聖書注解書

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven — Our Saviour here continueth his former discourse, and sets it on by a second parable to the same purpose; not so much for the difficulty of the matter, as for our dulness and backwardness to believe and improve it. Moses would have men whet good things upon their children’s minds and memories, by going often over them, as the knife doth over the whetstone. Deuteronomy 6:7 . Repetere sicut in acuendo. Shanan et Shanab sunt cognata. Solomon saith good counsel should be fastened as nails driven home to the head, Ecclesiastes 12:11 . Paul holds it profitable to write the same things, though not in the same words, to his Philippians, Matthew 4:1 . Peter slacks not to rouse up ( διεγειρειν ) those to whom he writes, by remembering them of those points wherein they were ready and well-rooted,2 Peter 1:12-13; 2 Peter 1:12-13 . And Austin adviseth preachers so long to press the same truths, till they read in their hearers’ very visage that they resent and relish them.

Unto ten virgins — Virgins without number,Song of Solomon 6:8; Song of Solomon 6:8 . Professors at large, good and bad, one with another.

Which took their lamps — The solemnities of marriage were anciently performed and celebrated by night, Luke 12:35 ; (Plutarch, Problem.), and the bridegroom brought to his lodging by the virgins bearing burning lamps before him.

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And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Five were foolish — That is, some were wise, and some others foolish, and these last usually the most imprudent, improvident, after witted, oculos habentes in occipitio, having eyes in the back of their head, that foresee not a following mischief, but come in with their fools’ Had I known, with their Si praescivissem, as the lion in the fable ( μωραι quasi μη ορωσαι ). The Spaniards say of the Portuguese that they are pocos y focos, few and foolish. But of foolish virgins, that is, of profligate professors, that have no more than an outside, there are not a few, but more than a good many in all places, Song of Solomon 6:8-9 .

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They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Took their lamps, and took no oil — Empty casks, barren fig trees, pretenders only to the power of godliness; of whom it may be said, as Livy saith of the Athenians, that they waged war against Philip the father of Persius, king of Macedonia (so these against the devil, the world, and the flesh); literis verbisque, quibus solis valent. These carry Uriah’s letters about them destructory to themselves. For if religion be not good, why do they profess it? If it be, why do they not practise it? To such it may fitly be said, as Archidamus to his son, rashly conflicting with the enemy without sufficient strength, Aut viribus adde, aut animis adime, so either add practise, or leave profession: and as Alexander having a soldier of his own name, and this soldier being a coward, he came to him and said, Either leave off the name of Alexander, or be valiant; so let these nominals either lay by their lamps or take oil with them.

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But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But the wise took oil — That is, true faith in their hearts, which, as oil, is spreading, softening, suppling, soaking. Christ putteth not upon his a washy colour of profession (a blockwood blue), but he dyeth them in grain, with true grace and holiness.

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While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

While the bridegroom tarried — Tarry he doth. 1. To exercise our patience. 2. To eneager our desires. 3. That his elect may be all gathered. 4. That the mystery of iniquity may be fulfilled. 5. That the prophecies may be accomplished, …

They all slumbered — The wise ones also slept, but their hearts awakened, Song of Solomon 5:2 ; they slept but half asleep, they napped and nodded ( ενυαταξαν ), they slept with open eyes as the lion doth; the spirit was willing to wake, but the flesh was weak and overweighed it. They slumbered, but it was by candle light, they had their lamps burning by them, which the foolish had not.

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And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

There was a cry made — By the trumpet of the archangel, Recte ad Archangeli vocem referetur. Aret. and the voice of God, say some interpreters; and Jerome reports it for an apostolic tradition that Christ shall come at midnight. But of that hour no man knoweth, saith the Judge himself. Others there are that expound this cry of the preaching of the gospel, according to that voice of the crier, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord," …, Matthew 3:3 ; And here- clames ut stentora vincas, Cry aloud, spare not, …

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Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And trimmed their lamps — The foolish also made a fair flourish, and held themselves, haply, in case good enough for heaven; deceiving their own hearts, or rather deceived by them, while they use fallacious and specious sophisms, James 1:26 , to make themselves believe their penny to be good silver, when as it is nothing better than a slip.

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And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Our lamps are gone out — They were not lighted lamps, but sparks of their own tinderboxes; fantastic fire, an ignis fatuus, foolish fire, a painted flame, which neither heats nor lights. The glowworm seems to have both heat and light, but touch it, and it hath neither. Alchemy gold may seem brighter and better than true gold, but it can neither pass the seventh fire, nor comfort the heart as a cordial: so here. A man may live by a form, but he cannot die by it. They that kindle a fire, but not of God’s sanctuary, and compass themselves about with specious sparks, they may walk here for a while in the light of their fire, and in the sparks that they have kindled. But when all is done, this is all they shall have of God’s hand, they shall lie down to sorrow, Isaiah 50:11 .

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