LECTURES.

LECTURE I.

THE TEN VIRGINS.-PART I.

But

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh."-Matt. xxv. 1-13.

THERE is not in the whole Bible a parable that applies more accurately to this congregation than this. Like the ten virgins, you may all be divided into two classes. Some of you are wise, I trust; and some, alas! are foolish. Like the virgins, you all profess a great deal; and yet some have the gift of the Holy Spirit, and some want it. And the day is fast hastening when you will be separated: the truly saved among you will enter in with Christ-the rest will be shut out for eternity. At present I can overtake only three facts.

I. God's children are wise; the rest are foolish.-Verse. 2. Those of you who are God's children are truly wise. First, Not worldly-wise. This is denied: "Ye see your calling,

brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." -1 Cor. i. 26, 27. And: "The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God."-1 Cor. iii. 19. "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."-Matt. xi. 25. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.”—Ps. viii. 2. Not many of deep, profound mind are saved-not many men of learning-not many of your sagacious, worldly men-men wise to drive a bargain. These are often passed by; and God takes some little child that knows nothing of the world, or some peasant from behind his plough, and brings them to glory. Why? Just that no man may boast and say: It was my wit that saved me. Second, Yet God's children are wise-the only wise in this world.

1. They see things as they truly are. You that are mere professors do not see things as they truly are. (1.) Time. You do not see time as it truly is the threshold of eternity; you do not see how short it is that three score and ten years are but a span; you do not see how rapidly it passes-like the swift ships-like the eagle to the prey;. you do not see that it cannot be recalled, and that every moment is precious-that it is the time for conversion-the only time; else you could not waste it in mere pretences to godliness. They that are Christ's see time as it really is. (2.) Yourselves. You do not see yourselves as you truly are. You have never seen what it is to be by nature children of wrath; you have never seen the awful mountains of sin that are piled over your soul; you have never seen the lusts that bind your soul-the deep volcano of burning lust that is in your own bosom. They that are Christ's see this somewhat as it truly is. (3.) The favour of God. You have never seen how precious it is. You know the value of the favour of man, and therefore you wear a cloak of profession; but you know not the value of God's favour, or you would fly to Christ. They that are Christ's know this as it is.

2. God's children do not rest in knowledge. Hypocrites always rest in their knowledge. You never can tell them anything new. They say: I know that. Tell them of sin, of Christ, of judgment to come-they think they shall be saved because they have knowledge; although this know

ledge has never led them to rest on Christ-to pray-to leave their sins. You that are Christ's have turned from idols-you are the only wise.

3. A child of God lives for eternity. A hypocrite lives for time. This was all Judas lived for-if he could pass off for a while as a true disciple-if he could keep up appearances for a time-if he could indulge his lusts, and yet be esteemed a believer, and a true apostle. He tried to keep up appearances to the last. So Demas wanted to deceive Paul for this life-to be thought a brother. Alas, how many of you are thus foolish!-living so as to keep up an appearance of being a Christian for a little time, though you know that you are living in positive sin, and that you will be discovered before the world in a short time. You only are truly wise who live for eternity-as you shall wish you had done when you come to die. Live in a manner you will wish you had done millions of ages after this. 4. A child of God is like God. God is the only wise. In him are all the fountains of divine wisdom. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. To become like him, is to become truly wise. Those of you who have fled to Christ, are becoming like God. You have got his Spirit, and you are being changed into his image. You have one will with God. You fall in with God's purposes in this world. His joy is your joy. You that are mere professors have none of God's likeness. You do not seek it, nor desire it.

II. The wise and foolish alike in many things.-Verses 3, 4.

The virgins were alike in many things. To the eye of man they appeared the same. All were virgins, dressed probably in white-all their faces probably fair and comely. Each of the ten carried a silver lamp, bright and polished -and every lamp was lighted. Nay, all of them seemed to have one object in view. They went forth to meet the bridegroom. In one thing alone they differed. The foolish took no oil in their lamps; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. So it is with professors and God's children to this day.

In many things man can see no difference. 1. You enjoy the same ordinances.

the same pastor-in the same seats.

(1.) You sit under You come up together

to the house of God in company. (2.) You sing the same

psalms. Your voices blend together, and no ear but that of God can distinguish the voice of the hypocrite from that of the wise virgin. (3.) You stand up at the same prayer— all equally reverent in appearance. (4.) You listen to the same sermons. Sometimes you will be affected together. The feeling of sympathy runs through the midst of you, and none can tell where it is like early dew, or where it is the dew of the Spirit-the sympathy of nature or the sympathy of grace. (5.) You sit down at the same Lord's table, and pass the bread from hand to hand-you pass the cup from one to another. Ah! how affecting it is to think that so many in this congregation are but foolish virgins-that you will be parted in eternity.

2. The same speech. God's children speak the language of Canaan; but professors learn to imitate it, and at last no one can discover the difference. They speak of convictions of sin, awakening, getting light, seeking Christ, finding Christ, closing with Christ, finding peace-when all the time their hearts are far from God, and they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Ah! how sad it is to think that many a tongue that has spoken much about Christ, and regeneration, and the Holy Spirit, shall yet want a drop of water to cool it in the burning lake.

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3. Same prayers. One of the great marks of a child of God is prayer. He loves to pray: Behold, he prayeth.” But even this is imitated by professors, who have a name to live, and are dead. Often they will pray in secret with great meltings and affections; often they will pray in public with great fervour and pathos; and yet all the time they are living in sin, and know it. Alas! how sad that many of you whose voices have often been heard in prayer may yet be heard crying, "Lord, Lord, open to us"-crying on rocks and mountains to cover you from the wrath of God and of the Lamb!

4. Same outward behaviour. The truest mark of a child of God is their avoiding sin. They flee from their old companions and old ways-they walk with God; and yet even this is imitated by the foolish virgins. They go out to meet their Lord. They flee old sins for a time-they hasten from their work to the house of God-they seek the company of God's children-perhaps they try to save others, and become very zealous in this. O how sad, that many who now cling to the godly will soon be torn from them, and bound up with devils and wicked men!