Similar, it is like, was the state of mind in the virgins-they intended to slumber for but a few minutes. Resembling the five foolish in such respect, may you not resemble them in other respects? May you not, like the virgins, be taken by surprise? May not the bridegroom we profess to await, this day be revealed from Heaven; like lightning shine forth from the East even unto the West; descend, with the voice of the Archangel, with the trump of God? Remember, the unprepared virgins resorted in vain to expedients. While at the approach of the groom, the five wise had only to resort to their vessels, the foolish-confounded-stung with shame and disappointment

-not knowing what to do, which way to look -turned at last to their companions, piteously imploring, begging abjectly "Give us of your oil." What could the more provident do? Were they to change places with their pitiable associates; to give their own store (no more than a sufficiency) to others? It was not to be thought of. Yet alas! before the improvident could replenish their lamps and reach the door

of the joyous mansion, the opportunity was gone-the door was shut-the reply to their piteous petition "Lord, lord, open to us," was -cold and forbidding-"I never knew you!".

When the Heavenly Bridegroom shall come, the unprepared among mankind-hurried and helpless-filled with shame and despair-will cry to the rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. This is not all. Did the five foolish know the five wise, formerly their companions, to be making merry within the mansion from which they were excluded? The unprepared of men-the impenitent-will behold Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, entering into the Kingdom of God, and be themselves shut out. Yes, hearers, your own flesh and blood: the child you lost ere it had become a transgressor: the pious wife whose head reposed upon your bosom: the mother that nursed you: the father you remember with such loving reverence: before your very eyes may pass to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ, within your sight, may take them to his presencechamber. You, shut out, in outer darkness,

sinking to Tophet, plead, but plead in vain. You curse your folly-you abjectly implore. The judge replies "I never knew you." From day to day, from age to age, unendingly, you are an exile from Paradise-lost-a cast-away!

97

LECTURE V.

MATTHEW Xxv. 14―30.

"The Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents, went, and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one, went, and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents, came, and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained besides them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been