November 24 — On the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Matt. xxv

Consider, first, that these ten virgins, in this parable, represents to us the state of Christians, in this mortal pilgrimage We are all, hf our vocation or calling to the Christian faith, appointed to go forth, with our lamps, to meet the bridegroom; beause the oux>iness of a Christian, in this life, is to make the be of his wa/, by the help of the light of faith, towards his God and a happy eternity; and to be always in a readiness for the coming of Christ, the great Bridegroom of our souls. The lamps, with which we are to go forth to meet Christ, are the light of faith of all the divine truths of the Christian religion; the oil, with which these lamps are to be kept burning, are the works of faith, that is, the good works prescribed by the Gospel, and particularly the works of mercy, and charity, and the love of God above all things. Where this oil is wanting, the lamps are extinguished, because yotA without good works is dead. And thrice unhappy they, who, at the approaches of that uncertain hour of their departure hence, when they shall be suddenly called upon, as in the middle of the night, to go forth to meet the Bridegroom, shall find no oil in their lamps! Alas! where shall they then go to buy it? In all appearance, before they shall he in a condition to procure any, the Bridegroom will come, and take along with him those whom he finds ready, to his wedding feast, and shut the door against the rest, never, never to be opened, to all eternity.

Consider, secondly, that all Christians belong to one or other of these two companies, represented in this parable under the de nomination wise mA foolish virgins. The good are truly mse, because they are wise according to God; and they are wise in order to eternity, inasmuch as they wisely provide for eternity. But O, how truly foolish are the wicked and all the children of Babylon, who continually forget both God and eternity! For what greater folly, or what greater madness can there be, than to believe as Christians, and to live as infidels; to expect to go to heaven by the road that leads to hell; to be daily preferring darkness before light, slavery before liberty, misery before happiness, Satan before God, by preferring the state of sin before the state of grace I In a word, what can be more foolish than blindly to exchange all that is really good, both in time and eternity, for the very worst of evils, and such as shall never have an end! And yet, alas 1 as we daily see, the number of such fools as these is infinite. But the folly that is here particularly censured in this parable, is that of Christians that make no provision of the oil of good works for the nourishment of their lamps; but go out to meet their lord with expectation of being admitted by him to his eternal feast, with Christian faith, without Christian charity; with believing in God, without loving God, and keeping of his commsndments. Ah, my soul, take good care thou never be so olish. Coimder, diirdly, that the great lesson designed for us in thiv is expred in those words, with which our Lord con eictdes, Waith fe therefore because you knou) not the day ftor tht kmir. The bridegroom in the piarable caihe in the middUe of ike night; that is, at a time when lie Was least expected; according to what' he has often signified, that he shall come Uke €€ tkif in the nighty and that we shall not know the hour of his coming. Not that he desires to surprise us; for if he did, he would not so often warn us; but that he desires we should atiemys watchy and be always ready, that so we may never be surprisedi Wha. I say to you, said he to his disOiples, I say to aXt: wcEteh, Andagain: Blessed are those seri)antSy whom the £aord tohen he cometh shall find watching: Ami I say to pmty. that he will gird himself y and make tlem sit down to meat, and passing he wiU minister unto themy Luke xii. 37. O, who can express of conceive the greatness of these heavenly rewards, of these highest honours, of these never-ending joys, signified here by our Lord’s ministering, in this manner, himself to the servants, whom he shah find watching I But O, the dismal case, on the other hand, of all them that, instead of Watching, and being always ready, are quite asleep as to all that relates to God and their souls; and are not awakened, either with the love or fear of God, until death opens their eyes, when it is too late; and then, lik-e the foolish virgins, they find the door shut against them, and are sent away,< I know you noty into the 'exterior darkness.

Conclude to beUr dwg in mind this indispensable duty of Watching, so frequently inculcated by the Son of God, that so thou mayst never be surprised, and sleep in death. Carry always with thee the lamp of faith to enlighten thee, but never forgot that this light must be kept in with the oil of good works.