have lost sight of this blessed event, and have been dreaming about the conversion of the world first, and a previous millennium of glory, and rambling in their sleep about other matters, have nevertheless a readiness of heart,-a sanctified spirit. They have secured the one thing needful, and whether the Bridegroom delay his coming till they die first, or whether he come suddenly, they have a hope, grounded upon faith in Jesus, and witnessed by their inward delight in his commandments.k

This is just what the foolish are destitute of. They are in company with the wise, they equally have lamps, and they perceive that the wise can slumber as well as themselves. This draws them into a fatal security. They point perhaps to this or that pious person who does not believe that the Lord is at hand, and they are satisfied with their own resemblance to them in this and certain outward circumstances, without considering the great difference as to inward and spiritual grace. They never seriously examine into the state of their own hearts;their faith has no purifying influence on the soul;-they are not aiming to be conformed to God's holy nature;-they have not a readiness to do his will: yea, I will say, that though they profess to be waiting his coming, they do not really desire it! I am disposed to believe that one reason why the Lord suffers some pious christians in the present day to remain for a time prejudiced against this hope, is, that their conduct may prove a snare and a trap to those who have the form of godliness, but whose hearts the god of this world hath blinded.

I pass on to the next point.-"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." The Lord is considerate towards his people! In the first instance he warns them to be watchful, lest, coming suddenly, he find them sleeping; and now that the time is arrived, he sends forth messengers to announce himself near at hand, lest, after all, he take them by surprise. He does not come actually upon them; but, when at a little distance, desires them to go forth and meet him. From this we may gather, that just before the Lord's actual coming there is to be some note of preparation to the Church-some cry raised-some stirring up by his ministers, to warn and rouse men from the slumber they are in with regard to this very event.

I feel fully persuaded, that the Church is, at this moment, in the precise condition here represented! The servants of God are now sounding an alarm in all His holy mountain. A cry has been raised, within these few years only, exactly answering to this, "Behold he cometh:"-it is now echoed through * Compare Rom. vii. 22—25; viii. 1, with 1 John v. 1—3.

the land, and penetrating among all classes of religious professors. And many who, only a short time since, did not suspect such an event to be coming upon them, are now persuaded, that the Lord is at hand.

Mark the time also of this cry-midnight! Just when the world is all stillness and darkness;-just when men, who know not God, imagine themselves most secure;-when multitudes are dreaming that the march of knowledge, perhaps, and the spread of liberal principles, and the new philosophy, is all at once to effect what christianity cannot;-when they are saying "peace, peace:"-then, suddenly, the cry is heard, and the Church is roused!

I do not mean to assert, that all professors have at once believed this cry to proceed from God, and that they have immediately risen to prepare. I do not expect it; for some people, aye, and pious people too, are exceedingly dull and heavy when they once get fast asleep. They require to be shouted to again and again, and perhaps to be well shaken, before they are properly aroused. But it is nevertheless wonderful, how rapidly this cry is making its way!-what general attention it begins to excite; what numbers are daily added to those who are convinced, and who re-echo the warning; and how greatly opposition and doubt are diminished! I have not a question in my own mind, that as the indications of the Lord's advent increase in intensity, the whole of those who are really wise in heart will arise, and shake themselves from the dust, and trim their lamps. Yea-all professors, (even those who are like the foolish virgins,) will presently be convinced, so far as conviction goes: for the parable states, "that all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps;" which indeed is the next point for consideration.

What I have expounded thus far I consider either fulfilled, or fulfilling: that which remains to be expounded is unfulfilled; and therefore I can only give what appears to me, assisted as we are by that which is accomplishing, to be the most probable interpretation.

It is easy to imagine, that an increased light is given by this trimming of the lamps; and that the wise begin to look out with eager expectation for the Bridegroom. The Church therefore-the believing part of it-instead of appearing like slumbering virgins in this respect, will presently resemble those who stand with their loins girt and their lights burning, even as those who wait for their Lord.” There will be a universal testimony presently from the pious, whether men will hear it, or whether they will forbear. Faith and hope-and I pray God charity also-will be called into more lively exercise.

The truth of prophecy will likewise shine with increased clearness, confirming and strengthening the expectation. Indeed this is in a measure daily fulfilling now: for as the cry is reverberated from place to place, so prophecy itself is more diligently investigated; "many run to and fro, and knowledge is increased;" according as Daniel foretels of this time. And I may add, that many are now experiencing the practical and holy influence of this expectation in their souls. They enjoy more of the power of godliness,-they love the thought of Christ's appearing,-and they look forward to it with desire and with holy awe.

At the same time the foolish trim their lamps; and now, alas! they discover their omission--viz. that they have brought no oil: their lamps go out! They are then described as applying to the wise-hearted in this dilemma, saying, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." I can only explain this from that light which is thrown on the subject by the conduct of professors now, when they seem to have some conviction of the reality of the Lord's speedy approach. We have seen, that the lamp represents more especially the professed hope or expectation of any. Now, when the righteous realize this event, their hope is animated and revived, and it shines with a blessed assurance; for theirs is a hope that shall not be confounded. But when the hollow professor has this subject pressed upon him, his heart dies within him; his expectation perishes;-his candle goes out in darkness. He discovers that his is not a hope that can delight in the Lord's coming, and love his appearing; he becomes sensible, that he is not ready to meet his Lord; and he wonders at the righteous, whose spirit can say, "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!" He begins now to inquire more into the reason of his hope: the foolish has been with the righteous ever; he has partaken of the same means of grace, and agreed together, seemingly, in the same doctrines and expectations; but now the righteous appears to have a something, after all, which he has not, and he turns to him,-demanding his prayers perhaps, or his advice,—expecting that he shall share with him also of that inward preparation and joy of heart.

There are persons who seem to think, that the doctrine of Christ's personal coming is not a practical or profitable subject; and that some ministers in the present day give too much attention to it. Nothing however can more decidedly prove, that there is power, and great power, in this doctrine, than the

VOL. II.-44

1 Dan. xii. 4.

parable before us. That which can stir up the wise to greater watchfulness, and cause all their graces to shine forth;-that which can discover to the formal professor, that he has not the root of the matter in him, and set him on a diligent search;can be no dead letter. It is possible, that some may over-rate it, or talk and preach of it to the exclusion of all other things; but surely the appearing-the hope of the speedy appearing— of the Lord Christ, ought to be an object of intense interest! and sure I am that person cannot with the heart believe it, who thinks it a matter of but little importance.

The wise, however, tell the foolish, that there will not be enough oil for both, but to go rather to them that sell and buy for themselves.* These, I apprehend, are the ministers of religion, who set before their people that blessed hope, "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" and who in regard to the things of the Spirit invite them to "come and buy, without money and without price."m But, alas! "wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing that he hath no heart to it." The foolish will be foolish still, and the means of grace are now unavailing! We come now to the final circumstance. "While they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went into the marriage, and the door was shut." The Lord is now evidently come! Those believers who are alive and remain till his coming are now "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," "and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, (just as these are called to go forth and meet him;) and so shall they ever be with the Lord." But the door is shut, at

* This teaches us, by the way, the folly and danger of the popish doctrine of works of supererogation; viz. that a man may perform more good works than are required of him. The overplus of the saints' works the Papists consider the property of the Church; and that the Pope may grant them, on payment of money or by favour, to those who have them not. Christ, however, expressly tells us, that when we have done all that is commanded us, we are only unprofitable servants; and here the wise answer, that they have no grace to spare. This doctrine is built upon the erroneous notion, that works either justify or sanctify a man. I apprehend they can do neither; we are not pardoned on account of our works, nor are works our fitness for heaven. We are accounted righteous solely on account of the righteousness of Christ; and our fitness consists of the inward state of the heart, which also is wrought in us by his Spirit, the love of God, I repeat, shed abroad in it by the Holy Ghost. But many I fear are infected with this leaven who suspect it not. For instance, to speak of repentance and our future good life as if they could in any way atone for the guilt of our past life, is equally built upon the supposition, that a man can do more than is required of him daily: else how can his future good life atone for his past, seeing it is always his duty to walk with God? And if a man can do so much more than is daily required of him, what is to hinder him when he supposes his past sins blotted out by that overplus, from still laying up a store of good works to give away?

17.

m Isa. lv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17. Prov. xxvii. 6. 1 Cor. xv. 51, 52; 1 Thess. iv.

the same time, on all those who are without! O, what fearful words! The day of grace, to all who are of the visible church -to all who have the lamp of profession-will then be past! Now the Lord says, "Behold I have set before thee an open door, and none can shut it:" then "the Master of the house will have risen up and shut to the door," and none will be able to open it. A time will come (as I apprehend, just before the great tribulation falls on the nations who have professed christianity, and the kingdom and glory of Christ are openly showed in the sight of the heathen,) when those who are now the salt of the earth and the light of the world will be gathered out safely, and laid up like wheat in the barn; and then the tares will be set on fire and consumed! At this awful period professors will not only be inquiring, and for once seeking earnestly: they will likewise be praying earnestly! Terror, confusion, and dismay will seize upon them! They will knock then at the door of mercy;-they will seek then to enter in at the strait gate;-they will cry Lord, Lord, open to us; have we not eaten and drank in thy presence, and thou hast preached in our streets?-But the door of mercy will not open: "He will answer from within and say, Verily, I know you not."

This does not, as I conceive, signify absolutely, that the Lord did not know them; for he knows all things, and all men: he had even searched the thoughts and intents of the hearts of these, and knew them to be false and hollow;-they were, after all; "workers of iniquity." But he knew them not by spiritual intercourse with them. They had never sought communion with him; they had never given him their hearts and affections; their minds had not been upon him;-their confidence had not been placed in him;-the world-the world-had continued to keep possession of their souls. Note again, they are not charged with murder, fornication, drunkenness, theft, lying, and the like these things we know will shut a man out of the kingdom of heaven:-FOLLY is that which has ruined these persons; the being content with the form of godliness, whilst ignorant of the power;-the being satisfied with a profession, which appeared outwardly the same as that of others, whilst the heart was really averse to Christ, and his ways were inwardly disliked, and his cross, his reproach, self-denial, heavenly-mindedness, were all shrunk from and despised.

O, Reader! ponder our gracious Saviour's application:"WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." Look out for him;-wait his appearing;-be ready for it. The day is at hand, and it will take the world by surprise; but if ye be walking as the

P Rev, iii. 8.

4 Luke xiii. 24―30.

r Ibid.