Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-05-19
A SERMON,
The Parable of the Ten Virgins by Rev. W
j. Lewis.


occasion / went to Yang Chan in order
to be present at the wedding of friend.
The bride and bridegroom left in the
morning by boat to go along the Grand
Canal to Chin Kiang to be married be-
fore the Consul according to law. They
were to return the same way in the eve
ming to Yang Chan where the religious
ceremony was to take place. On their
return journey they were delayed for
some hours by the wind being against
them. We all waited for them and grew
tired OF waiting, at last just about mid
night we heard the cries of Chinese in
the street, "The bridegroom has comep
Late az it was the Chapel soon filled and
the marriage proceeded.
Now great deal has been written on
this parable as to the meaning of the
lamps and all the minutiae of the story.
But after all, what is the plain and clear
object of the parable? l think it is this,
to show that the great difference between
the wise and foolish virgins lay on this
fact, that the "wise" ones made adequate
preparations, so as to be ready whenever
the bridegroom should appear, while the
'foolisR ones neglected that prepara-
tion-delayed, procrastinated till it was
too late. To all appearances, both wise
and foolish virgins were equally pre-
| pared, but when the time of testing came
1t was clear that it was only in appear
ance and not in reality.
We see this need of preparation in
every day life. 1 wonder if any of you
have ever heard a great and gifted lawyer
| plead cause before the Supreme Court?
You are astonished at the clear manner
in which he puts his facts before them
and deals with the mass of papers on
the desk. You are astonished too, at his
ingenuity in arguing the points of law.
How well versed he is in all the cases in
the books. How he distinguishes those
that seem to lean against his case, and
urges those that support his contention
on the attention of the judges. But you
will not forget that before he says
word in court he has been preparing
himself for his argument by days and
nights of study of his case.
And do you suppose for moment that
in making vital religion, there in any
different law to this ruling in that sphere
Oh thinesf Do you suppose that then
there is no need of effective and adequate
and real preparations, so as to be ready
when the call comes?
The event for which these virgins are
represented as unprepared is the coming
OF the bridegroom-that is the second
coming Of Christ. The first Christians
expected HIS return to take place soon,
butwe can see many indications in the
New Testament that it was not to be so
early as they anticipated, and yet still
long period may elapse before His COM
ing again. When it will be, we know
not 1t will come "as thief in the
night" and we are to be in waiting,
watching attitude, as if it might occur
at any time.
But there is sense in which the Lord
will certainly and soon come to each one
of us-and will He find us prepared?l
1t is fatal mistake to do as these fool
ish virgins did, leave the preparation
till the midnight hour, the last moments
of life. This parable warns us all that
If we are to be prepared for the day of
His coming we are not to delay until
then, but to take advantage of the pres
ent moment, "now is the accepted time,
now is the day of salvation"
No, l want to say this, that even on
the part of the wise virgins there was
something lacking. While the bride
groom tarried they "all slumbered and
slepp-wise as we'll as foolish. They
were living in the spirit but they were
not walking in the spirit. They were
not watching, but sleeping.
That is the very opposite of what they
should have been doing, as Paul says:
ave are not of the nightnor of darkness,
therefore let us not sleep as do others,
but let us watch and be SOBER" Chris
tians, you possess the grace of God-then
let your daily walk correspond to what
you are. Your lamp should be kept
durning. You must be watching, pre-
pared to meet the bridegroom. You
must not be conformed to the world.
But don't misunderstood me, you are
in the world and must move among
worldly men and women, but while you
are sin" the world you are not to be "of,
it. In purity Of speech, in uprightness
of conduct, in the chasteness of your
lives and in everything you do, you can
show the world without any obstrusive-
ness that you are indeed Christians. A
few years ago Christian lady was Wis
iting in worldly family. She shared
their pleasures and met their guests, but
never spoke of Jesus. Yet when one
OF the guests afterwards became anxious
about her soul, this lady was the very
one she wrote to for her advice. She
had felt there was something in her life
that she did not possess, and she was
sure that she would be able to give the
spiritual help she needed.
1 mention this, not to praise the silence
for the lady would not have been silent
il suitable opportunity had occurred
for speaking, but mention it to show
that consistent though silent life (if
that can be possible) does impress those
around you and does exert an influence
for Christ.
In closing, may mention an incident
that occurred in the last few weeks of
the life Of Mrs Robert Stewart, mis-
sionary in Kucheng in China. She had
been down to Foo Chow on visit to
Mrs. Taylor. She was just saying fare
well" to her friend as she sat in her sedan
chair ready to start back to Kucheng.
Mrs. Taylor mentioned some troubles
NlaN l.,.1. a =