II. " And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." The time during which the bridegroom tarried represents life, during which even the good sometimes slumber through venial carelessness. The wicked fall into a profound sleep, that is, into a total forgetfulness of God, and a complete spiritual lethargy. Take care not to slumber during the short space of life, lest you fall into a profound sleep. Listen to the words of the Apostle, who wishes to rouse Christians to a sense of their important duty. " Rise, thou that sleepest, and Christ will enlighten thee." (Eph. v. 14.)
III. " And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye forth to meet him!" (Matt. xxv. 6.) Your judge will come on a sudden, when you least expect him. Learn, therefore, to be always prepared for death. "The day of the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night." (1 Thes. v. 2 ) If your temporal life were in danger, and you had reason to be afraid of thieves, you would not sleep; how, then, can you sleep when your eternal salvation is in danger? Often let the words sound in your ears, "Behold the bridegroom cometh," lest he come when you are not prepared to meet him. " Watch ye, therefore," says Christ, " because you know not the day nor the hour."
SATURDAY.
The Ten Virgins —II.
I. "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps." (Matt. xxv. 7.) At the approach of death every one is generally alarmed and perplexed, but those who have not lived well, find no oil of charity in the lamp that
