The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 469

11tore of grMe to which they could h11ve re- the isene would have been the same In ooul'l!e, and whioh would serve instead of either case; their return would have been individual pel'l!Onal preparation. See here too lute. The opportunity they had had a terrible warning Bgainet delay in the was not properly used; when preparation mBtter of the eoul, or Bgainet trusting to 11 WllS comparatively easy they had neglected death-bed repentanoe. to make it; they had been once converl;ed, Ver. 9.-Not eo; lest there be not enough so to speak, and rested in that fact, and (µt,-ro-r< oi, µ¾J l.pr«"!I, haply t.t ,m"ll Mt thought it sufficient for all time, omiUing ,u(!ice). Edereheim renders, "Not 11t 1111- to seek for daily supplies of grace, and it will never suffice for us and yon," in now they :find themselves miserably deceived. order to give the force of the double negation. There is a certain wilful forgetfulness and In Aristotle, µ.,f1ron is often equivalent to negligence whioh can never be remedied on "perh11ps," e.g. • Eth. Nio.,' x. I. 3. "Even this side the grave. They that were read:,. 80 they failed," eaye St. Chrysostom, "and The :five wise virgins who had:made pro- neither the humanity of those of whom they vision for the meeting, had renewed the begged, nor the e&sincss of their request, grace of God in their hearts, and kept it nor their necessity and want, me.de them alive by diligence and penieverance, accord- obtain their petition. And what do we learn ing to the apostle's counsel (2 Pet. i. 4-8). from hence? That no man can protect us Went in with him to the marriage (robs there if we are betrayed by our works ; not ,-&µovs, the maN"iage feast). They not only because he will not, but because he cannot. duly met the bridegroom on his way, but For these, too. take refuge in the impos- aooompanied him into the joyful scene, the sibility. This the blessed Abraham also bridal feast, the type of all spiritual hap- indicated, saying, • Between us and yon piness (Rev. xi..x. 9). "Thie world,'' says there is a great gulf,' so that not even ',Pirke Aboth,' "is like the vestibule, the when willing is it permitted them to pass world to oome is like the dining-chamber: it." But (probably spnriom) go :ye rather prepare thyself in the vestibule, that thou to them that sell The answer is not harsh, mayest be able to enter into the dining- and the advice is not ironical or unkind. ehamber." Well says the Son of Sire.eh, The wise cannot of themselves supply the "Let nothing hinder thee to pay thy vow lack. They have no superabundant store in due time, and defer not until death to be of gract> to communicate to others ; at best jmti:6.ed" (Ecclns. xviii 22). The door was even they are unprofitable servants; the abut (Luke :xili. 25). It is customary in the righteous shall scarcely be saved; so they East, at great entertainments, to close the direct their companions to the only source doors when all the guests are assembled. where effectus.J. grace may be obtained. Bo at our universities, during the dinner Thev that sell are the ministers and stewards hour, the gates of the colleges are always of Christ's mysteries, who dispense the shut. Scott, in • Old Mortality' (eh. viii. means of grace. These are said to be bought, note), remarks that this oUBtom was rigo- as ti,e tree.sure hid in the :field or the pearl ronsly observed in Scotland. When the of great price is bought (eh. xiii 44--46). door is shut in the parable, there is no more Divine grace can always be procured by entrance for any one. Trench quotes St. those who will pay the price thereof; and Angustine's eaying, "Non_inimious intrat, the price is faith and prayer and eamest- nee am.icus exit." Christ is the door by ness,-nothing more, nothing less (Isa. Iv. I; which our prayers reach God; through him Rev. iii 18). But the time is short; delay is alone they prevail ; when this is closed the fatal; hence the counsel so urgently given, ace.ess to the heavenly throne is barred. " Go ye,'' etc. Buy for :,ounelvea. This is Ver. 11,-Lord, Lord, open to u■. They important. Every one must bear his own apply to the bridegroom himself as now burden. The grace must be their own ; what taking the direction of affairs. Bo when is required of those who wonld meet the Christ the spiritual Bridegroom comes, he Bridegroom without shame and fear is rules over all Here, as elsewhere in the person.al preparation, personal faith and parable, the great spiritual reality shines holiness. We shall be judged individually; through the earthly delineation. Whether our Christian virtues must be entirely our the :five foolish ones obtained oil or not at own. wrought in us by the grace of God, this late hour matters nothing ; they were with which we have humbly and thankfully too late to do that which they had to do, co-operated. It is cnriom that some ancient too late to join in the bridal procession, and and modem commentators see in this part thus procure admission to the festival. of the parable only an ornament.al detail Their piteom cry is not answered e.a they without special signification. hoped. It is too late to ask for mercy when Ver. 10.-While they went to buy. They it IS the time of vengeance. In this present followed the advice given them. Whether state of grace we have the comforting in- they were - f n l or not is left WI.told ; junction, "Knock, and it shall be opened OH, xxv.1-48.] THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, 475