and pray for those who persecute us. They know not what they are doing. They will certainly alter their minds one day. We may yet hear them confessing, that we were wise and they were foolish. The whole world shall one day acknowledge, that the saints of God made a wise choice.
We see, lastly, in this parable, that ivJien Christ returns, true Christians shall receive arichreivardfor allthey have suffered for their Master's sake. We are told that when the bridegroom came, "^ they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage : and the door was shut."
True Christians shall alone be found ready at the second advent. Washed in the blood of atonement, clothed in Christ's righteousness, renewed by the Spirit, they shall meet their Lord with boldness, and sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb, to go out no more. Surely this is a blessed prospect.
They shall be with their Lord, — with Him who loved them and gave Himself for them, — with Him who bore with them, and carried them through their earthly pilgrimage, — with Him, whom they loved truly and followed faithfully on earth, though with much weakness, and many a tear. Surely this also is a blessed prospect.
The door shall be shut at last — shut on all pain and sorrow, — shut on an illnatured and wicked world — shut on a tempting devil — shut on all doubts and fears — ■ shut, to be opened again no more. Surely, we may again say, this is a blessed prospect.
Let us remember these things. They will bear medi- tation. They are ail true. The believer may have much tribulation, but he has before him abounding