The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-08
TIE BROADWAY TABERNACLE.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish
yirsins-Every Man Responsible Individu-
Hiiy TO God for Neglected Opportu nities-
Discourse by Rev. w. NJ. Taylor.
The Broadway Tabernacle was very largely
crowded yesterday by the usual congregation and
many strangers, attracted tnther BY the fame OF the
new pastor, Rev. W. NJ. Taylor, selected for the
subject OF his discourse the parable OF the wise
and foolish virgins described IN Matthew,
XIV. The pastor, after speaking OF what Is
sought 10 be conveyed IN parallels characterized
TINS one as perfect LII all It's parts. 1t Is such
PERFECT PICTURE OF A WEDDING FEAST,
that Jesus has here given that It Is unnecessary for
US seek further light to comprehend 1t. Its beau
ties stand out IN bold relief In every sense How
vlvldy he depicts the surprise Of the virgins when
the midnight cries, Behold the bridegroom
cometh,n and, Lord, Lord, open unto u.s." rang
out upon the air. We have here two characters OF
vrgins-hve wise and live foolish. They had the
same knowledge and regard for the bridegroom:
nut the foolish were unprepared with oil, while the
wise ones were watching with their lamps burning
brightly. In all outward things the wise and fool
ish Virgins were alike The difference between
them was internal The foolish virgins were hollow
hearted, while The wise were the true disciples
OF Jesus The reserved vessels OF OIL that the latter
had was sincerity. There genuineness about
The foolish virgins, as lar as they went for they
were waiting for the bridegroom TO do Him
nvnor, but they dId not go lar enough: :
THEIR LIGHT FLICKERED;
they were acting ron Impulse alone; religion had
MOI taken deep root III their hearts, ana when IL
was put 10 the proof II failed. Inc foolish virgins
are ike lie seed that was sown In stony ground,
ana when the sun came up IL wlthered away. You
have another example III the Scriptures, where a
man is depicted as building house upon the sand.
The foolish virgins acted Ike him, by impulse alone
wnIle the wise virgins waited Tor the Lord faitn
The scriptures Dotn Ia the Old aud New Testament
SHOWS that Wherever oil IS mentioned IT symbolzes
the Holy SPIRIT, and 1t was IN tins they were he
cient me Holy Spirit dwelling In the believer gives
him
STRENGTH ENOUGH FOR THE DAY.
ana the vessels In wnicn the wise virgins kept their
supply SHOWS that they maintained unbroken the
arnor Of the holy spirit. Instead OF building their
foundation upon the sand, they had planted II upon
the rock or Jesus Christ when the ram descended
II fell not ''At mionIgnl there was cry heard Be-
hold, the bridegroom comethp' Then 1t was discov-
cred that the wise virgins had their lamps trimmed.
The sudden surprise always has Its effect upon the
mind and shows the character OF the man. lie Is the
aDlest general VINO can save his command when
Hnaase w1 ean Sesy IL ~ p Ss
lon to save II and the precious freight when sud.
denly overtakcn by storm; and he the best
Christian who, when suddenly confronted with
death, can
LOOK INTO THE PORTALS or ETERNITY
knowing that he has made his peace with God by
having reserved supply oil the Holy spirit. You
recollect the anecdote OF the woman whose horse
ran away ana on being asked how she felt after ner
deyerance from death answered, Il trusted In
THE HARNESS BROKE. - =
and then did not know VIII at TO do.u This shows
that she dld not trust III Providence al ali bnt IN
. the harness all the time. The harness is one OF
those earthly OBJECTS In which too many trust To
save them at the last. We have been required I'm
some form TO prepare to meet the Bridegroom re.
pair now 10 the Lord Jesus Christ that you may
nave iath IN Him and be made partakers in His
faltn God sends us emergencies In lie that we may
be prepared Tor
THE LAST GREATEST EMERGENCY
when the trumpet shan sound. MY friends, there IA
yet time 10 repair to Him; and though your l,uDt
may be giving out, He viii ran IL. One man cannot
depend upon another Tor MS supply OF the holy
SPIRIT as the foolish virgins depended upon the
wise FOR oil Tor their lamps Character must be
formed ana manifested 10y each man Tor himself
The foolish salu, "Give us OF your oil for our amps
are gone OUT The wise answered, MOT 80 lest
there DC not enough Tor US aud you but u } We
rather 10 them that sell anu guy yourselves.u We
cannot ind III religion tnat character can be trans
ferred IN a moment from one TO another. Character
Is not transferable. Eacn one OF must meet mis-
CHRIST for himself, and That character which he mas
chosen to make ana mould In the past must be-
relied upon IN the crisis that Will make manifest his
spiritual strength or weakness. We nave TO meet
death separately, aud no man can depend upon the
fatn OF his wife or children VINO kneel about the
death cOucn 10 save him. Watch, ye, watcn for
Christ every dag; 20 forth 20 meet the Bridegroom
IN the trials and vIcissituaes OF every day Ile let
us prepare day by day FOR the coming OF the Bride
groom. The man who has faithfully watched Tor
HIS coming every day Ia me last great day VIII be
prepared 10 meet Him. Begin at once; begin
today TO lay the foundation Tor His coming. lt
has often been sad tnat tho 0uerlng OF