The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-12
BUFFOONS OF THE PULPIT.

The Parable OF the Wise and Foolish
Virgins-Lecture by Mr. Jones, Of
London-A Shot Mt American Preachers.
Mr.. George Jones, OF the Metropolitan Taber-
nacle, London, iectured yesterday evening at the
Brooklyn Institute to rather slim audience.
Doubtless the unpleasant weather had something
to do with keeping many home who would other
wise have listened to his animated discourse.
You are doubtless aware, said he, that this is
portion Of the parable OF the wise and foolish vir-
gins. Heaven is likened unto ten virgins. 1t seems
to me that, in all the teachings OF God on earth
there seems to be one tmng-the great similarity
between those who are Christians and those who
are not. 1t often grieves me when, on taking up
the NEW YORK HERALD on Monday morning to see
among the sermons so much bunOOnery. call it
to think that men can SO distort the Word OF God,
and bring their eloquence to help them. and that
such called the pillars OF the United States
We cannot always tell che difference between
time come when we viii be put to the test. /
shall notice, first, the apparent similarity be-
tween them; second, the distinction. select this
parable OF the virgins because 1t Is palmer Ten
virgins-they were separated afterward, but they
started as ten; the second thing they went forth
with their lamps. take the lamps TO mean the
PROFESSION OF CHRISTIANS.
Third thing, they went forth to meet the BRIDE
groom. No separation there, / take It: they meant
TO meet Cod Next thing, they all slumbered and
slept, while the bridegroom tarried. We do the
same; we don't always read the word OF God as
u bCs
Then the last thing In which they were alike-when
he came there was an alarm. take the alarm TO
mean death; we are always alarmed at death; all
ten virgins were alarmed at that. So you find no
difference, SO far, In this parable. They all rose
and trimmed their lamps.
We md in all parallels the same apparent like
ness, similarity for time. but when the testing
time comes down they fail the testing time came
to the virgins and the five foolish ones said "Cive
US OF yodr oil, Tor our lamps are gone Out.n
We now come to the second part-the discrimina-
ton They had no oil. What was their oil take 1t
TO mean the
GRACE OF GOD
don't mean that grace which makes You child OF
God to-day and q child OF the devil tomorrow. Do
you what 1t Is to mourn for your sins. There Is
something vital in religion; there is test Ysu
foolish virgins were destitute OF that; they did not
mourn over their sins, they just picked up re-
ligton but 1t would not stand the test II you do
not know what 1t Is to mourn over your sins the
oil OF oy is not for you. Some say the Bible Is full
Of invitations. venture to say there is not an in.
vitation In the Bible / never found one. God
does not
INVITE SINNERS
An invitation means to come or not, as you like,
but we don't have the power to resist. would not
believe In such q God. The next things that
the promise Of God. He says Come unyo me We
that labor and are heavy burdened. and will
give you rest. ! never found an ii-never
found anything about conditional saliva.
where would we bes We should be lost.
third distinction If they had no vessels and no Oil
they were all In the dark. What does this light
mean 1t means Gsd. Listen to the counsel the
selves. Can we spare any OF Gods truths when
we come to die ? They wanted to separate the oil,
but the wise virgins said no, we want II ourselves
Gods truths must not be separated. Our test is,
it9 Can we say, 20 God, Thou who knowest al
things, Know that love Thee.u