National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-05
"THE DOOR IS SHUT"
Pastor Sunderland Talks About the wis,
md EooIIsh NIrgIna.

and Foolish Virgins.
The Rcv. Byron Sunderland preached yes.
terday morning at tho First Presbyterian
church upon the parable of the virgins. After
giving tho story of tho parable, no drew
several lessons thorcrrom. lie said that its
teaching was an appeal to the hope of men
and to their fear. 1t was also an appeal from
the brevity and uncertainty of time. After
quoting several eloquent sentences Of Robert
son upon that subject he said:
And SO like the swiftnoss of those few
hours TO midnight through which tho virgins
waited is all the fashion of this world pass
ing away. Not simply the customs and con-
ventionalitios, which vary in different ma
tions and periods, but all that IS external
upon earth--all that has form and shape and
scenery-all passing away. 1t Is a matter Of
revelation not only, but of observation also.
Decay and change rush n,all around u.s.
on tho hills and shores and land.
scapes, and our own forms also. Even in
the infant the process of dissolution
has visibly begun. There is force at
work in everything; tho outward
form is in perpetual lux; we stand amid tho
ruins of other days, and as they moldcr be-
fore our eyes wo think of generations which
have moldered before them; of nations
which have crossed tho thoater of life and
disappeared Those with whom we walked
in youth are gone, scattered We know not
where, and others fill their places. We are
developing every day new relationships. New
circumstances transpire which call upon us
to act promptly and bravcly, equal to the oc-
casion, for the past is gone, its door is
shut. What do we learn from this
Be not buried in the present. To-day be-
comes yesterday SO fast. Our very minds are
changing, not merely the objects that impress
them, and the impressions themselves are
changing There is no aflliction so sharp, no
joy SO bright no grief so Deep but time shall
modify TO eras or deepen. The koenest feel
ing OF this world is not eternal. If it re-
mains, IL takes an altered form. Our men,
cries, like broken monuments, at last give
up the deepest craven inscriptions. We
sleep and wake like the ten maidens. Some
anxious throbs, some short-lived hustle,
some. music on the air, some swift cutlery,
some passing procession, and then the door
is shut What q voice it all has Of warning
and appeal. We arc going soon-at whnt
moment we know MOTTO take our last stop
in time, and tho next out into the great
eternity. But which wnyp Like the wise,
soon moving amid the fiood-light of heaven,
or like the foolish. with lamps gone out,
cropping in darkness, seeking entrance at last
into the company of tho blessed, but seeking
it in vain, because the door is shut"
Another teaching which the preacher found
in the parable was that men were foolish who
made no preparation for the future, because,
as they say there are varying creeds and
different beliefs. He said 1--WE all know
the dominion and mastery of our aflnities.
II we are devoid of all affinity with the
heavenly society," heaven itself will be the
last place to give us peace and rest. A man
without God-liko spirit if set down in the
midst of any one of the celestial circles
would soon cry Let me out, let me out
this is no place for me-
Resides all this, confusion Of ideas on SO
vital and simple question is a poor excuse
FOR neglect Of preparation. Every human soul
has in itself the faculties for deciding upon
the essential conditions of o heavenly life
and this individual responsibility cannot be
cast of by the plea of confusion and unoer-
tainty. The consequences of neglect will
not be turned aside for the reason that there
were SO many ways that we know not which
to choose. We are bound ITO know for our.
selves, and if We drift upon the tide of human
opinion, Of human speculation, and come tc
no decision ourselves why then our lamps
will go out and when too late we apply for
admission we shall find thatthe door is Shut
The speaker touched lightly upon the
subject of election, and to the question why
five virgins wore made foolish no could only
answer, Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in Thy sight" Further on he said
I'VE do not pretend to explain the mystery o
1t. But the fact remains five were wise and
five were foolish virgins, and the door was
shut between them forever.
snow it, as manysay, all are to be saved at
last why does he tell us that the door was
shut and why was il not opened again when
the five tardy ones came late oed. but still
came pleading to.enter in2 Oh, that shut door
with tho five wise inside aud the five foolish
outside What does it mean? What can il
mean? And when it stands, too, right be.
side those wonderful invitations, "Whosoevcr
will, let him come" Come unto Me all yC
that labor and are heavy laden and l viii
give you rest God will have all men to be
sacred and come to the knowledge of the
truth" And yet tho door was shut, and
Christ tells us the kingdom of heaven is just
like that.
Now, when the door is shut, to DO left out
side-to be excluded from the feast-wherC
shall we go then, carrying with us an empty
aching heart, wild, ungovernnble passions
fierce, unsatistied desires, driven away from
the felictous presence of God, and all the
blessed and holy companions-the bright, the
pure, the lovely and lovabe-driven into
outer darkness, bearing in the soul the clio.
ments of misery keen, bitter, and unsoothed
forever What a fate for a living, breathing
throbbing human soul. On all the past the
door is shut already, and soon, too, 1t will
close on all the future. Which side of il
shall we be? Inside or outsider"