A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 47
Christ the Saints Wedding-Garment.
Mat. 22.11, 12.
And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou hither, not having a Wedding-Garment? &c.
THIS Text, is part of the Parable of the Marriage; Mat. 22. And the Word Parable, is thus expounded by Jerome, Tom. 3. Epist. 51. ad Algasiam q. 6. p. 359. Parabola, hoe est, Similitudo quae ab eo vocatur, quod alteri, foreign, hoc est, assimilatur, & quasi umbra praevia Veritatis est. A Parable, that is, a Similitude so called, because it is like another thing, and is as it were a previous shadow of Truth. The word foreign, is derived of foreign to compare or liken,Jansen. in Conc. Evang. it answers to the Hebrew foreign Mashal. In the New Testament it signifies an Enigmatical, or Allegorical Comparison, &c. For further account, the Reader is referred to the Place where we treat of Parables.
The Phrase foreign, (the Wedding-Garment) is borrowed from a custom among the Ancients, where every Guest at that Solemnity, was arrayed in a Habit peculiar only to such Feasts, and such as wanted it were accounted Intruders, viz. such as without any Right thrust themselves in. Now in this Parable all Orthodox Expositors affirm, that by the King, ver. 2. we are to understand JEHOVAH; by his Son, the Messiah; by his Servants, the Ministers of the Gospel; by such that found pretences of Absence, worldly-minded Persons, that prefer their temporal Pleasures before Grace and true Religion; by the Invitation of the Guests, the calling of the Gentiles, &c. by him that wanted the Wedding-Garment, Hypocrites, or such as have not put on Christ spiritually, (that is, are not clothed with his Righteousness by Faith) whose doom is damnation, ver. 13. All the best Expositors agree, by the Wedding-Garment is intended Christ's Righteousness, or Imputed Righteousness, which is put on the Soul by Faith for Justification. For the further demonstration hereof, see the following Parallel.
METAPHOR.
I. THe use and necessity of Garments came in by the Fall, Adam in Innocency had no need of them.
II. Garments are to cover Nakedness, that Shame and Deformity may not appear to others; for this reason did our first Parents sew Fig-leaves together to cover themselves, and from hence God afterwards made them Coats of Skins, Gen. 3.21.&c.
III. Garments differ much in Worth and Excellency, we read in Scripture of filthy Garments, and likewise of glorious Apparel.
IV. Garments are for Ornament, they set off natural Excellency, making Men and Women appear very lovely and amiable in the eyes of others.
V. Garments are of great Utility in respect of Defence, they secure us from many Hurts and Dangers, which naked ones are exposed to; they are Munimenta Corporis, they are as light Armor to the Body in the Winter, they save the Body from peircing Cold; in Summer they preserve and defend from parching Heat: every Blast would pinch us, were it not for our Garments, every Thorn would scratch us, every Blow would bruise us. Robinson.
VI. Garments are prepared and made fit for the Person that is to wear them, or otherwise they are not comely.
VII. When a Person puts on a Wedding-Garment, all other Garments are laid aside as invaluable, and unseemly for a Bride to have on.
VIII. A Wedding-Garment is usually very rich, if provided for a Person of Honour, a Princess or some great Heiress.
IX. A rich and glorious Wedding-Garment, is put on as a sign of Joy, and a good Day.
X. Those who were invited to a Marriage amongst the Jews, as History tells us, if they had not on a Wedding-Garment, they were not entertained, nor suffered to be amongst the Guests, but were (if observed) turned out of the Wedding-Chamber.
XI. The Bride that is gloriously cloathed, and adorned in her Marriage-Robes, is delighted in, and rejoyced over by the Bridegroom.
Parallel.
I. THe necessity of Christ and his Righteousness,Gen. 1.27. came in by original Depravity.Psal. 51.5. Man in Innocency had no need of a Saviour, was perfect and wanted nothing.Rom. 7.17, 18.
II. Christ is the Souls Spiritual Cover. 1. He hides all our natural Filthiness. 2. He hides and covers all our actual Sins and Pollutions. 3. He covers all the Spots of our Holy Duties.Rom. 3.25 Exod. 25.17, 18, 20.21. Guild, Moses unvailed p. 101. Mr. Robinson's Christ all in all. p. 45. The Cherubims under the Law covered the Mercy-Seat, the Mercy-Seat covered the Ark where the two Tables of the Decalogue lay: this Mercy-Seat did typify Christ. Jesus Christ covers all the Sins which Believers commit against the Law of God. He delivers us from the Curse and Accusation thereof. Hence 'tis said, God beheld no Iniquity in Jacob; he doth not see it to impute it, because it is hid under the covering Mercy-Seat, Jesus Christ.
III. All our Righteousness is as filthy Raggs; and in another place compared to a menstruous Cloth;Isa. 64 6. our best Services are grievously defiled and polluted with Sin. But Christ is a glorious Robe, his Righteousness is of inestimable Value, glorious Apparel, which by Faith all true Believers are cloathed with.
IV. Christ's Righteousness put on the Soul by Faith,Ezek. 16.12. is the most beautiful Ornament, that ever Mortals were adorned with,Isa. 45.24. this makes Men and Women amiable and very comely in the Eyes of God,Isa. 61.10. and Holy Angels.
V. The Lord Jesus, cloathing us with his Righteousness, defends us; 1. From Sin, Sin hath not Power and Dominion over us, it cannot bear sway nor hurt the Soul,Rom. 8. because Christ hath condemned it in the Flesh. 'Tis a vanquish'd wounded and crucified Enemy. 2. Christ defends us from the smarting Pricks and Checks of Conscience, when for want of Light, a Believer is accused and condemned, and is driven almost into despair. Christ's Righteousness is a glorious Garment to guard and keep off Conscience from mauling, breaking and bruising of him in pieces; through Christ Saints obtain Deliverance. Come to me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest to your Souls. Mat. 1… 29.— My Grace is sufficient for thee. 3. Christ defends us from the fiery Darts and cruel Assaults of Satan. This roaring Lion would tear us in pieces, if this impenetrable Garment were not between his Teeth and our Souls. His fiery Darts would stick to the very Heart, did not this Garment blunt and dead them. Notwithstanding all the Malice and Rage of the Devil; he cannot destroy us, because we are cloathed with Christ's Righteousness, and have the Lord Jesus to be a Cover for us. 4. Christ defends us from eternal Wrath. God is to all that are naked (to all that have not Christ on for Cloathing) a scorching and consuming Fire, the hottest Flames cannot touch the Body till they have burn'd the Garments; but Wrath cannot seize any more upon Christ, he hath overcome it, and quenched its Burning; he hath lain under it once for all, and therefore it cannot seize on a Believer, who is circled about with Christ, and with his Righteousness as with a Garment. The Fire cannot burn the Man whilst the Screen is between him and the Flame. Jesus Christ is a Believer's Screen, which stands continually between him and the devouring Flame of God's Anger. Robinson.
VI. Christ's Righteousness prepared for Believers, is made fit for the Soul, it answers to the Law and Justice of God, it every way suits, accommodating every Part, leaving none uncomely nor uncloathed in the sight of God.
VII. When a Soul puts on Christ's Righteousness by Faith it lays aside its own Raggs,Phil. 3.8, 9.10. having no Confidence in the Flesh: if a Man is not stript of all Hopes, Trust, and Reliance, in respect of his own Righteousness, he will not seek for another, neither can he put Christ on, for Christ is the (only) Garment for such who are naked, and see an absolute necessity of that which is by Faith in order to their being accepted in the Eyes of the Bridegroom.
VIII. Christ's Righteousness is a very rich and glorious Robe, curiously wrought, the Person for whom it is provided, being nobly descended, born from above,Ezek. 16.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. and espoused to the Prince of Heaven and Earth. I cloathed thee with Embroidered Work, and covered thee with Silk; I decked thee with Gold, and thy Ra…ment was of fine Linen. The Kings Daughters were among the Honourable Women. Psal. 45.9,—13. Ʋpon thy Right-hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir.
IX. The Righteousness of Christ put on by Faith, signifies Joy,Isa. 61.10, 11. 2 Cor. 6.10 1 Thes. 5.16. and a good Day; the Soul that is cloathed with this Robe of Righteousness, that Beautiful Garment of Salvation, hath infinite cause of Joy and Gladness; hence saith the Apostle, — as sorrowful, yet always rejoycing. Rejoyce in the Lord always, and again, I say, rejoyce. Phil. 4.4.
X. Those that have not the Spiritual Wedding-Garment in the day when our Bridegroom comes, shall not be entertained amongst Christ's Guests, but shall be put out of the Wedding-Chamber, and turned into Eternal Darkness. And when the King came in to see the Guests, he saw there a Man that had not on a Wedding-Garment: And he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having on a Wedding-Garment? And he was speechless. Then said the King to his Servants; Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into utter Darkness, there shall be weeping and wailing, and gnashing of Teeth. Mat. 22.11, 12, &c.
XI. That Soul that hath this Wedding-Garment on, that is cloathed and adorned with Christ's Righteousness, that is justified and accepted by Faith; the Lord Jesus takes great delight in, As a Young-Man who marrieth a Virgin, &c. And as a Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride, so shall thy God rejoyce over thee. Isa. 62.5.
METAPHOR.
I. A Garment can cover but one at once, it can't cloath several Persons.
II. Every material Garment will not serve to cover every part of the Body: that which is proper for the Head, will not cover the Loins, and that which fits the Body will not fit the Feet; every part of the Body hath a distinct cloathing which is only proper for it self.
III. There is not one particular Garment that serveth for all uses for the Body; some Robes are good for Covering, but are not for Beauty; other Garments serve for Ornament, but they do not serve for Defence; some Garments are good to wear in cold Winter-Weather, but not good for the Heat in the midst of Summer. Persons of Ability have several Garments for several uses, because there is no one Garment good on all occasions.
IV. No one Garment will fit all Bodies; that which sits decently on one Sex, would be uncomly on another; that which will fit a Child will not fit a Man, that which is proper for a Prince will not become nor suit a Subject.
V. Other Garments may be pierced, a Sword may be thrust through them, they may be spoiled, burnt or cut to pieces.
VI. All material Garments may be corrupted, Moths may eat them, they may be worn out by using and turn into Raggs, even the strongest Garments that ever were made.
VII. The best and richest Wedding-Garment that ever was made, the Price thereof may soon be accounted and easily reckon'd up.
VIII. Other Garments may be stained, catch Spots and Dirt, and many ways be defiled.
Disparity.
I. THis is a large Garment, the Robe of Christ's Righteousness can cover many, though they be at never so great a distance. Should I say, saith Bernard, Rev. 7.9.That Christ's Righteousness will not serve for him and me; Non est pallium breve quod duos operire non potest. All the Elect of God tho they live in several Nations, tho they be a Multitude which no Man can number; yet they are cloathed, and sufficiently, with this one Garment. I saw a Wonder in Heaven, a Woman cloathed with the Sun. Rev. 12.1.This Woman is the Church of God, this Sun is Jesus Christ,Mal. 4.2. the Sun of Righteousness (as he is called.) All Believers are covered, cloathed and adorned with one and the same Garment, and every one hath it as an entire Garment to himself.
II. This Spiritual Garment fits every part, Christ is a Diadem, or Crown upon the Head, and Shooes for the Feet. Luk. 15.22Christ's Righteousness is a compleat suit of Apparel from head to foot; the Soul that hath this Wedding-Garment on, is perfectly and compleatly cloathed.
III. This spiritual Garment is for all Uses, and all Seasons, 'tis both for Covering and Ornament; 'tis as proper and necessary in Winter as in Summer, and in Summer as in Winter; 'tis good for the Travellor, 'tis the Labourers Garment, 'tis the Souldiers Garment, 'tis good to fight in; it is the Princes Garment, yea, and the Subjects Garment, it is the Christians Garment, it is very light and pleasant to walk in, and yet thick to defend from Stormy Weather. Christ suits all occasions, states and conditions of the Soul or Souls that have an Interest in him. He is made of God unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption. 1 Cor. 1.30.
IV. This Spiritual Garment, the Righteousness of Christ is as fit for one as for another, it is as fit and as proper for the Peasant as for the Prince; the same Garment here that is for the Man, is for the Woman, for the Child as for the Father. There is neither Barbarian, Scythian, Col. 3.11.Jew nor Gentile, Male nor Female, Bond nor Free, but ye are all one in Christ. The Righteousness of Christ is a fit Garment for the Souls of Men, there is no Soul too big, no Soul too little, none too small, none too great for Christ's Righteousness to array and cover.
V. But this Garment no Dirt nor Spear can pierce or enter into, no Devil can tear nor rend it, nor can all the powers of Hell, Sin or Darkness burn or destroy it.
VI. But this Spiritual Garment is durable and lasting, the Moth cannot corrupt nor consume it, it never grows old, nor can it be worn out, 'tis as fresh and as beautiful at the last as at the first putting on.
VII. The worth and price of this Wedding-Garment can never be valued, 'tis worth Millions, yea thousands of Millions, the Riches of the whole World are nothing in comparison of it. What would a Christless Soul give, in the great Day for this Robe, viz. to be cloathed with Christ's Righteousness?
VIII. This Robe cannot be defiled, the Garment of Sanctification may take Spots; hence we read of some who had their Garments spotted with the Flesh; and of others, who had not defiled their Garments; but a Christians Wedding-Robe can sustain no Pollution; the Life of Christ was without Spot, his Righteousness pure and perfect, which Saints are cloathed with in respect of Justification: hence Christ calls his Love, his Dove, his undefiled One. Thou art all fair, my Love, and there is no Spot in thee. See Metaphor, Christ a Garment for Sanctification.
Inferences.
I. THis shews the miserable State of those that are without Christ, such have not on the Wedding-Garment, they want that excellent Robe that renders the Godly Person amiable in the Bridegroom's sight; and all that have it not on, shall be shut out of the Wedding-Chamber.
II. It shews also the happy and blessed Condition of all sincere and godly Ones. See Garment of Sanctification.