trusted with the concerns of his master, whose affairs required his absence from home for an uncertain, but probably for a long time. This servant, considering it his duty to pay the same regard to the interest of his master, whether present or absent, cheerfully fulfils the obligation which lies upon him, as ruler over the household of his absent lord, by faithfully performing every tittle of his duty, and taking care to supply those who were left under his charge, with meat and every kind of food in due season. Till at length the master returning, and finding this wise servant employing himself in the faithful discharge of his duty, and the affairs of his household conducted with the greatest order and regularity, confers upon him a reward, far exceeding not only his expectation, but his real desert.

This relation is contrasted by the conduct of an evil servant, entrusted with a similar charge, who presuming upon his lord's long absence, and that he would still continue to delay his return, suffers the affairs of his master to fall into a most confused irregularity, gives himself up to a habit of intemperance and sensuality, and offers every kind of outrage to his fellow-servunts; till at last his lord returned in a day when he was not expect

ed, and in an hour that this evil servant was not aware of; and came upon him so suddenly in the midst of his excesses, that he had no time to restore the affairs of his master to any order, nor to frame any excuses for the deranged state in which they were found. His lord therefore immediately consigns him to a punishment so severe as even to be cut asunder, and to receive a portion among hypocrites, the vilest and worst of sinners in the sight of God, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The next parable by which our LORD enforces the duty of watchfulness, against the great and awful day of future judgment, is that of the ten virgins, who are represented as acting under different qualities of the mind, five of them being said to be wise, and five foolish.

In Jewish marriages it was usual to conduct the bride home by night; and this office which was allotted to virgins, they considered not only as their duty, but their happiness. They were to go out to meet the bridegroom; and if he was not ready, they were to wait for him. Ten virgins are here represented as employed in this office: they took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were so provident,

as not only to light their lamps, but to provide against their being burnt out, if the bridegroom should detain them longer than usual, by taking a fresh supply of oil in their vessels with them.

The other five, thoughtless and inconsiderate, looking no farther than the present moment, lighted their lamps also, but made no provision for their continuing to burn after a certain time; they took their lamps, but took no extraordinary supply of oil with them. It happened that the bridegroom tarried longer, than they expected; and the delay was so great, that they all, while they were waiting for him, not only slumbered, but also fell fast asleep. At midnight they were awaked by a sudden and hasty cry, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Five of these virgins who had been so provident, as to have every thing ready, instantly arose, trimmed their lamps, and went forth. Then it was, and not till then, that the other five felt their neglect, and what must be the consequence to them, if not prepared to meet the bridegroom with lamps properly lighted. Their lamps were gone out, and they had not wherewithal to recruit them. What could they do in such emergency, but apply to their wise companions, if they, perchance,

might have a superabundant quantity? This they did; but these, fearful lest they should not have sufficient for their own purpose, could not comply with their request, but recommended to them to be as expeditious, as possible, in going to those who sold, and buying for themselves.

This was their last and only resource; but alas! while they were gone to buy, before they returned, the bridegroom came they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. In vain did the other five, when they returned, desire to be admitted. Their importunate request of Lord, Lord, open to us, was answered by an irrevocable denial, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not..

Such, my Brethren, must be the case of all those who suffer themselves to be surprised in their sins by death, which will fix on them an irreversible doom; although they know, that it is as certainly appointed for all men once to die*, as they know that they are now alive. Only one inference, and that a most awful one, can be drawn hence, which is given you by our LORD himself at the conclu

* Heb. ix. 27.

sion of this parable; Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour, wherein the Son of man cometh.

This parable is followed by another of the same tendency; entertaining, if read only as a story; and beautiful in its description; but, as coming from the mouth of JESUS, whose design was, not so much to entertain, as to instruct, it demands, on that account more particularly, our most serious attention.

A certain man had occasion to travel into a far country, and that his affairs might sustain no injury, nor his property be diminished, he distributed a certain portion to three different servants to be managed during his absence; expecting at his return to find an increase, instead of a diminution, of his substance. To these servants he gave each a different number of talents according to their capacities, or opportunities which he thought they might have for the management of them. To one therefore he gave five talents, to another two, and to another only one. For as he expected that they should all be industrious in his absence, it was necessary that they should have a capital to trade upon.

Two of them were diligent and faithful to their trust; and no sooner was their