The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-30
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY 3.

Subject: Parable of the Ten virgins"
Matt. XIV, lis - Golden Text: Matt.
XIV. 3-Memory Verses. 1o-13-Com'
mentary on the Days Lesson.
l. "Then." At the season referred to
in the preceding chapter where there are
reasons for believing the coming OF the
Savious is near; but still it is impossible
to fix the exact time. "The kingdom OF
heaven" The gospel kingdom, or the
state of things in the visible. church, par
ticularly the character, conduct and con-
dition of the, subjects of that klngdom'
"Ten virgins" Ten as symbol repre-
sents completeness, and the virgins repre-
sent the purity of the Christian church..
TOOK their lamps" Each had lamp
(which signifies individuality, preparation,
independence of others" The lamp slg-
nifies the outward profession of religion.
event forth" The procession accompany.
ing the bride from the house of her faith.
er to that of the bridegroom was gener-
ally one of more or less pomp. The
bridegroom" The bridegroom means the
Lord Jesus Christ, and all who are making
preparation for His coming, whether to
call men by death or to summon them by
His second appearing may be said to be
going forth to meet Him.
2. "Were wise" These left nothing to
be attended to at the last moment; they
were prudent and fully prepared. "Fooi.
ish." Careless, negligent. The visible
church of Christ consists of true and false,
members spiritually dead and others spir.
itually alive,
8. "Took their lamps" We must care.
fully note the contrast: In the case of the
foolish the taking of their lamps is every.
thing, but in the case of the wise it is the
taking of oil in their vessels. "Took no
oil with them" The oil represents the
grace, or love of God in the heart. These
virgins represent class of so-called Chris
tans who make profession of religion, but
who lack the faith which worketh by love.
T. "Took OIL" They carried vessel
with oil to pour into the lamp when neces.
but the oil-the Spirit, the spiritual life,
and yet they must have a lamp to hold
the oil. Let US be careful not to despise
the forms of religion. True Christians
unite both external and internal Chris
tianity.
S. "Tarried." The figure is generally
modified by the circumstances that the
bridegroom comes from afar, as in Judges
IA; this would explain the long tarrying Of
the bridegroom. The Bridegroom far
away is Christ, who is come for the mar.
riage feast from "the far country"-the
home above "Slumbered and slept" The
time passed by the virgins in sleep repre-
sents merely the waiting time, during
which time the true Christian is fully pre-
pared for the coming of the heavenly
Bridegroom at any hour.
8. "At midnight" The Jewish we'd
dings were generally celebrated in the
night, yet they usually began at the rising
of the evening star, but in this case there
was more than ordinary delay. This was
tain the oil they needed. "The Bride.
groom cometh." Though Christ tarry
long, He will come at last" though He
seems slow, He is sure. The year of the
redeemed is fixed, and it will come. Death
and the judgment will come when least
expected. Go We out to meet Him."
Here is a summons. What does this
mean? 1t means, go forth to receive. the
recompense of your doings. What fear.
full thing to be thus summoned to appear
before the Judge of all the earth!
7. "All-arose." There is something
terrible in the security of the foolish,
maintained up to the last; they, too, arise
and trim their lamps, even though there
is nothing but foul wick; they are not
yet aware that their fate is already sealed.
Trimmed" Adorned
8. "Give u.s." They now began to re-
alize their serious lack. Those who take
up with something short of true grace will
certainly find the want Of it, sooner or
later. Lamps are going out: (R. W.
This shows that their lamps had been
lighted. Many who once have had hearts
cS.k
worldly spirit to take possession Of them,
from God; their Clamps" have gone out.
was impossible to render any assistance.
There was a time when they might have
helped each other, but that time is now
past. go ye.' They could tell them
what to do, but it was now too late. ITO
them that SELL" To God" "For your
selves" They must have oil of their own.
Nothing short of personal holiness is suffi.
cent.
10. "While they went to buy" What
a dismal thing it is not to discover the
emptiness of ones heart of all that is good
until it is too late to be saved. God only
knows how many are thus deceived. "They
that were ready" Those who were pre-.
pared; who not only had profession Of
godliness, but who possessed true holiness.
ITO the marriage feast (R. W. To be
eternally gorifed; to be in His immediate
presence. "The door was shut" There
comes a period after which change is i'm.
possible. l. In some cases that period is
death. q In other cases the day Of hope
less hardness comes before the termination
of the natural life 3. At the time of the
second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to this period especially doth the par
able refer. AS the Lord finds us so we re-
main forever.
IL. "Open to u.s." Earnest prayer,
when used in time, may do much good,
but it appears from this parable that there
may come time when prayer even to
Jesus may be too late!
II. Il know you not" There is an es-
arrangement of heart that separates them
from the Saviour. Heart preparation
alone could fit them for the enjoyment of
the presence of the Lord, and this they
lacked.
10. watch" 1t is our duty. to watch
with the utmost diligence. We are to
watch against temptations, failure in duty,
loss OF love- Watch for the coming of the
Lord and for an opportunity to lead men
to Christ. The time is uncertain, we must
always be ready. wherein the Son of
Man cometh." These words are omitted
in Il. ", and are undoubtedly no part of
the text.
Recruiting the Navy From Farms.
A plan of recruiting sailors for the Uni.
sed States Navy from the farms and the
country towns is now under consideration
at the Navy Department. Already the re.
cruiting is carried on outside of the large
cities, but it has not reached the interior
..at;on, ra,,oto from largo cpntrea Rem