and hour of this, his to the Father only. the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and coming, is not known but Noe were, so shall also "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the Ark, and knew not, until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall shall be taken, and the two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left," that is, Christ's servant is caught up to meet him in the air, and the other who has not the oil in his vessel with his lamp is left. took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40. Then shall two be in the field; the one other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken, and the other left. The wise virgins are evidently those who are ready, as it is said, Matthew xxiv. 44, "Be ye also ready," and 42 Watch therefore ; for ye know not what this readiness consists in their having the oil, hour your Lord doth and in their lamps burning. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, 1 John ii. 20, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." come. 43 But know this, that if the good-man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready for in such the Son of man cometh. faithful and wise servant, whom his lord an hour as ye think not 45 Who then is a "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." Compare with St John, xvi. 13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall vant whom his lord, hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that ser when he cometh, shall find so doing. ג 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an 51 And shall cut him hear that shall he speak : and he will shew 66 you But as it is written, 1 Cor. ii. 9-16, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the to meet the bridegroom. Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: foolish took their lamps, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. the 1 Then shall kingdom of heaven be Jikened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were and took no oil with 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with While the bride. things, yet he himself is judged of no man. groom tarried, they all 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Rom. viii. 9-11, "But ye are not in the 7 Then all those vir- flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit gins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps have gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up B for us and you ; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your selves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they with him to the mar riage and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came alSO the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." And 23d verse, "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of that were ready went in the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." See also Rev. iv. 5, "And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." A lamp is used as an emblem of a church, because it is filled with oil, as the church is with the Holy Spirit, and oil is the day nor the hour wheresymbol of the Spirit. See Rev. i. 20, “ The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks" (or properly lamps) which thou sawest are the seven churches." And whenever a candlestick is mentioned in Scripture, let us remember that it means what we call lamp, as what we call candles were not used in those days. unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore ; for ye know neither the in the Son of man cometh. "He shall baptize The Apostle says, When a lamp is made to burn, it is supplied with oil and lighted with fire. So John the Baptist, speaking under the influence of the Spirit, says of Christ, St Luke, iii. 16, you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Eph. v. 8, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth." The light then represents the graces or fruits of the Spirit, and especially Christian love, the beauty of holiness, the fulfilling of the law. St Matt. v. 14, 15, 16, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Those wise virgins, then, who have their lamps burning are those who, having received the gift of the Holy Ghost, bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. See Galatians, v. 22–26, “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another." And they to whom God gives the earnest of the Spirit are those who, if they are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall have their mortality swallowed up in life. See 2 Cor. v. 4 and 6, "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." And they who sleep in Jesus are they who, while they dwell in the body, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Eph. i. 13, 14, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation : in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." They were sealed to the day of redemption, that is the redemption of the body, as we see in Romans viii. 23, already quoted, as also in Ephesians iv. 30, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Such are members of Christ's mystical body, the Church, and are dead, buried, and risen with him. See Col. iii. 1-11, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. also ap ye When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall I |