Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13


church. They have their lamps and they
have been lighted-their spiritual interest
has been stirred and awakened-but the
s how much supply 3ps Of on oney
tarry, II trials and temptations come.
One can picture the happy company OF
white-robed maidens starting out upon the
| way, according to oriental custom, to meet
| the bridal party. each one with her bright.
pretty lamp, filled and trimmed and lighted
enough light. seemingly, to last FOR the
procession and ceremonies. But now they
come to the place arranged for meeting,
and no sign yet has been heard of the
bridegroom. He may be several hours
late, and that they may be all fresh for
the festivities they are ordered to lie down
until called. &c. calmly they lie down to
sleep and the lamps burn on and the night
grows darker and all are content. alb
sorbed in sleep. dreaming family of the
joys that are to be theirs when the BRIDE
groom shall come.
Then the cry comes at midnight, as the
master of ceremonies goes about among
the maidens hastily awaking them and
saying, Get up! He is coming now. Make
haste. We must start at once!'
Then quickly they rub the sleep from
their eyes and reach for their lamps with
anticipatory smiles for now at last comes
the long-expected moment. But the lamps
have not been sleeping and the long black
wicks smodering but dimly, conf
IDENTIFY each maiden trims her lamp for
brighter burning. The bridegroom must
And now appears the difference between
the foolish and the wise. Five Of those
maidens find that instead of flaming up
more brightly with the trimming and burn
ing more steadily their lamps are Pickering
out in the blackness of the night and with
the bridegroom near at hand. They proba-
bly, were not half filled in the first place,
for careless natures are likely to have been
careless all the way through. But all along.
If ever a bit Of what they called conscience
did prick one of them lest her lamp would
not last. they have looked with satisfaction
on the little oil cans of their sister-brides-
maids, and now they turn to them for
help. just as so many Christians. having
been halfway Christ ans all their lives.
have secretly depended much upon the
godly friends with whom they compan-
Toned.
But alas! When they turn in haste to
borrow of their companions they find that
they have just refilled their own lamps
and they have not wherewith to give, for
1t must needs be that the br degroom have
some lights to greet him when he comes
and they have attended to 1t that their
own are brightly burning. Their refusal
almost sounds little selfish to us till we
think about what the parable means, and it
becomes evident that it was not from sell
fishness that the wise virgins refused the
OIL but because they could not give it.
Each supply Of oil was only sufficient for
each lamp. No soul can 6 We his own
supply of grace to another soul. 1t is not
givable. Each one must have Gods grace
minute borrow dying grace from another,
be he ever so great a saint who stands
near him.
]. Munro Gibson says:
The foolish virg MS represent those pro-
Tossing Christians who have religious emo
ton enough to kindle their lamp Of life
and make it glow with flame which looks
marvelously like true devotion, but which
is little else than the blazing up OF natural
feeling, while the wise virgins represent
those whose constant habit is devotion.
whose grace is something they carry with
them always. so that at any moment the
light of it may shine the fame glow pure.
bright, steady, inextinguisha BILE They may
be as much engaged in the business of life
as the others. so that no flame of devotion
may be seen, but deep down. hidden out Of
sight. like the oil in the vessel. there Is
abiding grace which Is only waiting the
occasion to burst into fame of prayer
or praise or joyful welcome of the BRIDE
groom at whatever moment he may come
The distinction. therefore. is between those
worldly Chr stians, whose devotion IS
thing of now and then. and those thorough
Christians. whose devotion is habitual, not
always to be recognized on the surface of
their life, but so to be always there
the deep abiding habit of their souls. There
is the secret of watchfulness; there the
secret of readiness for the coming of the
Lord Grace is not transferable. A
man may belong to the warmest, devoutest.
most gracious community of disciples In
all Christendom. but if he himself has been
foolish. If he has not lived in communion
with Christ, If he has not kept himself In
communication with the fountain of grace
not all the saints In whose company he has
passed the night of the Lords personal
absence, however willing they may be- will
be able to lend him as much as one drop
Of the sacred OIL
Applied Truth.
If Christ knocks in vain at the door of
your heart you will knock in vain at the
y,1a Liz
of God be within you here you shall not
be within the kingdom Of God yonder.-
Arnot.
faith, which giveth over when there Is
most need of 1t? What use of that illumi-
nation which leaveth US in darkness at the
last? What were the foolish virgins better
for that oil and light which failed them
before they came to the wedding cham
ber?-Thomas Taylor.
A young man who had been putting off
deciding for Christ day suddenly
thrown from his horse. He was carried
into the nearest house, and after eXamina-
ton the doctor told him he could live
but an hour. He cried out In agony that
he had made no preparation for death and
he could not stand before God. his Judge
in one short hour. and he begged them to
tell him how to be saved When he was
told to repent Of his sins he replied: II do
not know how to repent. The whole work
of my lifetime must be crowded into one
short hour of agony o! what shall 1 do
to be saved?" And SO crying he fell back
upon his pillow and died.
Moody used to tell the story Of vessel
coming ir Cleveland harbor on a stormy
night. Tne pilot could the upper
lights, but not the lower. and warned the
captain that they better put out into the
lake, but the captain was afraid Of the
storm on the lake. and SO ordered the pilot
to try to make the harbor. They did so,
but were wrecked on the rocks and nearly
all the lives were lost because the lower
lights failed to be burning. He likened
this story to the upper lights of heaven
burning brightly, while many Of the lower
lights were burning but dimly or blown out
entirely, and said: God wants us to keep
them burning, so as to keep people from
stumbling over us or being lost because
our light is DIM
How to Help the Leader.
Tell how you think we may keep the Oil
Of grace ever ready to supply all our
needs-what are the greatest helps to your
self. e., prayer. Bible reading, attend
ance at church services. the daily blessing
on meals-even If taken alone In q restau-