(2.) Virgins for the purity of worship. Idolatry and corruption of worship is often expressed by harlotry ; and therefore the prophet, to figure out Israel's apostasy and corruption in worship, is bidden to take a wife of whoredoms, Hosea iii. And those that followed the Lamb are said to be virgins not defiled, Eev. xiv. 4 ; not polluted with idolatry, which is spiritual fornication.
(3.) Virgins for purity and blamelessness of conversation The apostle speaketh of some that ' had escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, who might be again entangled and overcome therein,' 2 Peter ii. 20. Well, then, these were all virgins, even the foolish as well as the wise, not tainted with error, nor defiled with false worship, nor profane, corrupt or scandalous in their conversations ; they were such as had escaped the corruptions of the world, and had as glorious a form of godliness as any others.
[2.] They are described by their number, ' ten.' This is mentioned either because ten is a number of perfection, or because usually the number of those companions of the bride never exceeded ten.
[3.] They are set forth by their distribution into two ranks — some wise, some foolish ; five of the one sort, and five of the other. The number is not exactly to be stood upon, as if the number of the saved and damned were equal ; as in the parable of the marriage-feast one had not a wedding-garment ; it is not to be understood as if only one were damned of all that are invited to the profession of the gospel ; it only signifieth that all the virgins are not alike careful to prepare for the coming of the Lord. By the wise are meant provident and dili- gent Christians ; by the foolish, the improvident and negligent. Among those that bear the name and keep up the reputation of Christians, some will be found not to fill up their profession with answerable duty, not to make serious provision for the coming of Christ.
[4.] They are set forth by their work and employment, ' They went forth to meet the bridegroom;' that is, they expected the coming of Christ, and happiness by him. The foolish and the wise did both agree in this ; indeed, this is the whole business of a Christian.
[5.] They are set forth by their preparation for this work, ' They took their lamps ;' that is, made open profession of their hope : Mat. v. 16, ' Let your light so shine among men ;' for external shining profession they were both alike. All are called Christians, all are baptized, and all profess faith in Christ, and an expectation of his second coming, with eternal life to ensue upon it ; all are virgins, all have lamps, all are devoted to the bridegroom, go forth to meet him, and yet some were wise, and some foolish ; some made preparation that whenever the bridegroom should come they might be ready to go in with him, others contented themselves with an outward profession, or loose waiting for his coming, but did not with that serious diligence prepare themselves for it, and so came short of the blessedness expected by them ; there wanted a deep indication, and a constant perseverance, without which
Vers. 1, 2.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 323
the blaze of profession, which lasted for a while, will soon be extin- guished,
Doct. That in the visible church, among those that give up their names to Christ, some will be found foolish when others are wise, and come short of the blessedness expected by them. Or, in the visible church all are not wise Christians, but some are wise, and really such as they profess themselves to be ; others negligent, foolish, and impro- vident.
The state of the visible church is here represented ; and observe —
1. This parable is not spoken of the corrupted members of degene- rate churches, but speaketh what shall fall out in the churches not defiled with whoredoms of the world. There are some churches that have turned the government of Christ into a temporal domination, and their worship into a mass of paganish or heathenish rites and superstitions, and place all their glory, not in excellency of gifts and graces, but pomp of living and external splendour, and make Chris- tianity look like a temporal worldly thing, calculated only for this life. Of those Christ speaketh not here ; something may be intimated of them in the former parable, but here he speaks of a reformed church ; not the church in her pollution and defection, but a church in her right constitution. Papists will be counted Christians, who may be rejected by Christ at his coming ; they have so corrupted his worship, discipline, and doctrine. Nay, but Christ speaketh here of those that live under the dispensations of purer Christianity ; some will be found true believers, others common professors ; even among the members of a reformed church, that make profession of the purity of the gospel, all will not be found such as may abide the day of Christ's appearing in judgment. In Abraham's family there was an Ishmael as well as an Isaac ; in Christ's, a Judas ; and in the apostles' time, some were enemies to the cross of Christ that yet took the profession of Christ upon them, Phil. iii. 18.