This subject appears still more evident from Luke xii. After our Lord had illustrated the same point under a different emblem, Peter said unto him, "Speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? ” Jesus replies, (v. 43) "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, WHEN HE COMETH, shall find so doing." Hence the individuals, or the generation, who are to know that His coming is nigh, even at the door, are the same as those who are likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

But what shall we understand by the lamps? Evidently the word of God. Says David, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Now as a lamp, when supplied with oil, affords light to the natural world, so do the oracles of God, that source of spiritual light to the Church, reflect their radiant beams on the mind of him whose heart is filled with confidence in God, and the teachings of His word.

"Which took their lamps." They left the traditions and commandments of men, and all preconceived opinions of their own, and betook themselves to searching the scriptures. How perfectly this harmonizes with Daniel xii: 4, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Within a few years past, this has indeed been fulfilled. There has been a movement in the religious world, which completely fills the picture. About the year 1820, Joseph Wolf commenced his labors in Asia, the burden of whose mission was the immediate appearing of our Saviour. Since that time, thousands have sounded the same proclamation; and never, from the dawn of the Christian era, has there been a like movement, on this sub

ject, in the religious world. The influence of this doctrine has not been confined to the United States, but England, Scotland, and Germany have been roused to some extent, and even in Russia, as far north as Siberia, the message has gone forth: "Fear God and give glory to Him; FOR THE HOUR OE HIS JUDGEMENT IS COME." It has pursued its onward course like a mighty river. The world, and a formal church, have put forth every exertion to dam its waters. "But the higher the dam, the higher the flood." The river of salvation, "that maketh glad the city of our God," has rolled majestically along, overflowing every obstacle; and on its bosom has the ark of the believers' hope floated peacefully, as the steamship ploughs in security the surface of the mighty deep, amid the howling of the tempest and the heaving of the ocean's billows. Thus has the cause of truth triumphed and prevailed, though earth and hell have been arrayed against it. Although the witnesses have apparently been slain, and the cause prostrated, and, in the eye of the world, extinct, yet He, who is "the resurrection and the life," has imparted to the truth a living energy, that has caused the witnesses to stand upon their feet, and the glorious doctrine has lived, still lives, AND IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE. Amen.

"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." What is it to tarry? Answer. To while away, or prolong the time. But could it, with propriety, be said that he tarried, or prolonged the time, if there was no specific time, at which they expected him, beyond which point they waited, and realized a delay? For illustration, suppose a man, intending to go to California, on taking leave of his family, he promises to

return in one year from the first day of January next. On the day appointed, the wife and children are at the wharf, or depot, in expectation of meeting a husband and father. But he does not arrive. The wife and children return with disappointment to their home. What has given rise to the disappointment? The fact that the specified time had passed, and now he delays to come, or tarries. We would not say that the Lord has appointed a time, and deferred His coming beyond that point; but it is evident the Church has gone forth expecting to meet the bridegroom, that is, at a given point of time; and while, to their apprehension, He tarried through the passing of the time, they all slumbered and slept. No portion of the divine word has been more perfectly accomplished than this parable (thus far) in the Advent movement.

"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him." There can be no question in relation to the nature of this cry; for it is distinctly stated, "Behold the bridegroom cometh." But on the question, Who shall give the cry, there are different opinions. Some conceive definitely it will be Gabriel; others indefinitely, that it will be some one or more of the angelic hosts. But we believe both of these opinions have been assumed without a a substratum in the word of God. The question however, may be asked, Has not the Lord in former times carried out the same principle in his communications to men? Did He not, it may be asked, send an angel to announce the conception of the holy child Jesus? Did not the heavenly hosts announce the birth of the babe of Bethlehem? Was not an angel despatched to say

to his disciples, "He is risen?" And did not Jesus send his angel to testify unto John the things which must shortly come to pass? To this we reply, He did, and there are many more instances of a similar character, to which we might refer. But when such instances are adduced as proof of the position referred to, the principal feature, in regard to those facts, is overlooked. It is evident when the Lord is pleased to reveal his mind and will to the children of men, whether directly by himself, or through the medium of angels, instead of announcing the fact or communication to the entire Church himself, or through the instrumentality of angels, he makes the revelation to one or more of his faithful servants, and then employs them as organs of divine communication to the mass of believers. And in all the instances to which allusion has been had, human instrumentalities have been made use of for the dissemination of light and truth; and numerous other examples might be referred to, to substantiate the same position. And are we to expect the Lord will depart from the established principles of his moral government, and in this momentous dispensation of his hand, involving all the dearest interests of his beloved children, will He fail to give the timely notice, to impart the joyful tidings? Nay verily; for Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

But we pass to notice the main objection to our position.

OBJECTION. How can the virgins give the cry, when they are represented as being asleep?

ANSWER. They cannot.

OBJECTION. How then can the cry be made, unless by angels?

ANSWER. By the servants of Christ.

OBJECTION. The servants of Christ constitute a part of the Church represented by the virgins; hence, that is a false position.

ANSWER. What evidence have you that the servants of Christ, that is, the watchmen, are included among the virgins?

OBJECTION. We read, "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins," etc. Now as the ministry, as well as the membership, expected the coming of the bridegroom, it follows, of course, that they constituted an integral part of the Church, or kingdom of heaven, represented by the ten virgins.

ANSWER. On this subject let us trace the analogy of scripture. In Matt. xiii: 24-30, Christ presents the parable of the wheat and tares. In the exposition of this parable (v. 38) he says: "The good seed are the children of the kingdom." Now if the good seed are the children of the kingdom, who are the servants of the householder that say unto him, "Wilt thou, then, that we go and gather them (the tares) up?" It is obvious they are the watchmen, or servants of Christ. In 1 Cor. iii: 9, the same distinction is observed between the ministry and the membership. "For we," (namely, Paul and Apollos,) "are laborers together with God; ye," (the Church) "are God's husbandry; ye," (the Church) "are God's building." The "husbandry," "building," "good seed in the field," and "ten virgins," all sustain one and the same position; while the "laborers," namely, Paul and Apollos, the