IV.--GREAT TRIALS WILL YIELD SWEET MEMORIES.

None of Abraham's journeys cost him so many tears as this, and none were so pleasant to recall.

PERHAPS CALVARY IS THE SWEETEST SPOT ON EARTH TO G.o.d.

XXVI. OIL FOR LAMPS.

MATTHEW xxv. 1-13.

G.o.d's kingdom is imperfect as yet, for it is not said to be like five, but ten virgins. It is worthy of our careful thought that it is to be made perfect by contraction, not expansion. The King is to say "Depart!"

as well as "Come!"

We do not attempt anything like exposition of this solemn and yet charming parable, but rather to notice some of the most easily perceived truths it discovers.

I.--A Light is better than a Lamp.

All the ten took their lamps. Very likely there was variety in the shape and material of the lamp, but only five of them had lamps that kept alight, for some of them had no means of replenishment. For anything we know, the lamps of the foolish were as good as the others, may-be better, but the flame and not the frame is the important matter. We cannot have the power without the form. Grace must have the human material, but we may have the human without the Divine. Our Bibles, our Prayers, our Hymns, all these are channels of grace, as the lamp and the wick are essential to the flame, but the lamp may not be lighted, or it may have gone out! It is not a question of John Keble, or General Booth, but is the singing from the heart? The "Amen" may be shouted or intoned, but if not real, it is worse than smouldering wick.

II.--We may as well be without oil as not have enough to endure to the end.

All ten lamps were at one time burning. In the margin of verse 10, we read, "Our lamps are going out." What a lesson to the backslider! You once were a burning and a shining light, but you did not seek grace to help in time of need, and your lamp is gone out. Better never have made a profession if there be not grace to sustain the flame. Aye, and perhaps you, with a lamp which has gone out, you have been a preacher, or a teacher, and have, before now, enforced this very lesson on your hearers. If there is a sight in this world over which angels might weep, it is a preacher without a light. Better go to h.e.l.l from a race-course than a pulpit!

III.--The gates or the palace may be shut while we are calling on the oil seller.

"While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came." There is an old saying, that "praying breath was never wasted." But this parable does not teach that lesson. There are not a few who think they can atone for the sins of a long life by crying with their dying breath, "Lord, have mercy on me!" But the truth is, there may be the fear of punishment without any penitence, and cries for dread of h.e.l.l may not be the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart.

Let us not put off our repentance too long, or while we are sending for the minister to instruct us, death may claim us for his prey. Or while we are saying to the teacher of religion, "What must I do to escape h.e.l.l?" the fetters may be fastened on our soul. The palace-gate may swing to before we can make the oil-man hear.

IV.--That which lets the five wise in to the palace, keeps out the five foolish.

"The door was shut." The five were in, and then came the other five, to find the gate closed. Then they begin to cry "Open to us!" but in vain.

The door makes all the difference. If you enter, it is by the door; if you are shut out, it is the door that closes against you. "I am the door," said Jesus, and it is yet true. "No man cometh to the Father but by Me." Yes, Jesus is the True and Living way, and the only one. But if we are lost, it will be the aspect of Jesus which will slay our last hope. It is the wrath of the Lamb which is so dreadful. Have you ever thought of it, my brother, that Christ is to be Life or Death to thee? If he does not shut thee into heaven, He will shut thee out. Shall you ever be one of the group which cry, as their last prayer, "Lord! Lord! open to us!"

DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE WHO PRAY LIKE ABEL AND LIVE LIKE CAIN.

XXVII. "CAST A STONE AT HER!"

JOHN viii. 7.

Cast a stone at whom? At a woman! Why not at a man?

THERE WAS A MAN, WHY NOT STONE HIM?

Just so, but then the Scribes and Pharisees did not bring him. It is so easy to punish the woman, and yet it is not proved that she was worse than her paramour. But is it not the way of the world to make the woman bear all the shame and all the suffering? We say, "She is a fallen woman;" and yet we speak of a man who breaks the seventh commandment as one who is "sowing his wild oats!" Why is he not called a fallen man? If a woman falls, we put her outside our sympathies and our regard, and we may be right is so doing. But at the same time we don't put the man outside. He can come into our drawing-rooms. He may dine at the same table with our daughters. If we saw them speak to the woman, we should cry out with loathing, "Come away from her!" but

WE DON'T CRY OUT WHEN THEY LAUGH AT THE JOKES OF A MAN WHO HAS FALLEN!

Why is this?

"Cast a stone at her!" Who shall stone her? "He that is without sin, let him be the first to pick up a stone." Now, then, reader, why don't you throw a stone? Nay, but I have no right, say you, I am not without sin. Is this to be the rule, none are to punish the fallen but those who have never tripped? Why, this would silence many who are very ready to speak against these unhappy sisters. We make no apologies for the crimes of those who have yielded to temptation, but we do ask, is there room for our rebukes when we are not without sin?

Perhaps this book may be read by our sisters who have gone astray. To such, we say, in the words of Jesus, (verse 11.)

"SIN NO MORE!"

You are not obliged to do so. No one is. There is always a way made for those who truly repent. Call upon Jesus, the Friend of sinners, and He will open a door of hope for you. To persevere in sin, is only to ruin soul and body too. Perhaps you have parents living, who long to see you, and who would be glad to take you to their hearts. Give them the joy of having you near them once more. Is it not in your power to answer their prayer--

"O G.o.d! GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER ONCE MORE!"

If you are absolutely friendless, so far as earth is concerned, you have your Heavenly Father. He is always within call, and He has said, in His word, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." On the other hand, there is the "Father of lies." He who tempted the first woman, and led her astray, and taught her to lead the man wrong. This evil one is whispering in your ear--"There is no hope." "It is too late." "Better have a short life and a merry one."

HEED HIM NOT, SISTER!

He is a liar! He means thy destruction! G.o.d calls, and calls thee to pardon and peace. Obey Him, and hope shall spring again, and LIGHT RETURN TO THY POOR HEART.

XXVIII. "OFFER IT NOW UNTO THY GOVERNOR."

MALACHI i. 8.

We beg to suggest to those who want a new text that will strike and stick, that they should look through MALACHI'S book. There are plenty of texts like splinters therein. The words that head this article are part of an appeal to the people on the question of right service. The prophet was indignant with his country people, who wished to combine prayer with parsimony, and worship with worldly policy. He complained that they dare not offer to their superiors what they sent as a sacrifice to G.o.d. Might not some Christians be asked the same questions? Would the "Governor"

accept the present G.o.d was supposed to be glad to get? Who would think of trying to get into the good graces of any one by sending a spavined horse, or a cow with foot-and-mouth-disease, as a present?

In the matter of prayer, for instance. Take a congregation supposed to be asking G.o.d to pardon their sins, and to give them all the blessings their souls and bodies need. Mind you, they are people who say they believe that "he that believeth not is condemned" already; that "the wages of sin is death," and yet, listen how they pray! We will suppose the man in the pulpit is in earnest and means all he says. Look around, what do you see? Scores of people who dare not sit in the presence even of the Squire, to say nothing of the Queen, but there they sit, as though that was the proper position for prayer! One of them is taking the pattern of a new dress, or the tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of a bonnet; while another is wondering, not whether there will be an answer to the prayer, but whether the man who is leading the worship will keep on much longer, and ask for something else, for already he has been praying ten minutes!

Supposing a pet.i.tion is to be drawn up to the Queen, asking for a pardon for one of the family, who for his crime, is under sentence of death; what thought would be given to it? Even the very paper, pens, and ink, would have to be of the best quality. But hear yonder father praying for his children's conversion. His son is old enough to have rejected the gospel, and is condemned already; but how listless the prayer! "Offer it to thy Governor." Would the Queen be expected to deign to notice such a pet.i.tion? Is it any wonder such prayers are unanswered?

Look into this vestry! There is a meeting for prayer. It is held with great regularity, so that it is well known that a number of persons meet at a certain hour to ask blessings from One who has said "Knock and the door shall be opened." Considering that this is the case, one would have expected the room would be too small; but no, there is never a large meeting. You see it is only a prayer-meeting. If the Rev. Timothy Flowerpot was going to preach, there would be a crowd, for he is popular, and he says things which are supposed to be very superior to the Bible; besides his prayers are eloquent, very different to what are usually sent to the throne of grace. He is very sensitive, though, in the matter of congregations, he will not go a second time where there is only a handful of people. His work is to speak to large audiences, and he would be very much offended if the vestry were prepared for his service.