The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-10
TEE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTs FOR OCTOBER ii.
Subject: The Ten Virgins, Matt. XIV,
1.13-Golden Text, Matt. xxV.,
1S-Topic: Guarding Against
False Profession.

I. The waiting virgins Tvs. 1-5).
/. Then" At the coming OF the
Lord Matt. 24:42-44. The king
dom of heaven" The gospel king
dom, or the state of things in the
visible church, particularly the char-
acter, conduct and condition Of the
subjects of that kingdom. BE lk-
ened." The parable Of the ten Vir-
gins is based upon the marriage Gus
toms of the East, to which many al
lusions occur in Scripture. Ten
virgins" Ten as symbol repre-
sents completeness, and the virgins
represent the purity of the Christian
church. The ten virgins signify not
merely a part of the church, but the
whole of it. Took their lamps.
Each had a lamp, which signifies
individuality, preparation, independ'
ence of Others" The lamp signifies
the outward profession Of religion.
THE bridegroom The bridegroom
means the Lord Jesus Christ; and
all who are making preparation Tor
His coming may be said to be going
forth to meet Him.
2. Were wise" These left moth
ing to be attended to at the last mo.
ment; they were prudent and fully
prepared. Foolish" Careless, neg.
ligent. The visible church of Christ
on earth consists of both true and
false, members spiritually dead and
others spiritually alive. 3. Took
their lamps" We must carefully
Tn,
foolish the taking of their lamps Is
everything, but in the case of the
wise it is the taking of oil in their
vessels. The foolish are thus repre-
sented as being vain and thought
less, looking only at appearances,
and only in haste going forth through
excited feelings. Took no oil with
them" The oil represents the grace
or love of God in the heart. These
virgins represent class Of so-called
Christians who make profession of
religion, but who lack the faith
which worketh by love.
4. Took OIL" They carried
vessel with oil to pour into the lamp
when necessary. The decisive test
was not the lamp, 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. 5. "Tarried."
The Bridegroom far away is Christ,
who is come for the marriage feast
from "the far country home
above. "Slumbered and slept" The
time passed by the virgins in sleep
represents merely the waiting time,
during which time the true Christian
Is fully prepared for the coming of
the heavenly Bridegroom at any hour.
II. The coming of the bridegroom
Tvs. 6-9).
6. "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
ielav This was the most unfit time
for the virgins to obtain the oil they
needed. "The bridegroom cometh." )"
Though Christ tarry long He will
come at last. go ye out to meet
Him" Here is a summons. What
does this mean? 1t means, go forth
to receive the recompense of your
| doings. 7. "All-arose There is
something terrible in the security of
the foolish; they are not yet aware
that their fate is already sealed.
Trimmed" The lamps were still
burning, but they needed trimming
and replenishing.
. 8. "Give u.s." They now begin to
realize their serious lack. Lamps
are going out" (R. w. This shows
that their lamps had been lighted.
Many who once have had hearts
filled with-faith and love have al
lowed worldly spirit to take pos
session of them, and now, they are
entirely backslidden from God; their
lamps" have gone out. 9. BE not
enough" 1t was impossible to rem
der any assistance. go ye." They
could tell them what to do, but 1t
was now too late. ITO them that
SELL" To God. For yourselves.
They must have oil of their own.
Nothing short of personal holiness is
sufficient
Ill. The shutting of the door Tvs.
1919. while they went to buy"
What a dismal thing it is not to dis
cover 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 prepared; |;
! who not only had a profession of
| godliness, but who possessed true
holiness. The death bed is a poor
place for repentance. ITO the mar
riage feast" (R. W To be eternally
glorified; to be in His immediate
presence. Door was shut" There
comes a period after which change is
impossible. II. open to u.s." Ear
nest prayer, when used in time, may
do much good, but it appears from
this parable that there may come a
time when prayer even to Jesus may
be too late!
-. Il know you not" There is
an estrangement of heart that separ-
ates them from the Saviour.
13. Watch" Keep awake; be
alert; watch with the utmost dill
gence. Day nor the hour" The
time is uncertain; we must always
be ready and waiting for His coming
and then we shall not be taken by
surprise. "Wherein," etc. Omitted
in the Revised Version.