This is the broad and prominent lesson of righteousness to be learnt from the Parable in question; and to this end all the minuter incidents recorded in it are subordinate. I know that to many commentators, each one of those minuter incidents has appeared pregnant with mysterious and important meaning, and that they have essayed to give unto each one of them its precise and proper interpretation. But, however ingenious these interpretations frequently are, and however correct they sometimes appear to be (and correct they certainly cannot all be, since in many instances the utmost diversity and contradiction are found to exist between them), I am persuaded that the rules of sound Scriptural interpretation neither authorize nor require such elaborate and subtle adaptation of every circumstantial resemblance in the Parable to its exact parallel in our own day. For although the general proposition be undeniably just, that' the more exactly the mystical exposition can be made to accord with the literal, the more perfect the Parable will appear to be ;' and although the observation be no less just, that in these Parables, which our Lord himself interpreted to his disciples, few, if any, of the circumstantial points are unapplied','

1 See Bishop Van Mildert's Bampton Lectures, S. vii. p. 197. It will be found in the context of the Sermon, from which the above extract is made, that its excellent author has adduced the very Parable which forms the subject of the present discourse, as an illustration of the principle he lays down the main design of which (he says) is to show the necessity of vigi

yet great care and judgment are requisite, lest in our endeavour to trace out the likeness of the minutest figures of the picture, we forget the character of those that are more prominent, whose aspect is not to be mistaken, and whose relation to ourselves is as permanent as it is true.

The grand characteristic lesson, therefore, to be learnt from the present Parable,-a lesson explicitly stated in the precept which the text contains, whose needfulness is enforced and heightened by all the subordinate images employed, and which we consequently should not seek to encumber and perplex by any over-curious refinements of our own device, is that of watchfulness-the watchfulness of the disciples of Christ, waiting for the coming of Christ. For what is the coming of the Bridegroom represented in the present passage, but an emblem of His coming, who is the Spouse of the Church, the Redeemer and Judge of mankind? And what is the character of the Virgins, who are described as going forth to meet the Bridegroom; what their hope, their office, or their means of discharging it, but emblems, no less appropriate and true, of the privileges, the duties, the responsibilities of the people of God,- of those who are the children, the companions, the ornaments of the Church;

lance and circumspection in preparing for our entrance into eternal life,' whilst 'the mystical signification of the lamps, and the oil, and other adventitious circumstances, as it is less evident so is it comparatively unimportant; these being rather incidental to the narrative than essential to its purpose.'

whose office is to attend on Christ, to glorify the name of Christ, to long for the appearing of Christ, to preserve and hold up on high, in all its purity, the light of that blessed hope which Christ hath given, and so to "rejoice in the day of Christ, that they have not run in vain neither laboured in vain 1?"

And many there are among those who profess to be made partakers of this hope, and to long for this appearing, whose careless or hypocritical profession will be as fatal to their peace, as was the conduct of" the foolish virgins, who took no oil in their vessels with their lamps." I speak not of the open unbeliever or hardened mocker, for the case of such an one can hardly be brought within the scope of the present parable. I speak of those who say that they believe in a world to come, in Christ who died to save them, in Christ who shall come to judge them, who have the lamp of Christian profession in their hands, who lift it high, and make their boast of it, but yet have no oil in their vessels, i. e. no store of holy affections, no lively faith, no purifying hope, no patient charity, no fixed and settled resolution which God's grace is able, and ever ready to give unto them that ask it faithfully, and by the strength of which alone they can be upheld, amid the services and trials of this frail estate.

Wise indeed are they who, in the midst of such dangers and temptations, "covet earnestly the best gifts 2" who seek aid and strength from Him “that

1 Phil. ii. 16.

2 21 Cor. xii. 31.

giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not '," and who (in the figurative language of the parable before us) take" oil in their vessels with their lamps." Their hearts are the vessels thus furnished: the source from which that holy sustenance is derived, is no other than the inexhaustible Fountain of light and love, of whose fulness all true believers have received; and the public and private means of grace, are the channels through which that heavenly grace is ordained to pass, and feed with its constant nourishment the lamp of their Christian life.

But we are told, that "while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept"; that even those who were wise and provident, and had oil in their vessels with their lamps, were borne down by weakness, and thought that He, whom they looked for, had delayed His coming. It was even so.

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They all slumbered and slept." See here how truly this Parable is descriptive of the Christian world descriptive even of those who know and feel in whom they have believed, who confess themselves to be strangers and pilgrims upon earth, and whose hope is lifted up towards that better and enduring inheritance, from whence also they look for their Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even among them may slumberers be found; for their willing spirit is encumbered by the weakness of its earthly tabernacle. Yes, my brethren, “in many things we offend all "." Notwithstanding the

1 James i. 5.

2

2 James iii. 2.

purity and eternal blessing of the hope that is set before us, the glories of the world dazzle, and the shadows of the world darken our mental vision. The objects which surround us here are seen; those to which we aspire are not seen. At every step some danger is to be encountered, some snare to be avoided, some obstacle to be surmounted; and hence being made to feel the weariness of the way,-the wisest and the best of us are tempted to slumber and to sleep. Our lamps may still burn, and the vessels may still be near to feed and nourish them; but the hands which sustained them wax feeble, and fold themselves to slumber. Yea, the very tranquillity that sometimes is our portion, tempts us to sleep on and take our rest. It may be the season of repose; the passions of angry men may be at rest; and the voice of turbulence or slander may be hushed; but in the calmest and stillest hour of man's existence there is danger, and even at midnight may the cry be heard," Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him."

They best can feel the startling terror of such a summons, upon whom some sudden and heavy blow has fallen; and who, in the full intensity of their anguish, have entreated the Lord to put away the cup of trembling from their lips, and in his wrath to remember mercy. But sure I am that no imagination can picture to itself, and no tongue express the utter desolation of the soul which shall be unprepared to meet that sum