EMILY.

'Mamma, as the bridegroom means Christ, I suppose the bride's-maids, who are the companions of the bride, must mean the different people that are called Christians; and the going forth to meet him must mean the preparing to die.'

MRS. M. Certainly, we may call preparing to die, preparing to meet Christ, and it is only while here on earth that that preparation can be made: but it may also relate to Christ's second coming. Now George, what means the distinction between the wise and the foolish virgins.'

GEORGE. that, mamma.'

I don't know how to explain

MRS. M. You find the wise virgins were ready with their lamps trimmed, and their vessels filled with oil; now what is it which can alone make us ready for the call of death or ready to meet Christ when he shall come again?

GEORGE.

MRS. M.

It is faith, mamma.'

Yes, and sanctification, which

faith alone can obtain. You see the wise

virgins had not only their lamps filled with oil, but they had oil in their vessels; their lamps had not only been lighted, but supplied with oil and kept burning; they had not only made a profession of faith, but had maintained and kept up that profession.'

GEORGE. Then I suppose, mamma, the foolish virgins are those who have only an outward shew of faith.'

MRS. M. Yes; they had only oil enough to supply their lamps for a short time: as you say, an outward shew of faith; sufficient to make them appear Christians before men, but not that faith which is unto salvation; not that "Holiness without which no man can see the Lord."

GEORGE. 'Mamma, what do you think is meant by their all "slumbering and sleeping while the bridegroom tarried ? " Do you think it means that even the wise virgins were careless as well as the foolish ones?'

MRS. M. No, I do not; if the tarrying of the bridegroom means the space that intervenes between the time of the real con

version of the wise virgins, or the apparent conversion of the foolish ones, and the coming of Christ in their death; I should think the slumbering and sleeping meant to express, that though in this life all things go on to appearance, the same way as to both, yet when the bridegroom comes, when death approaches, the difference will be found. While the wise only slumber, and are ready at a moment's call to go to meet him, the foolish, having fallen into the sleep of the world, and become careless, are unprovided with oil. But I am rather inclined to think that the slumbering and sleeping means the sleep of the grave from which all are awakened by the Bridegroom's approach, by the coming of Christ in glory and "all his holy angels

with him." Then those who have in this life been his faithful servants will at his approach go forth with joy to meet him, having the oil of the spirit, which through faith in him had lighted their lamp of life here and made them ready to attend his call to the grave without fear or dismay, giving them the blessed hope

of entering into his kingdom hereafter: whereas the foolish virgins, those who rest satisfied in mere profession and go down to the grave with a kind of vague hope and expectation of happiness hereafter, shall, at the cry announcing the bridegroom's coming to judgment, rise in dismay.'

GEORGE.

And what do you understand to be the meaning of their asking the wise virgins to give them of their oil? and of the answer of the wise ones?'

MRS. M. I think it is to shew that there is but the one way of salvation: it can be obtained but from one source; no man can share his portion of grace with another; all that we can obtain is necessary for ourselves; all that any one can do is what the wise virgins did,-to direct others to that source from whence we have ourselves obtained

it ; "Go ye to them that sell, and buy for yourselves;" go ye to Him who says, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters and buy-buy without money." The expression here used, which in its first

and literal signification can be applied only to the literal description of the Jewish wedding and the bride's-maids going forth to meet the bridegroom, we must take in a spiritual sense; we learn from it, that the oil of faith or salvation, obtained by the free grace of God through Christ, is only to be had when in this life; the door once shut, the day of grace is past, and all is horror and dismay. Now Emily, tell me what lesson may we derive from this?'

6

EMILY. Oh, mamma, I could not say half what I should want to say, and George would call me his little expounder.'

MRS. M. Well, my child, I think we may learn from it this most important lesson; the madness of delaying our repentance, the necessity for our earnest entreaties for grace to enable us truly to repent and for faith to discern the blessed hope that is set before us in the Gospel of Christ. Let us not, when conscience is awakened and we feel that we are doing wrong, say like Felix, "Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient