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names the name of Christ is obliged by that very profession to depart from all iniquity. But the pure and chaste in heart, are the only persons that will be so blessed as to see God. As Christ was born of a virgin, so he can dwell in none but virgin souls, made pure and holy by the cohabitation of his Holy Spirit. What says the apostle? "All are not Israelites that are of Israel," all are not christians that are called after the name of Christ. No, says our Lord, in the 2d verse, "Five of those virgins were wise," true believers, "and five were foolish," formal hypocrites. But why are five said to be wise, and the other five foolish? Hear what our Lord says in the following verses: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." They that were foolish took their lamps of an outward profession. They would go to church, say over several manuals of prayers, come perhaps even into a field to hear sermon, give at a collection, and receive the sacrament constantly, nay, oftener than once a month. But then here lay the mistake; they had no oil in their lamps, no principle of grace, no living faith in their hearts, without which, though we should give all our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burned, it would profit us nothing. In short, they were exact, nay, perhaps superstitious bigots as to the form, but all the while they were strangers to, and, in effect, denied the power of godliness in their hearts. They would go to church, but at the same time think it no harm to go to a ball or an assembly, notwithstanding they promised at their baptism, to renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. They were so exceedingly fearful of being righteous over much, that they would even persecute those that were truly devout, if they attempted to go a step farther than themselves. In one word, they never effectually felt the power of the world to come. They thought they might be christians without so much inward feeling, and therefore, notwithstanding their high pretensions, had only a name to live. And now, sirs, let me pause a while, and, in the name of God, whom I endeavor to serve in the gospel of his dear Son, give me leave to ask one question. Whilst I have been drawing, though in miniature, the character of these foolish virgins, have not many of your consciences made the application, and with a small, still, though articulate voice, said, thou man, thou woman art one of those foolish virgins, for thy sentiments and practice agree thereto ? Stifle not, but rather encourage these convictions; and, who knows but that Lord who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him faithfully, may so work on you, even now by this foolishness of preaching, as to make you wise virgins!

What they were you shall know immediately: "But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Observe, the wise, the true believers, had their lamps as well as the foolish virgins; for christianity does not require us to cast off all outward forms; we may use forms and yet not be formal. For instance, it is possible to worship God in a set form of prayer, and yet worship him in spirit and in truth. And therefore, brethren, let us not judge one another: the wise virgins had their lamps; herein then did not lie the difference between them and the foolish, that one worshipped God with a form, and the other did not. No: as the pharisee and publican went up to the temple to pray, so these wise and foolish virgins might go to the same place of worship, and sit under the same ministry; but then the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps: they kept up the form, but did not rest in it: their words in prayer were the language of their hearts, and they were no strangers to inward feelings; they had savingly tasted the good word of life, and felt, or had experimental knowledge of the power of the world to come; they were not afraid of searching doctrines, nor affronted when ministers told them they by nature deserved to be damned: they were not self-righteous, but were willing that Jesus Christ should have all the glory of their salvation; they were convinced that the merits of Jesus Christ were to be apprehended only by faith; but yet were they as careful to maintain good works, as though they were to be justified by them. In short, their obedience flowed from love and gratitude, and was cheerful, constant, uniform, universal, like that obedience which the holy angels pay our Father in heaven.

Here then let me exhort you to pause again; and if any of you can faithfully apply these characters to your hearts, give God the glory, and take the comfort to your own souls; you are not false but true believers. Jesus Christ has been made of God to you wisdom, even that wisdom, whereby you shall be made wise unto salvation. God sees a difference between you and foolish virgins, if natural men will not. You need not be uneasy, though one chance and fate in this life may happen to you both. I say, one chance and fate; for verse 5, "while the bridegroom tarried," in the space of time which passeth between our Lord's ascension and his coming again to judgment, "they all slumbered and slept." The wise as well as foolish died, for dust we are, and to dust we must return. It is no reflection at all upon the divine goodness, that believers, as well as hypocrites, must pass through the valley of the shadow of death; for Christ has taken away the sting of death, so that we need fear no evil. It is to them a passage to ever

lasting life. Death is only terrible to those who have no hope, because they live without faith, and therefore without God in the world. Whoever there are amongst you, that have received the first fruits of the Spirit, I am persuaded are ready to cry out, we would not live here always; we long to be dissolved, that we may be with Jesus Christ; and though worms must destroy our bodies as well as others, yet we are content, being assured that our Redeemer liveth, that he will stand at the latter days upon the earth, and that in our flesh we shall see God.

But it is not so with hypocrites and unbelievers beyond the grave; for what says our Lord? "And at midnight;" observe, at midnight, when all was hushed and quiet, and no one dreaming of any such thing, "a cry was made;" the voice of the archangel and the trump of God was heard sounding this general alarm; to things in heaven, to things in earth, and to things in the waters under the earth, behold! mark how this awful summons is ushered in with the word, behold, to engage our attention? "Behold the bridegroom cometh !" even Jesus Christ, the desire of nations, the bridegroom of his spouse, the church. Because he tarried for a while to exercise the faith of saints, and give sinners space to repent, scoffers were apt to cry out, "Where is the promise of his coming? But the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as these men account slackness." For behold, he that was to come, now cometh, and will not tarry any longer; He cometh to be glorified in his saints, and to take vengeance on them that know not God, and have not obeyed his gospel; He cometh not as a poor despised Galilean; not to be laid in a stinking manger; not to be despised and rejected of men; not to be blindfolded, spit upon, and buffeted; not to be nailed to an accursed tree; he cometh not as the Son of man, but as he really was, the eternal Son of the eternal God; He cometh riding on the wings of the wind, in the glory of the Father and his holy angels, and to be had in everlasting reverence of all that shall be round about him. Go ye forth to meet him; arise ye dead, ye foolish as well as wise virgins, arise and come to judgment. Multitudes, no doubt, that hear this awakening cry, would rejoce, if the rocks might fall on, and the hills cover them from the presence of the Lamb. What would they give, if as they lived as beasts, they might now die like the beasts that perish? How would they rejoice, if those same excuses, which they made on this side eternity, for not attending on holy ordinances, would serve to keep them from appearing before the heavenly bridegroom! But as Adam, notwithstanding his fig-leaves, and the trees of the garden, could not hide himself

from God, when arrested with an Adam, where art thou? So now the decree is gone forth, and the trump of God has given its last sound; all tongues, people, nations, and languages, both wise and foolish virgins, must come into his presence, and bow beneath his footstool; even Pontius Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas; even the proud persecuting high priests and pharisees of this generation, must appear before him. For says our Lord, then (when the cry was made, behold the bridegroom cometh!) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the graves were opened, the sea gave up its dead, and all those virgins, both wise and foolish, arose and trimmed their lamps," or endeavored to put themselves in a proper posture to meet the bridegroom.

But how may we imagine the foolish virgins were surprised when, notwithstanding their high thoughts and proud imaginations of their security, they now find themselves wholly naked, and void of that inward holiness and purity of heart, without which no man living at that day shall comfortably meet the Lord. I doubt not but many of these foolish virgins, while in this world, were clothed in purple and fine linen, fared sumptuously every day, and disdained to set with the wise virgins, some of whom might be as poor as Lazarus, even the dogs of their flock. These were looked upon by them as enthusiasts and madmen, as persons that were righteous overmuch and who intended to turn the world upside down: but now death hath opened their eyes, and convinced them to their eternal sorrow, that he is not a true christian, who is only one outwardly. Now they find (though alas! too late) they, and not the wise virgins had been beside themselves. Now their proud hearts are made to stoop, their lofty looks are brought low; and as Dives entreated that Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water, and be sent to cool his tongue, so these foolish virgins, these formal hypocrites, are obliged to turn beggars to those whom they once despised. "Give us of your oil," O! impart to us a little of that grace and holy spirit, for the insisting on which we fools accounted your lives madness; for, alas! our lamps are gone out: we had only the form of godliness; we were whited sepulchres; we were heart hypocrites; we contented ourselves with desiring to be good; and though confident of salvation while we lived, yet our hope is entirely gone, now God has entirely taken away our souls; give us therefore, O! give us, though we once despised you, give us of your oil, for our lamps, of an outward profession, and transient convictions, are quite gone out. "Comfort ye, confort ye, my people saith the Lord." My brethren in Christ, hear what the foolish say to the wise virgins, and

learn in patience to possess your souls. If you are true followers of the lovely Jesus, I am persuaded you have your names cast out, and all manner of evil spoken falsely against you for his name's sake. For no one ever did, or will live godly in Christ Jesus, without suffering persecution; nay, I doubt not but your chief foes are those of your own household. Tell me, do not your carnal relations and friends vex your tender souls day by day, in bidding you spare yourselves, and take heed lest you go too far; and as you pass along to come and hear the word of God, have you not heard many a pharisee cry out, here comes another troop of his followers! Brethren, be not surprised; Christ's servants were always the world's fools; you know it hated him before it hated you. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Yet a little while, and behold the bridegroom cometh; then shall you hear these formal scoffing pharisees saying unto you, "Give us of your oil for our lamps are gone out." When you are reviled, revile not again; when you suffer, threaten not; commit your souls into the hands of him that judgeth righteously; for behold the day cometh, when the children of God shall speak for themselves.

The wise virgins, in the parable, no doubt endured the same cruel mockings as you may do; but as the lamb before the shearers is dumb, so in this life opened they not their mouths; but now we find they can give their enemies an answer. "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." These words are not to be understood as though they were spoken in an insulting manner; for true charity teaches us to use the worst of sinners, and our most bitter enemies, with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Though Dives was in hell, yet Abraham does not say, Thou villain; but only, son, remember; and I am persuaded, had it been in the power of these wise virgins, as, God knows, I would willingly deal with my most inveterate enemies, not only give them of their oil, but also exalt them to the right hand of God. It was not then for want of love, but the fear of wanting a sufficiency for themselves, that made them return this answer, "Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you;" for they that have most grace, have none to spare; none but self-righteous, foolish virgins think they are good enough, or have already attained. Those who are truly wise are always most distrustful of themselves, pressing forward to the things that are before, and think it well if, after they have done all, they can make their calling and election sure. "Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." These words indeed seem to be spoken in a triumphant, but certainly they