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Herein the parable follows the course of religion even to our own times by refuting the arch-heresy of the latter days — the Protestant theory of salvation. " The good alone," say they, " belong to the Church, and faith alone shall save them." But the parable teaches that faith may be possessed by and procure admission alike for bad and good, but that if one lack charity he is, though admitted, practically an outcast. Think of it, Brethren, there are numbers of Christians in the world, in this parish, here to-day, led to Church every Sunday by a sense of duty, the outgrowth of their faith, who imagine they are thus fulfilling the whole law, but who, because they have not charity, because they are habitually in the state of mortal sin, are little better than reprobates, and, but for God's mercy, would have been long since irrevocably cast into exterior darkness. But God's mercy surpasseth all understanding. So, as one accepts the invitation at all, however unworthy he may be, there is still hope that God will do the rest, for He temporizes and would fain be friends with the very worst. Especially is this so under the law of mercy — the Christian dispensation. Of all the guests only one was expelled. On the judgment day, it may be that from the many called few will be chosen. But that thought should not be a discouragement to Christians. Of those invited secondhand one only was found unworthy. Up to the time of Christ, practically all had refused the invitation and were lost; so that were even all Christians, or, as I confidently believe, the vast majority of Christians