Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/488

 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."

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