SERMON VII. "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom."-Mat. xxv. Ì. WHEN Our Lord delivered to his disciples the parable which commences in these words, he had been pointing out to them, in the spirit of prophecy, the destruction of Jerusalem; and also the destruction of this world: and the parable seems to relate more particularly to that momentous day, *"in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; and in which the earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up." But it is probable, my brethren, that we are in the habit of regarding the destruction of this world as an event to take place at some far distant * 2 Peter, iii. 10. period; and it is as likely that this awful event may be always regarded in the same way, even up to the very hour when it shall take place, for we are told that it will come suddenly and unexpectedly to those who shall be alive on the earth at that time. "For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark." It may be well, therefore, to consider the parable as pointing out to each of us, the day of our death: for when we are laid in our graves, the world will be as completely at an end to us, as if it was blotted out of existence. It is also probable, that we may consider this parable as addressed in a general way to the whole human race; and thus, by dividing it among the multitude, we may avoid any particular application of it to ourselves. But we ought to reflect that if it be addressed to the whole human race in a general way, it must be addressed particularly to every individual of mankind; it must be addressed to every one of us, * Matthew, xxiv. 37, 38. as directly and decidedly, as if there was no other human being in existence. May God the Holy Spirit enable each of us to make this particular application of the parable to ourselves; and may he send it home with power to the heart and conscience of every one of us. Our Saviour thus continues the history of the ten virgins. "And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open * Matthew, xxv. 2—12. to us. But he answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not." We may observe, my brethren, that the persons represented to us by the foolish virgins are not those who openly and directly deny our Saviour, and reject his authority:-they are not those who are described as sending "a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us"-they rather seem to set before us, the unprofitable servants who hide their talents in the earth; who call Jesus, Lord, Lord, but do not the will of his Father which is in heaven; he thus addresses the same description of persons in the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke. "Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us: and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are. Then shall ye begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell I know you you, * Luke, xix. 14. + Ibid. xiii. 24-27. not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." These characters sometimes bear such a strong resemblance, in their outward appearance, to the true followers of Jesus, that no mortal eye can distinguish between them; and we find this resemblance in the different characters represented by the ten virgins. Both the wise and the foolish took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept;" and when the midnight cry was heard, "behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him; they all arose and trimmed their lamps." Thus it is with those who are Christians only in name; and those who are Christians in reality and truth they both take their lamps; they both profess to take the doctrines of the Gospel as their guide; they both go forth to meet the bridegroom; they both profess to be waiting for the Lord Jesus until they are called to meet him; while he delays his coming, they all slumber and sleep. This part of the resemblance brings before us a most melancholy truth, that even the true servants of God are so far forgetful of him who bought them with his own blood, that they too frequently sleep upon their post, instead of |