children of the free : and, if we will not avail ourselves of this proffered mercy, the fault is altogether our own. In the pa- rable of the Marriage-supper, the man who was cast out for not having on the wedding-garment, is represented as " speech- less," having not a word to utter in his own defence. He, it is true, was poor, and had been brought in suddenly from the highways and hedges : but a wedding-garment had been pro- vided for him by the Master of the feast, and would have been given him if he had asked for it: and therefore he was justly punished for presuming to appear at table without it. So is salvation provided for every child of man : and he who neglects to seek it, must trace his failure to that neglect. The word of our blessed Lord is decisive upon this point: " Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out :" if therefore the sentence be passed on us, " Cast out that son of the bond-woman," we know whom alone we have to blame : the fault is not in God, as unwilling to save us ; but in ourselves, as neglecting to seek salvation at his hands.]
From this subject we may see,
1. What is the one standard and test of truth —
[Men place reliance on their own opinions, and cite as authority the opinions of others. But man is weak and fallible. Even in relation to things which come most under his cognizance, he is apt to err : but in the things of God, which, of necessity, are so remote from his apprehensions, he is entitled to no confidence at all ; seeing that he can know nothing, any further than it has been revealed to him by God himself. But it is in the sacred volume alone that we have any revelation from God; and therefore that must, of ne- cessity, be the only standard and test of truth. " To the word and to the testimony," says the prophet : " if men speak not according to this word, it is because there- is no light in themp." Tell me not then, thou vain disputer, what thy sen- timents are. " What saith the Scripture ?" Thou imaginest that thou canst lay down laws for God, and tell how he shall regulate his proceedings in the day of judgment : but I must declare to thee, that " thy wisdom," however great thou mayest imagine it, "is foolishness with God;" and that his counsel shall stand, whether thou wilt hear, or whether thou wilt forbear.]
2. On what ground our eternal destinies shall be fixed —
[I well know that men shall be judged according to their works. But we greatly mistake, if we suppose that our faith
p Isai. viii. 20.