unregenemted. It is when the Lord is glorified in us that we become truly those whom he acknowled~,es as his brethren (cf. eh. xxviii. 10; John xiii. 1, margin Revised Version; xx. 17). Yet is there a becoming reverence which prevents the disciple from speaking thus familiarly of the Lord. Even James does not presume to call himself 11 the Lord's brother," neither does Jude, who distinguishes himself rather as " the brother of James" (cf. Jas. i. 1; Jude 1). (2) "Inherit the kingdom." This implies the crown (2 'l'im. iv. 8); the throne (Rev. iii. 21); the sceptre (Rev. ii. 26, 27). (3) " Prepared for you from the foundation of the world," viz. in the terms of the everlasting covenant which promises rewards to the obedience of faith. "For you," viz. who have done the works which prove the genuineness of faith. Note: The dis- avowal by the righteous of the virtue ascribed to them is deaigned to show the absence of all idea of merit from true righteousness. The good do good for its own sake-for the Lord's sake who is goodness itself. (4) All this is summed up as" eternal life." 'l'his is union with Christ, who is that Life (see 1 John v. 12, 20). III. THE DOOM OF THE WICKED. 1. They are convicted. (1) They are impeached with want of sympathy with Christ. "Ye gave me no meat," etc. They would not consider Christ in his disciples. (2) Special pleading will be of no avail before tl,e judgment-seat of Christ. "When saw we thee," etc.? Sinners are more ready to lay claim to virtues to which they have no right, than to confess the evils of which they are guilty. But they will get their answer. "Forasmuch," etc. Note: Virtue can- not receive the slightest wound of which Jr,sus does not instantly feel the smart (see Acts iL 4, 5). (3) The offences here alleged are negative. This does not say that positive wickedness shall escape. The murderer, the adulterer, the thief, the liar, the blasphemer,--every sinner will have his sinfulness brought home to him. 2. They are degraded, (J.) "Depart from me "-from your last hope of mercy and salvation. " Ye cursed." In departing from me whom you refused to accept as your Curse-bearer (;i1S:-:), bear now your own deserved execration. (2) Depart" into eternal fire." This is after• wards described as "eternal punishment." Hell is that horrid centre in which all the lines of sin and misery meet. The Greek word construed " eternal " is to be under- stood in the New Testament, not so much in the light of its etymolo;ry as in that of its usage. When applied to the world, it has no limit except the duration of the world (see Rom. xvi. 25, Revised Version; Jude 7). When applied to the world to come, it has no limit (see Mark ix. 43; see also Isa. xxxiii. 14; Dan. xii. 2; 2 'l.'hess. i. 9; Rev. xiv. 11; xx. 10). (3) 11 Prepa.red for the devil and his angels." Note: There is a ringleader among devils. " What must be the nature and misery of a confinement with those powerful, active, sagacious beings, whose minds are all malice, fraud, and cruelty, and whose endless being is a succession of rage, revenge, and despair?" (Dwight). (4) ".And these shall go away," etc. Those who refused to accept the invitation to 11 come," will have. to obey the order to "go." "Every word has a terror in it, like that of the trumpet of Mount Sinai, waxing louder and louder" (Henry).-J. A. M. Ver. 2.-Signs of wiadom and of folly in th~ Christian life. ".And five of them were wise, and five were foolish." We should not confuse the word "foolish" with the word " wicked." Some were thoughtless, heedless of possibilities; they lived in the present, and could not anticipate. Life is full of emergencies, and he is wise who prepares for all that he can imagine may come. Our Lord frequently impressed the importance of forethought in the Christian life. He had immediately before been counselling his disciples to be " al ways ready." It is that point he now further illus- trates in these three parables of the chapter, showing that the true readiness includes (1) maintenance of the personal religious life ; (2) full response to all Christian obli- gations; and (3) kindly relations with all around us. In the parable of the "virgins," we are taught that the wise Christian provides for the maintenance of the soul's life, but the foolish Christian is content to live on the experiences of to-day. I. WISE CHRISTIAN LIVING. Strain of some kind is sure to come in every Christian life. It may take forms of aflliction, persecution, temptation; but our Lord intimates that nothing will ever really test and try us so much as " mere continuance." 'l'his is his point in the teachings of the last time. Everybody was anticipating speedy con- summations. He says, "tho end is not yet." The bridegroom is certainly comin~, but there may be 1ong waiting-times before he comes. Wise disciples provide for tht1 605 THE GOSPEL ACOORDIB"G TO ST. MATTHEW. Lott. u.v. 1-40.
strain of "patient continuing in well-doing." And the provision they make ia soul- nouriahment. They keep the oil-stores replenished; they keep the soul's light brightly shining, and then they are ready for all circumstances, prepared for all delay and for all strain. T"nat is the secret of Christian wisdom, 11 Keep thy soul with all diligence; for out of it a.re the issues of life." What a.re the soul-stores from which the soul's light may be kept replenished, should be fully illustrated. II. FOOLISH CHRISTIAN LIVING. There is both a wrong and a right concern for the "morrow." It is wrong to worry over it; it is right to anticipate and prepare for it, It is foolish merely to enjoy the present. Dods says, "The foolish virgins are a warn- ing to a.II who a.re tempted to make conversion everything, edification nothing ; who cultivate religion for a season, and then think they have done enough; who were religious once, can remember the time when they had very serious thoughts and very solemn resolutions, but who have made no earnest effort, and are making none, to maintain within themselves the life they once began." Christian folly is neglecting personal soul-culture.-R. T.