Address,
1. Those who are afar off from God —
[The prohibition given to the Israelites, is cancelled with respect to you. The veil of the temple was rent in twain at the death of Christ, in token that a new and living way was opened to all, and that all who believed, were constituted " a royal priesthood1"." Will ye then decline the invitation that is sent you? We are commissioned to go forth into the high- ways and hedges to call you to the feast, which a God of in- finite love has prepared for you. O come, and partake of it. But remember that, in order to enjoy it, you must first accept the new covenant, and submit to be saved by the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Sprinkle yourself with the blood of Christ, your all-atoning sacrifice ; and then you may have fellowship both with the Father and the Son, and feast before God for ever on the provisions of redeeming love.]
1 John vi. 53—56. k Eph. ii. 13. » Heb. x. 19.
m Isai. xxv. 6. n Cant. v. 1. ° Cant. ii. 3.
P Ps. lxiii. 5. ii Pet. i. 8. r 1 Pet. ii. 9.
2. Those who are inclined to rest in external privileges —
[Such was the case with the greater part of those to whom the text refers. One would have supposed that they could never have forgotten their obligations to God, or have ceased to serve him : but, alas ! in a very little time, Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for their impiety ; and of the seventy elders, not one, as far as we know, held fast his integrity. They were ready, as indeed were all the people also, to profess their allegiance to the Deity; " All that the Lord hath said, will we do, and be obedient : " but they soon forgat their pious reso- lutions, and revolted from their duty. Beware, Brethren, lest it be so with you. It will be to very little purpose to say at last, " Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk in thy pre- sence8?" If you have "not been steadfast in his covenant," your outward professions, or past experiences, will avail little. Maintain therefore continually your dependence upon Christ ; and, in his strength, exert yourselves to fulfil his holy will.]
3. Those who are coming to the table of their Lord —
[We ask not whether you have a deep experience of divine truth, but whether you have fled to Christ from the terrors of the law ? Have you seen yourselves condemned by the cove- nant of works ; and are you seeking mercy through the covenant of grace ? Are you really sprinkling yourselves with the blood of Christ, your great sacrifice, and coming to God through him alone ? If so, behold, there is a table spread, and you are called to come and feast upon your sacrifice in the presence of your God. Come thither in faith ; and your God will make his glory to pass before your eyes ; yea, Christ will " reveal himself to you in the breaking of bread1," " and fill you with "his loving-kindness, which is better than life itself." Thus shall you be strengthened for all future services, till at last you shall be called to " eat and drink at Christ's table in the kingdom of your Father. u."]
s Luke xiii. 26. * Luke xxiv. 31, 35. u Luke xxii. 30.