Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-14

:
CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE TEN VIRGINS. Matt. XIV 1.-13.


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(OrigInall
THE TEN VIRGINS. Matt. XIV: 1.-1S.
In all the parallels, the Saviour had par
tieular doctrine which he designed to enforce.
Usually, this is stated in some part of the par
able in plain language, so that there is gen.
erally no chance to mistake the main design.
In the parable of the "Ten Virgins" the
design in view is stated in these words !:
"W atch, therefore, for ye know not, neither
the day nor the hour wherein the son Of man
cometh." By the expression, "son of man
cometh," we are to understand not the incar-
nation of the son of God, nor the offer of SAL
vation through his peacespeaking blood. In
other words, we are not to understand by the
coming of the son of man, the time when he
will come God manifest in the flesh, nor the
time when he will begin to offer salvation to
sinners.
A little attention to the general structure
of the parable will enable one to discover
that two classes of the human family are ad-
dressed. The one class is called wise, the
other foolish. By the coming of the son Of
man, we are to understand the continuation
of merciful dispensation. By the marriage
spoken of in the parable, we are to understand
that state of bessedness which we call heaven.
One idea which is brought out plainly in
the parable, is that period will arrive in the
history of each one of Adams race, when all
opportunity to prepare for heaven will cease
At death the offer Of pardon ceases Then
the son of man comes to reward according to
the deeds done in the body, whether good or
bad. No doubt, in some cases, Gods convict
ing, converting and sanctifying spirit ceases
to strive with individuals before the journey
of life is complete. There is no inseparable
connection between the offers Of pardon and
the duration of the present life. No doubt
God says now, of many, as he said of Ephraim
of old: HE is joined to his idols-let him
alone" Whenever God says this, the son Of
man comes to shut the door of his grace.
Five of the virgins spoken of in the para
BILE were wise and FIVE were foolish. By the
word "virgins," we are to understand profess
ors of religion. All the individuals spoken
of enjoyed privileges, and in some way, to all
human appearances, were preparing for the
arrival of the bridegroom. All were profess
sed Christians, but FIVE only were wise; the
other FIVE were foolish.
The difference in their conduct consisted in
one single thing. All went out to meet the
bridegroom, and all nodded and slept, all
took lamps, all took vessels to hold oil. So
far as human discernment could perceive,
there was really no difference. There was,
however, a great difference. The wise, Or
forethoughted virg gins took oil in their YES
sels to replenish their lamps, whilst the fool
ish virgins took no oil except what was in
their lamps.
The point brought clearly to view by this
apparently slight neglect, is that some pro-
fessed Christians have the root of the matter
in them, whilst others, having name to live
are in reality spiritually dead. Some pro-
fessed Christians have been converted while
others have only been convicted. They have
never been born again. Both classes nodded
and slept. In the one class it was the sleep
of inconsistency. In the other it was the sleep
which precedes death. To the former class
the Saviour says, "Watch. Wake up from
your inconsistent slumber and prepare to
meet the bridegroom, prepare for heaven, be
co.workers with Gods sanctifying spirit" To
the latter class he says, "Watch. Wake up.
The time will soon come when pardon and
forgiveness will cease to be offered through
the blood of the Lamb of God."
When the bridegroom approached, all the
virgins awoke. God, in his mercy, wakes up
all who believe in his Son, before they slum-
Der into world of woe, and usually, in some
way or other, the mere professor is aroused
from his slumbers; but often, when it is for.
ever too late. Multitudes will be aroused
from their spiritual slumbers only to find out
that "the summer is past, and the harvest is
ended, and they are not saved" When the
cry was raised that the bridegroom was COM
ing and all we're ordered out to meet him, the
foolish virgins, for the first time, found out
that they had no oil in their vessels. They
had never thought of this thing. Just 80 it
is with many professed Christians; they never
try to find out whether or not they have any
religion. All they think about is mere pro-
fession-a name to live, but in reality they
are dead. When the foolish virgins discov-
cred that their lamps we're gone out, or going
out, they Immediately began to beg the wise
virgins for a supply of oil with which to re-
plenish their torches. They did not receive
it. There are some things man can not ob-
tain of his fellow men, neither by begging
nor borrowing. We can borrow a mans
money, but we cannot borrow his faith, re-
pentance or any Christian grace. A friend
may make US heir to his property, but no
man can give us new heart
When the bridegroom came, the wise vir-
gins entered into the marriage and the door
was shut. The foolish virgins had gone of
in search of oil. When they came back, the
door was shut and they were positively re-
fused admittance. What door was shut I
The door of grace That door which stands
so wide open to-day that the vilest sinner
Il L IL