THE KING’S BUSINESS
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and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves,” —v. 9. An infusion of blood to the dying we might spare and recover, but the spirit, the blood of the soul we cannot spare. Unprofitable servants at best we have no surplus. Rome claims a store of merit, the surplus sanc tity o f her saints. It is for sale. But they who buy her oil will find their vessels empty at the last, and, should they return to buy, her markets closed. There is no monopoly, not the Standard Oil, so close as Christ's. “ There is no other name” (Acts 4:12) in the field and they that leave the purchase of their oil will find His shop closed on that night, His wedding night, for He will have other business on hand. " 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,” —v. 10. However long the delay, H e sh all come . However long,—yet some will not be ready. However welcome now —> th e door sh all b e . sh u t (Gen. 7:16). The lesson is part of Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ questions (ch. 24:3). He did not tell when but what the end should be, viz., a time of judgment (see The Ten Vir gins, The Talents and our lesson). II. J udgment . 1 God Is a Judge. From the first God is called a “Judge” who will do "right,” justly . (Gen. 18:25). 2. Man Is a Subject of Judgment. Cor responding with God’s law and judging men have a sense of justice, a conscience, and an expectation of judgment to come (Heb. 6 :2 ; 9:27; 10:27). The fact harmon izes with reason and revelation. The foun dations of moral order for time and eter nity rest on .it. unto me. —Matt. 25:45. I. T h e C onnection .
“Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us,” —v. 11. It might have been! God save us from such an awakening (Luke 14:24-28). To have the gates of Glory shut in our face! To stand outside of Heaven’s gate, To knock, and knock again; To hear the leaden word, “Too late!” And plead Christ’s name in vain!— The crown of life to miss! The grace, the rest, the bliss! God, save us each from this! To see them seated at the Feast, The wedding guests in light, From north, from south, from west, from east, And we thrust into night!— The crown of life to miss! The grace, the rest, the bliss! God, save us each from this! To see the world we love drift past; To hope the happier lot;- To hear from Jesus’ lips at last, “Depart, I know you not.”— The crown of life to miss! III. “ T h e G eneral J udgment . , The common notion that all will be judged at the same time and place “at the end of the world” is unscriptural. ' It is the cause of much confusion of things that differ, mixing grace and works, and hin dering the assurance of believers, leading, logically; to the inference that’ salvation de pends on the decision of that future hour. Though named in one sentence (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29), the resurrections (and judg ments) of saints and sinners are 1000 years apart (Rev. 20:5, 7, 10). The saints rise first to glory. IV. T hree F uture J udgments . 1. A Judgment of Saints (2 Cor. 5:10). (1) Its Time: At Christ’s '‘appearing” (1 Cor. 4 :5 ; 1 Tim. 4:8). The grace, the rest, the bliss! God, save us each from this!
LESSON XII.'¿-September 20.—T he J udgment of the N ations .—Matt. 25 :31,-46. G olden T e x t .— Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not
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