and foretold in their Scriptures, in the most clear and explicit language.

Q. How does the parable close?

A. "And he said, Nay, Father Abraham; but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead."

Q. Was the truth of the declaration of Abraham fully verified?

A. It was.

Q. Did not one arise from the dead?

A. Lazarus was raised from the dead, and Jesus himself also arose from the dead; but neither of these amazing events convinced the Jews of the divine authority of Christ, nor brought them to submit to his reign.

Q. Does the interpretation which we have given to this important parable, agree in its general features, with the interpretation of many learned and eminent commentators?

A. It does. It agrees with the opinions of Lightfoot, Whitby, Bate, and others, as well as with those of Theophylact, a celebrated writer of the eleventh century.

LESSON XXIV.

Parable of the Ten Virgins.

"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. And at midnight there was a cry made,

Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 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. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."-(Matt. xxv. 1—13.)

Q. From what did the Redeemer draw the scenes of this parable?

A. From the marriage customs which prevailed among the Jews and other Eastern nations, at that

age.

Q. How are the ten virgins represented as proceeding?

A. It is said they "took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.'

Q. Can you explain this allusion?

A. Writers on ancient customs inform us, that on the evening of a wedding, the bridegroom, accompa nied by a great procession of relatives and friends, repaired to the house of the bride, to claim her and conduct her to his own residence. These processions were generally very gorgeous. They were attended by torch-bearers, and with music, and every display that the wealth of the parties could allow.

Q. How was he welcomed at the house of the bride?

A. It was usual, on such occasions, for the immediate neighbors of the bride, generally young women, to furnish themselves with torches, and go out to meet and welcome the bridegroom on his approach.

Q. What privilege did they obtain for this service? A. Those who thus met the bridegroom, were al

lowed to enter with him, and partake of the marriage feast, and participate in all the festivities of the occasion.

Q. How are the virgins in the parable described? A. It is said that five of them were wise, and five were foolish."

Q. How did five manifest that they were foolish, and five that they were wise?

A. " 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."

Q. How do you understand the last declaration? A. It frequently happened that the bridegroom did not come as early as he was expected, and those who were waiting to welcome him, would consequently become fatigued with their long watching-and moreover their lamps or torches would burn low and need replenishing.

Q. How does the parable proceed?

A. "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps."

Q. What was the predicament of the foolish virgins?

A. When it was announced that the bridegroom with his procession drew near, and it became necessary for those who were to welcome him, to trim their lamps, the foolish virgins found themselves destitute of oil.

Q. How did they endeavor to remedy their carelessness?

A. "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your for our lamps are gone out." Q. Did they obtain their request?

oil;

A. They did not. "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 your→ selves."

Q. What happened while they went to buy?

A. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

Q. Did the forgetfulness of the five virgins deprive them of their anticipated enjoyments?

A. It did. While they were absent purchasing the oil with which they should have supplied themselves in the first place, the bridegroom came, and the wise virgins welcomed him, and went in to the marriage with him, and the door was shut.

Q. Why were the. foolish virgins refused admittance when they desired to come in?

A. Because they were not there to welcome the bridegroom when he arrived. The door was closed the moment the procession entered; and they, being absent purchasing their oil, did not arrive until it was too late, and were necessarily shut out.

Q. To whom did our Lord utter this parable?

A. It was addressed to his disciples, at a private interview he held with them on the Mount of Olives, shortly before his crucifixion.

Q. Did he deliver a long discourse to them at that time?

A. He did. It occupies the whole of the twentyfourth and twenty-fifth chapters of Matthew.

Q. What was the object of this discourse?

A. The disciples had inquired of Jesus when he should come to establish formally and permanently his gospel kingdom on the earth-and they desired to know particularly what would be the signs of his coming, and of the end of the world, (aionos-age.)

Q. Was it in answer to these inquiries that these two chapters were spoken?

A. It was. The Redeemer went on to show what should take place previous to his coming-the signs which should foretel his approach, and the time when he should actually come with his angels, to bring the world, or Jewish age, to an end.

Q. What was the especial object of this parable of the ten virgins?

A. It was intended to impress upon the minds of his followers the necessity of watchfulness, to observe the signs of his coming.

Q. Is there any particular evidence that the parable was uttered to make them thus watchful?

A. There is. At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus exclaims, by way of applying it- "Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

Q. Would there have been any propriety in telling his disciples to watch, if the coming of the Son of man was not to take place in their day?

Q. Must not those people be laboring under a mistake, who suppose the Son of man has not even yet come?

Q. How should we understand the phrase "kingdom of heaven," in this instance?

A. This phrase here represents the converts to Christianity, at that age. As though Christ had said, "Then shall my followers be likened," etc.

Q. Who are represented by the five foolish virgins?

A. They represent the careless and faithless followers of Jesus, who, although they had professed to become his disciples, nevertheless paid little heed to his injunctions, and were doubtful whether he would come to judge that generation, as he had declared.

Q. Who do the five wise virgins represent?