice. Only when the
Lamb was slain on Calvary were all
things ready for the marriage.
The servants who invited represented
all Gods inspired messengers, Moses
and the prophets. and John the Bap-
tist. Tho "other servants" were Christ
Himself as prophet, and His apostles.
The guests were the individuals, who
together make "the Bride, the Lambs
Wife"
LII. The Invitation Refused.-vs. 81.
In two ways.
First. BY neglect. s. Made light Of II:
They took no notice Of what had been
done for them. All was as nothing COM
pared with their farm and merchan.
dise--to enjoy what they had and toac-
quire more.
Second. Active Opposition. 9. And
the remnant: The rest. Took (seized)
His servants and entreated them spite
fully: Insulted them, persecuted them.
And slew them: As the Jewish nation
had done TO many aprophet in their
past history. and - they were soon to
do again TO the preachers Of the Gospel.
ACTIVE opposition TO the Gospel has often
arisen when II has come in conflict with
the evils Of the world.
The Destruction Of the Wicked. (i)
It Is after every influence to make them
better has been exhausted. (:) II 10 a
just punishment. (3) II is necessary
for the salvation Of mankind. Without
Il evil would destroy the world. There
fore (4) even the judgments Of God an
the offspring of mercy and love.
". The Wider Welcome.-Vs. $40
There h no condition Of coming to
Christ but Just to come. The bad are
invited that they may be made good
| Il Cor. 6:e-11). OF the good" Na
thanael and Cornelius are illustrst tions;
Of the bed" Matthew and Zacehasus
and Saul Of Tarsus. The beauti
ful words Of Augustine on Christ's love
TO His church may fnd here their sp
| plication: HE loved her foul that hi
might make her fair."-Trench. Ye'
the good are not too good 70 need The
Gospel, nor, the bad 20 bad ~ to have
no hope II they Will accept it-Whedon
The wedding was furnished Will
guests: :@' Christ's purposes and PLAN
shall not fail. Here we have the assur
anse Of the success of the Gospel.
v. The Guest without . Wedding
Garment.-Vs. 11-14. II. Saw there I
man which had not on. . wetfding gar
ment: Either O) a dress Of his owr
suitable for the royal wedding occa
sion, Just as now on dress occasions, ant
especially in royal receptions, o specia
dress Is required. and those who do MOI
|come thus dressed are excluded; or e,
more probably . garment TO be put owe,
the usual dress, furnished by the KIM
himself to all the guests on their ar
rival at the palace, before they entsret
the hollis Of the feast.
The Wedding Garment Is the robe o
righteousness, the new heart, the new
spiritual nature, which the Holy Spiri
impafts to everyone who accepts th'
invitation. "This festal garment o
Heaven seems TO be no other than tina
celestial temper which manifosts itsel
by the infallible indications of o hpi,
Joy; holy happiness, public and ex
pressed. inward, spiritual happiness, de
veloped by the presence of God, and III
| consciouaneaa Of Heaven. into yidbl