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anew. They cannot enter. Hear His own words, “I know you not.” (1 Cor. 16:22.) “If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.” (5) PREMONITION OF DANGER, v. 13. “Watch, therefore.” Here is a warning to all believers. “Watch; be sober; he on guard.” Over and over again, by this word and others does the Lord admonish the believer. All through the Gospels, and con tinually through the Epistles, does He exhort. The mind of the Spirit seems constantly upon this theme of prepared ness for the coming- of the Lord. Every Christian grace and duty is urged upon the believer because of the fact that the Lord comes in such an hour as we think not. Would it not be wise to put on the whole armor of God, take the sword of the Spirit, and give ourselves un ceasingly to prayer and supplication, and uncompromisingly to serviee, watch ing theteunto with all perseverance?” (Eph. 6:18). “Behold, he cometh.” (Rev. 1:7.) Let us wait and watch and work with glad hearts, for yet a little while and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37). PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Crises reveal character. (2) Light your lamp and look for the Lord. (3) See that your lamp is supplied with oil. There is danger and death in delay. (4) We are not only saved, but sep arated for the Bridegroom. (5) If we love Him, we will certainly look for Him. (6) The coming of the Bridegroom for His Bride will be an evening event. (7) Lamps, light and oil are the es sentials for the wise virgins. (8) The time to buy is whein the buy ing is good.
man to give intellectual assent to the truths of the Gospel, and be a member of a church; he must have the -witness ing Spirit, the assurance of the life of God—^eternal life—imparted by the eternal Spirit. The time to buy is in the day.. Today is the day of salvation. (Heb. 4:7.) “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” While the wise cannot impart oil to the unwise, they can impart joy to the bridegroom. They joyfully join in the procession. There is music and mirth, there is light and gladness, as they enter in to the wedding feast. (Rev. 19:9.) , “B lessed are they th at are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he' saith unto me, T hese are the true sayings of God. (4) PROHIBITED FROM THE WED DING, vs. l i , 12. “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” The foolish virgins find the door shut. They clamor in vain, “Lord, Lord, open unto us.” The door is open now for men through a new and living way—the veil of His flesh. The crucifixion and resurrection have effected a glorious entrance into heaven itself. The Lord cries now to men, “Come unto me.” (John 7:37.) “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he Bhall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). But in that d!ay it will be vain to say: "Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils?” (Matt. 7:22). It will be vain to say: “Lord, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets” (Luke 13:26). He knows His own sheep, and is known of them, and they follow Him. (John 10:27; 1 Cor. 8:3). There is no “universal salvation” taught here. There is solemn rejection even of professional followers of the Lord who have not been really born
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