SERMON XXXII.

THE OIL FOR THE LAMPS.

"And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always."-Exodus xxvii. 20.

In that remarkable parable of the wise and foolish virgins, in which our Lord teaches that those were saved who had oil in their vessels, and those were lost who had not, it is evident a most important prominency is given to the symbolical character of oil. It is the symbol of inward love, or charity in its highest, purest

sense.

This, perhaps, we might conclude from its soothing and valuable qualities, so well representative of kindness; but if we consider the passages in the Word of God in which the oil itself, and the tree from which it is obtained are presented to us, we shall have no doubt that they both are used to represent principles which are of the highest importance in heaven.

Trees grow up from seeds: they represent, therefore, principles which grow up from instruction until they are clearly perceived and adopted. In divine things, the Word is a granary from. which the seeds of all things good are obtained. Our Lord said, "THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD."-Luke viii. 11.

But if the seed is the Word, and He who sows it is the Lord, then the trees which grow up from the seed must be the principles which grow up in the soul, and the best trees must symbolize the best principles. The olive occupies the most distinguished place. It is the most valuable tree of the East. The tree is beautiful, though not majestic; and both the fruit and the oil pressed from it are highly esteemed for food. Kings and priests were anointed with olive-oil, on being fully inaugurated into their important offices; its branch has been from time immemorial the symbol of peace, and it is most highly esteemed as medicine; while its use for light is the quality brought before us in the text: "And thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always."

In the parable of the trees, the olive was the tree first invited

to reign over the rest; and in the reply, the value of the oil, and therefore of the loving-kindness of which it corresponds, is strongly placed before us. "But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"—Judges ix. 9. True heavenly love will serve others, but never seek to rule.

The Psalmist describing the highest heavenly character says, "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever."-Ps. lii. 8.

In heaven itself, the two great essences of good, love to God, and love to man, are described under the name of the two olive trees. "Then answered I and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What are these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? Then said he, These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."-Zech. iv. 11, 12, 14. In the book of Revelation also we have the same symbol. The two witnesses for God, are said to be "The two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth."--Rev. xi. 4.

All these uses and notices of the olive in the Word of God, intimate the invaluable character of the principle it designates. Love, especially in its attribute of kindness, is like the olive, the producer of an oil honourable to God and man. Love is spiritual food and spiritual medicine. Love, in its two essential forms, is the essential thing in heaven, and there are no witnesses for God in the Church separate from love to God and love to man. The kindness flowing from love is the oil from the heavenly olive. It is the essential essence of Christianity. Nothing soothes like

that.

But the particular lesson afforded in the command before us, like that given in the parable of the virgins in Matthew, is the dependence of light upon love. The oil-olive was for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

In the parable, the lamps of those who had no oil in their vessels ceased to burn, their lights went out.

We often do not reflect upon this intimate relation between light and love, and learn that love is the essential cause of light. Yet experience teaches that this is undoubtedly the case.

How often do we see persons interested in the doctrines of religion, and setting out in the religious career with alacrity. Their step was vigorous and their light was bright. After a time,

however, they slacken; they become negligent in their religious duties, and at length are missing altogether; they have slumbered and slept; their light has gone out. They had taken scarcely any oil. They had been anxious after the light of religion, but heedless of the far more important part of it,-the love. In all such cases their falling away is only a matter of time. Their lamps are sure to go out. Hence the divine direction in our text, "Command the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oilolive, beaten for the light."

When we reflect upon the stupendous issues which depend upon our preparation for heaven, how important does this command appear. Religious light is a beautiful thing. As we learn doctrine after doctrine, and point after point in divine truth expands within our minds, until we see the whole mental atmosphere lighted up with truth, the blessing is great, the scene is lovely. "Whoso followeth the light, shall not walk in darkness." But light is not an end, it is only a means. We have light that we may enter into the principles and do the work of life. Light flows from life, and leads to life.

But if we overlook and neglect this fact, and are satisfied, like the admirers of John the Baptist, to rejoice for an hour in the light, and do no more, we shall have forfeited the great end of our being, the hour of our darkness is not far off. "Command

the children of Israel that they bring thee pure oil-olive for the light."

Considering the unspeakably blessed character of love, and seeing how, like mercy, it is twice blessed; it blesses him that gives, and him that takes, it is wonderful that we should forego so great a possession. "Above all things" said the Apostle "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."-Col. iii. 14.

It has been well said that to be loved is heavenly, but to love is heaven itself. Love is the centre of every grace. It radiates delight. It is the very life of angels. It is higher than knowledge, higher than talent, higher even than faith. "Now, abideth faith, hope, charity (or love) and the greatest of these is charity."-1 Cor. xiii. 13.

Without love the soul is cold, for love gives warmth. Without love the soul is poor, for love is celestial gold. Without love the soul is hard, for love softens and mellows. Without love the soul is stiff and weak, for love is power. Without love the soul is diseased, for love gives health. Without love the soul is dead, for love is life. Children of Israel, not circumscribed by the limits of the old dispensation, but of the Israel

in every age, See "that ye bring pure oil-olive, beaten for the light."

But oil corresponds to loving-kindness, not only in being presented to us so definitely in the Word, but in all its natural properties. How often is the jarring wearing friction of machinery removed by a little oil. And is it not equally so in the wear of human life? How often do minds rudely jostle each other, view with surly unkindness the movements of those around them, and refuse with dry dislike the small courtesies which are essential to comfort in daily life. Sometimes a dead lock is arrived at, and severe distress and damage are threatened until some kind soul comes in, and gently places things in a better light, softens the harsh feelings, and by restoring good humour, leads all to see how much the happiness of life is promoted by a little human oil.

It is said that oil smooths troubled waters, and not only so, but communicates transparency to them also; lost objects are said to have been recovered in shallow waters, by pouring oil upon the surface. It may be so. Certain it is that the troubled waters of human passion are smoothed by the display of kindly feeling. "A soft answer turns away wrath." Many an excitement of boisterous persons has been hushed to calmness, when one gentle spirit has applied itself to allay the storm, and lead the jarring and excited minds, bitter with offended pride, and vehement passion, to own the sway of the Prince of Peace. Often, very often, we fail in our efforts to improve others, because we do not use this softening influence of kindness. They are faulty and we are indignant. They resent our sharpness, and we are still harsher in look, manner and words. We fume at their persistence, and grow keener and sterner, and we are met by equally repellant glances, and harsh, defiant words. We are almost in despair. We say we cannot tell what to do. We are sure we mean right, and we have tried reiterated arguments, repeated admonitions and accusations. We have uttered reproaches without number, and all has not done the good we seek. Try love. Pour this human oil over the troubled surface, and often you will find the human billows sink down and all around be peace. When the mind is calm too, it becomes transparent. When peace has taken the place of passion, we may oftentimes see considerations that had been overlooked, and facts that had been forgotten while all was stormy. Never, then, let us forget this use of mental oil, but remember that it is the divine will that brotherly love should

descend into the human soul like the oil that anointed the head of Aaron. "How good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments as the dew of Hermon that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

The oil, however, must be pure. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Yet the unregenerate soul is impure, impure to an inconceivable extent. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." How, then, can a pure thing come out of an impure? How can the pure oil be obtained? The answer to these questions is, BY OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. The apostle Peter says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." This work of obedience from faith in the Lord Jesus is the only way to purity. We must obey first, just as we are. The commandments of the Lord are chiefly negative. As we refrain from doing the things forbidden, the Lord purifies the soul.

"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Our motives may be so alloyed by selfishness for a considerable time, that we scarcely know or think that our efforts can be at all blessed by the Lord. But let us persevere in prayer to the Lord Jesus, the manifested God; in reading the Word, in judging ourselves, in repudiating every known evil, in cultivating all the virtues of our station and employment, and we shall find our efforts crowned with confidence and humble trust, with heartfelt satisfaction and peace. Thus will the olive tree of loving principle grow up within us, and we shall obtain pure oil-olive.

The oil, it is said, must be BEATEN, beaten for the light. The softening influence of tribulation is well-known. None have so deep a sympathy for others as they who have themselves suffered. "Sweet are the uses of adversity." The soul that is full of self-sufficiency, because in the youth and buoyancy of life it has known no trouble, may be a fair field, but it will mainly be a fallow one, until sorrow breaks it up. The spirit needs to be broken, and if rough experiences are