are they who have found out their soul's disease ! Let them know that Christ is the very Physiciau they re- quire, and let them apply to Him without delay.
We learn, in the last place, from these verses, that in religion it is worse than useless to attempt to mix things which essentially differ. " No man," He tells the Phari- sees, " seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment." " No man putteth new wine into old bottles."
These words, we must of course see, were a parable. They were spoken with a special reference to the question which the Pharisees had just raised : " Why do the disciples of John fast, but thy disciples fast not ?" Our Lord's reply evidently means, that to enforce fasting among His disciples would be inexpedient and unseason- able. His little flock was as yet young in grace, and weak in faith, knowledge, and experience. They must be led on softly, and not burdened at this early stage with requirements which they were not able to bear. Fasting, moreover, might be suitable to the disciples of him who was only the Bridegroom's friend, who lived in the wilderness, preached the baptism of repentance, was clothed in camel's hair, and ate locusts and wild honey. But fasting was not equally suitable to the dis- ciples of Him, who was the Bridegroom Himself, brought glad tidings to sinners, and came living like other men. In short, to require fasting of his disciples at present, would be putting " new wine into old bottles." It would be trying to mingle and amalgamate things that essen- tially differed.
The principle laid down in these little parables is one of great importance. It is a kind of proverbial saying,