with wine which maketh glad the heart of man, and with bread which will nourish the soul to everlasting life. Shall we, too, make light of the invitation?
Do not plead the purchase of a piece of ground; but hasten to avail yourselves of the gracious invitation, lest the time be past, and the door shut.
December Tenth.
THE THREE EXCUSES—II. THE FIVE YOKE OF OXEN.
"I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused."—Luke xiv. 19.
THIS man has also made a purchase, and he expresses a desire to go and prove his purchase, and therefore prays to be excused. That which he has purchased exactly describes the quality of his life, and, as in the former instance, shewed he preferred his own selfish gratification to the most refined of spiritual enjoyments.
By an ox, is signified the affection of good in the exterior or natural man; but, as he preferred the enjoyment of his natural affections and desires to the Divine enjoyments which a spiritual intercourse with the Lord would have conferred upon him, he also excused himself: "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused."
The number five in this case, coupled as it is with the oxen, denotes all the affections and desires of the natural man; and to live in the indulgence and gratification of them, is to prove them. This man is the
