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5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

the left side thereof. Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then he spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zec. iv. 2-6. John bare witness of him (Jesus), and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John i. 15, 16. He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. John iii. 34. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Ro. viii. 9. He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Co. i. 21, 22. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith: meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Ga. v. 22, 23. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things: the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John ii. 20. 27. These be they (the mockers) who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 19.

5 The bridegroom tarried.] See verse 19. If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming: the Lord of that servant shall come in a day he looketh not for him. Mat. xxiv. 48. The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come; it will not tarry. Hab. ii. 3. If that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men- servants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him. Lu. xii. 45, 46. A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. Lu. xx. 9. Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. He. x. 36, 37. Where is the promise of his coming (say the scoffers), for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation? For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the

earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store; reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years; and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concern. ing his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Pe. iii. 4-9. That which ye have already hold fast till I come. Re. ii. 25.

Can. iii. 1. I sleep,

They all slumbered and slept.] And he (Jesus) cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep; and saith unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cap may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and ivand them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy. Mat. xxvi. 40, 41, 42, 43. By night on my bed I sought him (said the church) whom my soul loveth; I sought "him" (“Christ”), but I found him not. but my heart waketh. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undenied: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. Can. v. 2. The mariners were afraid (at the mighty tempest). and cried every man to his god; and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them: but Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God; if be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. Jonah i. 5, 6. Simon, sleepest thou (said Jesus, when he found the discipica sleeping)? Couldest not thou watch one hour? watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mar. xiv. 37, 38. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth. Lu. xviii. 8. Knowing the time. that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Ro. xiii. 11. Wherefore he saith. Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead; and Christ shall give thee light. E v. 14. Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober; for they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober; putting ou

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And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom 6 cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, 7

the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 1 The. v. 6, 7,8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pe. v. 8.

descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 1 The. iv. 16. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. 2 Pe. iii. 10.

6 At midnight, &c.] Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. Mat. xxiv. 44. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know Behold, the bridegroom cometh, &c.] See not when the time is. For the Son of man is verse 31. Our God shall come, and shall not as a man taking a far journey, who left his keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, house, and gave authority to his servants, and and it shall be very tempestuous round about to every man his work; and commanded the him. He shall call to the heavens from above, porter to watch. Watch ye, therefore, for ye and to the earth, that he may judge his people. know not when the master of the house Gather my saints together unto me; those cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cock- that have made a covenant with me by sacri#crowing, or in the morning; lest coming sud- fice. And the heavens shall declare his rightedenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say ousness: for God is judge himself. Ps. 1. 3unto you, I say unto all; watch. Mar. xiii. 6. Then shall all the trees of the wood re33-37. Thou fool (said God to the rich joice before the Lord; for he cometh, for he man in the parable)! this night thy soul shall cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge be required of thee; then whose shall those the world with righteousness, and the people things be which thou hast provided? "If with his truth. Ps. xcvi. 12, 13. Let the "he" ("the Lord of the servants") shall come hills be joyful together before the Lord; for in the second watch; or come in the third he cometh to judge the earth: with rightewatch; and find them "so” (“ watching"), ousness shall he judge the world, and the ⚫ blessed are those servants; and this know, people with equity. Ps. xcviii. 8, 9. To you that if the good man of the house had known who are troubled (God will recompense), rest what hour the thief would come, he would with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be rehave watched, and not have suffered his vealed from heaven with his mighty angels, house to be broken through. Be ye there- in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that fore ready also; for the Son of man cometh know not God, and that obey not the gospel at an hour when ye think not. The Lord of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be of that (wicked) servant will come in a day punished with everlasting destruction from the when he looketh not for him, and at an hour presence of the Lord, and from the glory of when he is not aware, and will cut him in his power: when he shall come to be glorified sunder, and will appoint him his portion with in his saints, and to be admired in all them that the unbelievers. Lu. xii. 20. 38, 39, 40. 46. believe (because our testimony among you was But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye believed) in that day. 2 The. i. 7-10. And have no need that I write unto you. For Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, propheyourselves know perfectly that the day of the sied of "these" ("false teachers"), saying, Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of when they shall say, Peace and safety; then his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and sudden destruction cometh upon them, as to convince all that are ungodly among them travail upon a woman with child, and they of all their ungodly deeds which they have shall not escape. 1 The. v. 1, 2, 3. Behold, ungodly committed, and of all their hard I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth. speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken Re. xvi. 15. against him. Jude 14. 15.

A cry made.] And he (the Son of man) shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mat. xxiv. 31. Marvel not at this {that judgment is given to the Son of man), for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall some forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29. For the Lord himself shall

Go ye out to meet him.] See verse 1. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us this is our Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Is. xxv. 9. Therefore (as they did not return to the Lord) thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Am. iv. 12. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall sud

8 and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 9 Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise

answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: 10 but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And

denly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap. Mal. iii. 1, 2. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. Re. xix. 7, 8, 9. 7 All those virgins arose, &c.] Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning. Lu. xii. 35. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Pe. iii. 14. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee (said the faithful witness to the angel of the church of Ephesus), because thou hast left thy first love: remem→ ber therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Re. ii. 4, 5. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Re. iii. 2. 19, 20.

while for when tribulation or persecution
ariseth because of the word, by and by he is
offended. Mat. xiii. 20, 21. "So" ("as the
flag without water") are the paths of all that
forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall
perish: whose hope shall be cut off, and whose
trust shall be a spider's web. Job viii, 13, 14.
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out,
and the spark of his fire shall not shine. Job
xviii. 5. How oft is the candle of the wicked
put out? and how oft cometh their destruction
upon them?
anger. Job xxi. 17. The path of the just is
as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day. The way of the
wicked is as darkness; they know not at what
they stumble. Pr. iv. 18, 19. The light of
the righteous rejoiceth, but the lamp of the
wicked shall be put out. Pr. xiii. 9. Whose
curseth his father or his mother, his lamp
shall be put out in obscure darkness. Pr.
xx. 20. Take heed therefore how ye hear:
for whosoever hath, to him shall be given:
and whosoever hath not, from him shall be
taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Lu. viii. 18. Let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning. Lu. xii. 35.

God distributeth sorrows in his

Gone out.] Let us therefore fear; lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it He. iv. 1.

9 Lest there be not enough, &c.] None of them (who trust in their wealth, &c.) can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever,) that he should still live for ever, and not see 8 Give us of your oil.] Think not to say corruption. Ps. xlix. 7, 8, 9. And it shall within yourselves, We have Abraham to our come to pass (said God of the utter rejection father; for I say unto you, that God is able of the Jews), if they say unto thee, Whither of these stones to raise up children unto Abra- shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, ham. Mat. iii. 9. Father Abraham, have Thus saith the Lord; Such as are for death, mercy on me (said the rich man, being in tor- to death; and such as are for the sword, to ments), and send Lazarus, that he may dip the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the tip of his finger in water, and cool my the famine; and such as are for the captivity, tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. Lu. to the captivity. Je. xv. 2. Though thest xvi. 24. Pray ye to the Lord for me (said three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it Simon the sorcerer), that none of these things (the land that sinneth against God), they which ye have spoken come upon me. should deliver but their own souls by their viii. 24. Behold, I will make them of the righteousness, saith the Lord God. If I synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, cause noisome beasts to pass through the and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, them to come and worship before thy feet, that no man may pass through because of the and to know that I have loved thee. Re. beasts, though these three men were in it, as I iii. 9. live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Exiv. 14, 15, 16. 20.

Ac.

For our lamps, &c.] He that received seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a

But go ye rather to them that sell.] Ha

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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open 11

every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me, hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Is. Iv. 1, 2, 3. 6, 7. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness (said Peter to Simon the sorcerer), and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Ac. viii. 22. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. Re. iii. 17, 18.

10 The Bridegroom came.] See verse 6. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Re. i. 7. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Re. xxii. 12. 20. They that were ready.] See verses 20-23. And they (in the famine of the word) shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. Am. viii. 12, 13. Let your loins be girded, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Lu. xii. 36, 37. We also do not cease to pray for you, that ye night walk worthy of the Lord unto

all pleasing; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. i. 12. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Ti. iv. 8. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind; be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pe. i. 13.

And the door was shut.] And they that went in (to the ark), went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him (Noah), and the Lord shut him in. Ge. vii. 16. Say unto them (the Israelites), As truly as I live, saith the Lord (to Moses and Aaron), as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you; your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wan→ der in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. Nu. xiv. 28-34. Unto whom (the people that do err in their hearts) I sware in my wrath (saith God), that they should not enter into my rest, Ps. xcv. 11. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. And he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not, whence ye are. Lu. xiii. 25. To whom sware "he" ("the Lord") that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. He. iii. 18, 19. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Re. xxii. 11.

11 Saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but

12 to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know 13 you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the 14 hour wherein the Son of man cometh. For the kingdom of heaven

is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own ser15 vants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave

he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat. vii. 21, 22, 23. Follow peace with all men, and holiness; without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently, lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance. He. xii. 14-17.

43, 44. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Ac. xx. 31. Watch thou in all things, eudure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Ti. iv. 5.

14 As a man travelling.] See chap. xxi. 33. A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Lu. xix. 12, 13.

And delivered unto them his goods.] There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. Lu. xvi. 1, &c. Hav12 I know you not.] For the Lord know- ing then gifts, differing according to the grace eth the way of the righteous, but the way of that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us the ungodly shall perish. Ps. i. 6. The prophesy according to the proportion of faith; foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: hatest all workers of iniquity. Ps. v. 5. or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, exhorteth, on exhortation. He that giveth, and canst not look on iniquity. Wherefore let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, lookest thou upon them that deal treach- with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with erously, and holdest thy tongue when the cheerfulness. Ro. xii. 6, 7, 8. Who then is wicked devoureth the man that is more right- Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by eous than he? Hab. i. 13. Then shall ye whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in every man. 1 Co. iii. 5. Let a man so se thy presence, and thou hast taught in our count of us as of the ministers of Christ, and streets. But he shall say, I tell you I know stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, you not whence ye are; depart from me, all it is required in stewards that a man be found ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weep- faithful. 1 Co. iv. 1, 2. Now there are diing and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see versities of gifts, but the same Spirit. But Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the the manifestation of the Spirit is given to prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you every man to profit withal. For to one is yourselves thrust out. And they shall come given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to from the east, and from the west, and from the another the word of knowledge, by the same north, and from the south, and shall sit down Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit: in the kingdom of God. And behold, there to another the gifts of healing, by the same are last which shall be first, and there are Spirit; to another the working of miracles, to first which shall be last. Lu. xiii. 26-30. another prophecy, to another discerning of Now we know that God heareth not sinners: spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to but if any man be a worshipper of God, and another the interpretation of tongues. doeth his will, him he heareth. John ix. 31. these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Co and they follow me. John x. 27. If any xii. 4-12. God hath set some in the church, man love God, the same is known of him. 1 first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly Co. viii. 3. But now, after that ye have teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of known God, or rather are known of God, healings, helps, governments, diversities of how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets! elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in are all teachers? are all workers of miracies? bondage? Ga. iv. 9. Nevertheless the foun- have all the gifts of healing? do all speak dation of God standeth sure, having this seal: with tongues? do all interpret? But coret The Lord knoweth them that are his; and earnestly the best gifts. 1 Co. xii. 28, 29, 30. let every one that nameth the name of Christ And he gave some apostles, and some pro depart from iniquity. 2 Ti. ii. 19. phets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. Ep. iv. 11. Use hospitality

13 Watch, therefore.] See chap. xxiv. 42

But all

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