The lamp is a light-bearer. The light-bearer of the moral world is the word of God. It is not light of itself, but bears light, and is a means of communicating it to us.
But "at midnight," when sleep was most profound, "a cry was made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." That such a cry has been made cannot be denied.
"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps." To trim a lamp, is to put it in order to burn and give light.
The Infidel has the Bible as well as the Christian,
but it affords him no light;
he cannot see that there is a God, a future state, a Savior, a devil, and angels.
The Christian finds all these things plainly revealed.
"Went forth to meet the bridegroom." Was there any special movement in the world during the last and present centuries, in reference to the coming of the Bridegroom? Answer. There most certainly was. Toward the close of the last century, and during the career of Bonaparte, a very unusual excitement prevailed on the subject of the fulfilment of the prophetic Scriptures. More was written and said on the subject than had been before for ages.
From that time it is true "that while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." The world went to sleep together on the subject.
"Went forth to meet the bridegroom." Was there any special movement in the world during the last and present centuries, in reference to the coming of the Bridegroom? Answer. There most certainly was. Toward the close of the last century, and during the career of Bonaparte, a very unusual excitement prevailed on the subject of the fulfilment of the prophetic Scriptures. More was written and said on the subject than had been before for ages.
From that time it is true "that while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." The world went to sleep together on the subject.
He did not come as they had expected; they knew not when He would come, or the prophecies would be fulfilled.
But "at midnight," when sleep was most profound, "a cry was made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." That such a cry has been made cannot be denied.
"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps." To trim a lamp, is to put it in order to burn and give light.
Has the world been aroused to the study of the Bible on the subject of Christ's coming? This is undeniable; the time never was when there was so universal a searching of the Scriptures as at present.
"But the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our
lamps are gone out." Take a lamp with a wick, and ignite it, and it will blaze for a moment without oil, but must soon expire. So with the unbelieving world; they hear and read what is preached and written, and are almost ready to yield to their convictions of its truth.
"But the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our
There are, undoubtedly, a great many of the wise virgins who are yet asleep to this subject, who are to be awakened, and will be, before that day comes."
Josiah Litch
