Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-04-20
THE TEN VIRGINS.
LESSON ", SECOND QUARTER, M
TeRNATlONAL SERIES, APRIL %.

rost sf tina Lesson, Mott. XIV, t-13,
GoItion Text, Mint. NV, I0--Mennrizo
Verses 10, II. Is, 13--Commeut by
Rev. III. s. Hoffman.
EFron Lesson Uelpv Quarterly, by permission OF
II S. HofiIoou, Philadolpni' publiaherI
Notes lamps, torches No oil, no grace
Oil with their lamps, grace should go with
profession. Tarricd, tho Lord will rot come
as soon to his church as expected Net
enough for you, no ono can supply grace for
anothers need Door shut, as much for the
tcomfort md security OF those within 10 for
the exclusion Of those without Watch
therefore, this is the scope and design OF tho
whole parable. The central thought Of this
lesson is that VIC must be always ready for
the Lords coming. Are wc'
V. 1. The number "tcun would seem to bc
the perfect number of secular liro, as ''sevcn"
IL of the spiritual lie 1t may have orig
mated in the arithmetic OF the ten fingers"
Ten formed n Jewish company, ten ate tho
Passover together, ten Jews in one place
formed n congregation to build synagogue,
there were ten commandments, etc. This
number would seem to refer TO church as it
appears to tho world. The number five would
seem to teach half consumY iation, tho fingers
Of only ono hand, the five senses without the
i've mental faculties, or vico versa.
Tho parable is based upon tho marriage
customs of tho east. The bridegroom went,
late in the evening, attended by his friends,
or "gToomsmen," to tho brides dwelling,
where she awaited him, attirCd in whto
robes, decked with jewels and attended by
her trademarks, The whole company tIcn
went in procession by torchight to the bride
groom's house, being joined Oh the way by
invited guests ttho virgins in the parable)
with torches. When the br.degrooms house
was reached the train OF rrio.lds and guests
entered and the doors wcro shut, debarring
any ones entrance that woCld come later
Lamps were absolutely needed by each one
In the dark streets of All A5atic city. In
modern Jerusalem the authorities require
every one to carry u lamp.
While tho virgins symbolic tho whole
Church of Christ, tho lamp would seem to
represent the outward profession OF Chris
tianity. The ''oil" stands for tho spiritual
life and grace in the soul Tho flame" OF
the lamp typiiics the outshning of holy life,
fed and nourisned by grace. or COURSE the
bridegroom" is nono other than Christ
coming to this world for his BRIDE the
church,
V. 2 The numbers make nothing to tho
oese, only the division is essential. Tho
church at ChIIst's coming, aS now, will con
sist OF the two classes, tho nom:,&l and real
Christians. The Wise aua foolish arc unds-
tinguishabe until the criMs comes
VS.. In the case Of the foolish virgins the
taking of the lamps is everything, but the
wise seem most concerned about taking oil n
their vessels. Some aro anxious about tho
profession and forms of religion. Better DO
concerned about having grace in the heart.
V. 8. Allusol is mado to q longer delay
of tho Lords COMM, than believers rCckOncd.
While the bridegroom tarried they all, both
wise and foolish virgins slept. Tho word
"slumberedn signifies drowSness, nodding,
while 'slept" describes the full unconscious
ness of sleep. Two stages Of spiritual dccien-
sion may possibly b indicated But thcro
appears no censure for thor sleeping; it was
not interpreted us lnWatchiulness, it was not
guilty sleep
v. G. AT ''rnidnight," when that which was
wrong could not b. maIo right, n herald or
part OF the rctruo won't before, amour
cling the approach OF the bridegroom. Tho
midnight for tho Church OF Chl''t is when
tho worldly spirit il SO lar il tho asrondancy
as to make i seem tI-C tho whole church has
! fallen into the common course Of the world,
and when the truth OF CHRIST is traducel ana
cast aside by the mass Of men. Such mid
nights of Christian history there have been
followed by a coming OF the bridegroom.
v. 7, Snatches Of tho joyous music we're
already falling on their cars. Excitement
was rising into enthusiasm. The virgins
"all arose" Tho trimInn; Of the lamps i'm
piled the infusion Of fresh oil and tho re-
moval of tho fungi which had gathered
around and was clogGng tho wick Self ex-
animation and renewal of grace seems to be
SET forth.
v. 8. The religion Of impulse, Of excite
ment, Of mere forms, Of only a profession
fails in tho hour OF rond. Unable to re
kindle their lamps III the crucial hour their
Joy and hope are also extinguished
Va. Character and grace arc not trans
ferable. There are times when prudence ha.
the appearance Of selEaDncss To have di
vided the oil would nave involved al il
darkness and defeated tho purpose Of tn,
procession No one can supply grace tol
anothe''s need,
V. 10 We cannos prepare for tho crisis a
the moment 1t took tho virgins longer a
this unreasonable hour tO buy oil than al ANY
other timo. There is special time when
duty may he easiest done.
Those who were prepared, who were ready
with burnur '"m,a '.A W,.i f'"rtS iightc,
up with jos u-r. 3. @.Nh tIo tlldg.o DOM int,
the bangu,tiue Mouse, Then the door wa
shut" Lighs and JOY inside, sorrow hnC
darkness without "G.Host saved, hut lost.
We shut the door ourselves by neglecting 4
be prepared to enter
V. II. The foolish virgin. returned a
rgau, too late for the blessing vhichuo tear
could give him, There is time comiu
whom it viii be too late for even prayer.
Example of european Poiitenc.s.
In Italy, ns well rs in Franco, we ofto
find pleasant disposition to offer soryic,
-, al mil far