white : for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of Gody."
Say now, whether any thing can exceed the importance of this mystery? You perceive, that to accomplish it is the end of all our ministrations ; the actual completion of it is the only means of sanctification to your souls; and the full enjoyment of it in all its inconceivable benefits, is heaven. Verily, " this is a great mystery ;" nor will eternity suffice for its full de- velop em en t.]
Let me now, in conclusion, entreat of you these two things :
1. Seek by faith to realize this mystery —
[It must be realized by all : and the only way in which it can be realized, is, by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is faith which unites us to him : it is faith which interests us in him, and which brings down from him all that our souls can stand in need of. Though the mystery which we have been contemplating is great, yet the means by which we are to have it realized are simple. Only believe in Christ, as be- coming man for you, as dying on the cross for you, as giving himself to you in an everlasting covenant ; believe in him, I say, as willing to confer on you all the blessings of salvation ; and you shall find that you have not believed in vain : for "out of his fulness shall you assuredly receive" all that you can require, and all that he has undertaken to bestow upon you.
And let not the thought of your own unworthiness discou- rage you : for there are none, however unworthy, whom he will not receive into that relation, if only they will believe in him. See the description given of the Jewish Church previous to her union with him: " When I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live ; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. When I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love ; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness : yea, / sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine2." What more humiliating con- dition can you well conceive, than that of a new-born infant, which is here thrice repeated, " polluted in its own blood?" Yet out of that state did he select them, and from that con- dition did he take them for his Church and people. Know
y Rev. xix. 6—9. z Ezek. xvi. 6, 8.