The Wedding Garment
"Friend,
how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was
speechless" [MATTHEW
22:12]. He had a
garment, but not a wedding garment - one of his own providing; like
those who have a righteousness of their own, of whom the Lord
elsewhere speaks: "Woe to the rebellious children, saith
the LORD,
that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but
not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin" [ISAIAH
30:1].
Precious
Lord Jesus, clothe me with the wedding garment of Thy righteousness;
and feed me with the rich food of Thy body and blood; yea, Lord, be
Thou my covering, my joy, my all; that when at Thy church, at Thy
table, at Thine house of prayer below and at Thine kingdom of glory
above, the King cometh in to see His guests, my soul may cry out, in
Thine own blessed words and with a joy unspeakable and full of glory:
"I
will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, He hath covered me with a robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as
a bride adorneth herself with her jewels" [ISAIAH
61:10].
–Gospel report by preacher Robert Hawker (1753–1827 A.D.)
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