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Oh for more of the spirit of this Publican! We want more of this in our congregationsmore of this deep feeling of sin-this heartfelt conviction of our guilt-this smiting on our breasts with godly sorrow-this earnest cry for mercy.

We want more of it in our own souls. Then we shall be, each one of us, hastening to the cross-feeling that only the blood of Christ, only His atonement, can give us relief. We shall long to hear those words of mercy, "Thy sins be forgiven thee; go in peace."

302

THE TEN VIRGINS.

PART I.

MATT. XXV. 1—5.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them

were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."

I CAN imagine quite an unlearned man taking up this Parable of the Virgins, and getting from it some precious truth; but at the same time losing much, from not being acquainted with the customs which were observed in the days when it was spoken.

In the country of Judæa, where our Lord dwelt when He was in this world, several customs of the people were altogether different

from those in our own land.

And we should

always bear this in mind, when we read the Word of God.

Now, with regard to the way of conducting marriages in that country some of the ceremonies were entirely unlike anything we have been accustomed to. They usually were performed at night, and in the open air. After the wedding there was generally a Feast, which lasted for three days, and sometimes for as many as seven. It is not certain where this took place whether in the Bride's house, or in the Bridegroom's. However after a while they proceeded together to their own home, with sounds of music and other signs of rejoicing. The Bride was attended by her Friends and companions; of whom mention. is made in the 45th Psalm, "The virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company.' But besides these, there was also another party that came out from the house of the Bridegroom, to meet them and welcome them. And these are the Virgins mentioned in the Parable.

And now I hope we shall be better able to understand the Parable before us, or at least

that part of it which comes under our notice in the verses before us.

We have here Ten Virgins, who go forth to meet the Bridegroom; to fall in with the procession on its way to the guest-chamber; and to enter with the married pair into their new abode.

The principal Person mentioned here is the Bridegroom. And whom is he intended to represent? In one of the other Parables we read of a great King, making a marriage for his Son. The Bridegroom in both cases represents Christ. He is the Bridegroom of His Church. In John iii. He is spoken of by this title. There we find John the Baptist declaring, that he himself was not the Bridegroom, but only the Bridegroom's friend: "I am not the Christ; but I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly, because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled." Again, in Rev. xix, St. John speaks of Christ as the Husband of his Bride. He is describing that glorious

time, when our Lord shall come to take to Himself His own people. "I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, saying, Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."

It is very difficult for us to take in at once all that there is in our Lord's blessed character; and therefore He shows Himself to us by little and little, speaking of Himself in ways that we can well understand.

We know, for instance, what a Shepherd is to his sheep; and therefore Jesus calls Himself our Shepherd. We know what the Sun is, and what Light is to those who have been sitting in darkness; so Christ calls Himself the Sun and Light of His people. And so too we all know that none are so closely united together as the Husband and the Wife. To show then the nearness of Christ to His people, He is spoken of here as "the Bridegroom." And again Isaiah says, "Thy maker is thy husband."

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