The Remembrancer: 1896, "Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh!" (25:1-13)


MATTHEW. 25:1-13.

at midnight

never was repeated.

never was repeated;

midnight was past!

the door was shut.

All this is truly solemn, and the more so when we see how the parable connects itself with the previous one: " Then shall the kingdom of heaven," etc. (ver. 1), i. e., in the state of things which we find in the parable of the wicked servant-who said in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming. Mark this; he did not deny that he would come at some time or other, but it did not suit his plans and his association with the drunken, or his assumption of power tyrannizing over his fellow-servants. His heart dictated his conduct in all this. What has Christendom done but this? Centuries of worldliness and assumption of authority have characterized her; and instead of meat in due season, her effort has been to extinguish the hope of the Lord's return, as an ever present thing, as hut ill suited to her. She has brought in all sorts of events to be fulfilled before that. She does not say, He will not come," but puts it off as far as possible from a present, living hope.

In such a state of things, the Lord has given the warning cry. Of late years it has resounded far and wide. Opinions have varied, and speculations have been put forth as to the true character of that return. Still, the cry has gone forth-the midnight cry-for it was at midnight the cry 'was made; and it was after midnight the confusion, which was the result of it, took place.

Let us look around us in Christendom at present, and see if we cannot discover this very state of things-confusion of every kind. Many of those who profess His name have waked up from the slumber which has crept over the Church for centuries—wakened by the midnight cry.

Reader, are you one of those who have heard the cry? And are you conscious of the possession of that which will admit you to the marriage? I appeal to your conscience before God. Is this so, or is it not? Remember this, the cry never was repeated.

EVIL SERVANT-" My Lord delayeth his corning."-Matt. 24:48.

SCOFFER—"Where is the promise of His coming? "—2 Peter 3:4.

CHRISTIAN—"Come, Lord Jesus."—Rev. 22:20.