The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 498

I. THAT BELIGION ADMITS OF NO NEUTRALITY, 1. In other thi'Tlgs men may be 4ndifferent. (1) Thus in questions of science: one dogmatist may assert that gravitation is the effect of attraction as a property in matter. Another may hold attraction in matter to be a mechanical absurdity. It is of little consequence should a third person suspend his judgment. The cosmos will not go to pieces because he cannot determine how its elements are kept together. (2) So in questions of politics: some may stoutly contend that a liberal policy is the least revolutionary and safest for the commonwealth. Others may as stoutly oppose this view. A third party may see difficulties on either hand, and be unable to come to any conclusion, The world will not wait for him to make up his mind, 2. But therilations of ezistenaforlnd neutrality 4n religion. (1) Here the Divine claims upon the individual are urgent. To neglect these is to treat the Almighty with contempt. Such an offence is the reverse of trifling. Negligence here is damnable. (2) Here also are urgent human claims. Every man is his brother's keeper, responsible to God for his influence upon hi; brother. (3) We are responsible also to ourselves. Every man has to live with his own conscience. His eternal happiness or misery depends upon the opinion his companion has of him. He is made respectable and happy, or otherwise, according to the nature of his relation to the question of religion. (4) If God forsake the sinner, Satan will compel him. Neutrality, therefore, is out of the question. We can only vanquish Satan by the help of God. Our possibilities are infinitely grand or mean. To be a son of God, what more glorious I To be a serf of Satan, what more despicable! II. THAT UNBELIEF 18 THE PABALyzEB OF BELIGIOUB ENEBGY. 1. 1'he world appeals vividly to sense. (1) Hence in the Bridegroom's absence there is a disposition to slumber. The glitter and whirl of the world's excitement drowns and stupefies the spiritual sense. (2) Faith is the countera.ctant. It acts by what Dr. Chalmers calls "the expulsive power of a new affection." Realizing vividly the superior glori.e8 of the spiritual world, we gain the victory over the world of sense. 2. The foolish sleep without oil in their vessels. (1) Some foolish ones have no lamps, no profession of religion. These are the people outside the Churches. They are the people of the world. Many of these go to sleep pluming themselves upon being "better than many of those who do profess." (2) Others go to sleep because they have lamps-because they are professors, though they have no oil in their vessels, no grace of God in their hearts. How many trust for salvation to their Church-membership rather than to Chrisi I Useless is the oil-less lamp. 3. Even the wise are found sleeping. (1) Some think "sleep" here means death. This, however, scarcely comports with the grand inference and application of the argument, "Watch." The exhortation surely comes too late to the dead. (2) Is there not a sense in which the Churches generally are asleep-the wise as well as the foolish? Are not Christians, taken generally, far too worldly? How little of holy scorn do we feel for the pleasures of the vain and frivolous! Is there not also a culpable supineness in relation to the condition of the world perishing around us? What excitement would there be in a ship's crew while a man overboard remained unrescued I What excitement in a crowd while an in mate of a .house on fire remained unsaved I Where is our faith in the perishing condition of tho world of sinners, and in the saving eflica.cy of the Redeemer's blood? Are we not paralyzed by our unbelief? III. '!'HAT BELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT KINDLES AB THE WORLD FADES. 1. All examine themselves at the judgment. (1) 'fhat will be the "midnight," viz. of the world. The sun shall be darkened. (2) Then shall the midnight "cry" be raised. It will be discerned in the crash of the thunders; in the growling of the e11rthquakes; in the roar of the fire of the great conflagration; in the ever-aggravating vibrations of the trump of God. (3) All will then be raised from their graves. "Then all those virgins arose," The unjust as well as the just will respond to that voice, and come forth from their graves. 2. All examine themselves in dying. (1) The hour of dying is the midnight of lif.;,. 'fhe world then receded from the senses, or, which is the same, the senses are closing upon the world. (2) The midnight cry is then hoard in the thunderings of the Law and in the terrors of the Lord. The echoes are a.wakened in the conscience. The death-rattle in the throat is a solemn alarm. (3) In such a crisis all the virgins are astir. The wise are excited to look to their lamps anll their oil. Happy arc they when they find the i;race that can sustain and nourish the 60i THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. ton. x:tv. 1-48,