HEN 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.'-Matt. xxv.

THE FAITHFUL AND THE UNFAITHFUL
SERVANT.

(OR the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling

FOR

into a far country, who called his own servants,

and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained besides them five talents more.

P

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained other two talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man. I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.' After the just reproof on this thankless and unprofitable servant, he was deprived of his one talent, and cast into outer darkness, to be a fellow-sufferer with him who had not on a wedding garment.-MATT. XXV.

(HE kingdom of heaven and the final awards at

TH

the last day, with the conditions of different cha

racters, both now and at that time, are represented by our Lord under a great variety of aspects and similitudes. Here is a solemn example: 'When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.' Then follows the sentence, and the reason of that sentence. Let those who turn a deaf ear to distress, and make light of deeds of charity done for Christ's sake, read this scripture and tremble.-MATT. XXV.

(HE rage and malice of the Jewish rulers, which as

ゲ

yet had not broken out into open violence against

the person of Christ, because held in check by

the Roman governor, and by many of the people, was yet ready and impatient for its victim, whenever opportunity might arise. On occasion, therefore, of a meeting of their body, these rulers made the destruction of Jesus their chief topic of consideration. 'Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him. But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people.'-MATT. xxvi.