dying Saviour? Because they think, and rightly think, that they ought not to partake of it without repentance, and for repentance they think the season is not yet arrived. They appear resolved to go on in their sins as long as they can, and fondly imagine, that when the time comes that they can sin no longer, when they are now about to leave this world, and its temptations, its pleasures, or its business have no more hold on them, that then it will be soon enough to think of returning to God, and that a few tears shed on their deathbed, a general acknowledgment of their guilt, or slight professions of faith in Christ, and perhaps a formal receiving of the Lord's Supper, will be sufficient to atone for the sins of a whole life, and to make their peace with their Maker and their Judge.

I am most anxious to do away so dangerous a delusion. I am most anxious to convince you, that if your repentance has hitherto been delayed, you have not a moment longer to lose, that you must begin to-day while it is called to-day, while God

yet waiteth to be gracious, while the day of salvation yet lasteth.

The passage which I have chosen for my text, is taken from the parable of the ten virgins, which is given in the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew. It may, perhaps, be advisable to read the whole passage to you.

"1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven "be likened unto ten virgins, which took "their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2. And five of them were

wise, and five were foolish. 3. They that "were foolish took their lamps, and took "no oil with them: 4. But the wise took "oil in their vessels with their lamps. "5. While the bridegroom tarried, they "all slumbered and slept. 6. And at

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midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out "to meet him. 7. Then all those virgins. arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8. And "the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of

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your oil; for our lamps are gone out. "9. But the wise answered, saying, Not

"so; lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, "and buy for yourselves. 10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; "and they that were ready went in with "him to the marriage and the door was "shut. 11. Afterwards came also the other "virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12. But he answered and said, Verily I 66 say unto you, I know

:

you not."

It is not necessary to consider particularly, every part of this parable. Its general meaning and intention is sufficiently plain, and such, I trust, as you all readily understand. By the wise virgins are meant those persons, who live in a constant state of preparation for the coming of their Lord, in a constant state of preparation for death, whenever it may arrive. By the unwise virgins are represented those, who continue unprepared, and neglect to make themselves ready, until they are just upon the point of being called hence. By the lamps, which were carried both by the wise and by the unwise, you may understand the profession of

Christianity, which is made both by those who are prepared, and by those who are unprepared. The wise, however, endeavour, in some good measure, to act up to this profession, endeavour to draw near unto God by faith and holiness of living. The unwise live in habitual forgetfulness of the religion which they profess; in forgetfulness of the promise and vow which they made at baptism; in forgetfulness both of the promises and of the threatenings of God; and never think of making themselves ready by faith and genuine repentance to meet their Lord, never think of providing oil for their lamps, until they are upon the point of being summoned to appear before him by the solemn voice of death. The consequence is, that, while those who have taken care beforehand to be ready and prepared, go in with the Bridegroom to the marriage,-are admitted, that is, with the Lord Jesus, into the endless happiness of heaven,-those who neglected to prepare themselves till the last moment, too generally find that, the door is shut. They would gladly enter in, they are

vexed with their own heedlessness and folly, they bitterly reproach themselves for their carelessness and want of thought. Perhaps they take some pains to make up for it. As the foolish virgins, when roused from their slumber, did what they could to procure oil for their lamps, so those persons seek now, perhaps, to repair their faults. But it is all to no purpose. is now too late, the door is shut. The Lord will no longer own them. Verily I say unto I know you not. Depart from me, all workers of iniquity.

you,

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I think that you must at once perceive, how applicable this parable is to the object which I have in view, which is, to show the danger and folly of trusting to a deathbed repentance. By repentance, as I have repeatedly reminded you, I mean not merely shame and sorrow of heart for having done wrong, not simply an acknowledgment that we are sinners, not a slight and vague intention to become better, but I mean, in addition to shame, and sorrow, and confession, a deliberate, fixed resolution,