The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, Treatise · Verse 7
Vers. 7. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps, or cleansed their Lamps.
The Virgins being awakened by the Cry at midnight, did all arise, that is to say, All those Virgin-professors began to shake off their carnal security, and rise from their beds of spiritual ease of sloth, and laziness, and lukewarmness, Isa. 32.9. Rise up ye Women that are at ease, Cant. 3.2. And went out again to meet the Bridegroom, as they were commanded, ver. 6. being glad to hear that Christ was now coming, in that midnight dispensation. They do as David did, Psal. 119.62. At midnight will I arise and give thanks unto thee. As Jonathan arose, and went to meet David, 1 Sam. 23.16. So those Virgin-professors arose and went out again to meet the Bridegroom Christ Jesus the Son of David. Now the Virgins are awakened, and they call upon one another like the Watchmen of Mount Ephraim, saying, Jer. 31.6. Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, unto Jehovah our God. The coming of Christ the Bridegroom will be a morning of such glorious light that shineth from one end of the Heavens unto the other, that will shine upon all the Virgin-professors, and cause the Wise Virgins to arise and shine as was Prophesied, Isa. 60.1, 2. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. — For behold the darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross darkness the People, but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And in order to their shining profession, the Virgins being risen are said to trim their Lamps.
And trimmed their Lamps. It seems whilest the Virgins slumbred and slept, their Lamps decayed; that is to say, The Oile in their Lamps wasted, and was spent, and the wiek and smoaking flax was burnt, and the light that had shined for some time, began to grow dim, and was going out, and some of their Lamps were gone out being foul and unsavoury, ver. 8.
By trimming their Lamps is meant all the means and endeavours those Virgin-professors used to cleanse and purge tneir Lamps, to supply them with Oyle, and wiek or flax, and so to repair their light, and prepare themselves to meet the Bridegroom, that is to say, Now that the Virgins are awakened and are risen up, they, especially the wise Virgins begin again to speak of the glory of Christs Kingdom, and to talk of his power, Psal. 145.10, 11, 12. and to prepare themselves for the coming and Kingdom of Christ. The wise Virgins having Oyle in their Vessels, get their Lamps supplyed. And like the Bride, the Lambs Wife, Rev. 19.7, 8. they make themselves ready, ver. 10. And they that were ready went in with him, (with Christ the Bridegroom) into the Marriage. But the foolish Virgins having no Oyle in their Vessels, that is, They being without Christ, and having not the spiritual Unction of the Grace of God in their hearts, their Lamps went out, and they were shut out of the Marriage Chamber, ver. 10, 11, 12. Whilest they went to buy Oyle, even whilest they were seeking after Christ, Prov. 1.22, 23, 28. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity, and the scorners delight in their scorn, and fools hate knowledge? —Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my Spirit upon you, I will make known my Words unto you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. And Luke 13.24, 25, 26, 27. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many I say unto you shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 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 you are; Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets — But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are, Depart from me all ye Workers of Iniqu…ty.
1. Meditation. The publick Testimony of the nearness of Christs coming as the Bridegroom with spiritual power and great glory in his Saints and Sanction, will awaken and raise some Virgin-professors out of their Security, Backsliding and Apostasie.
That there will be a Cry at midnight, viz. A loud voice from the Lord, a voice from the City, a voice from the Temple, to wit, a publick Ministerial testimony even in the midst of the Midnight Dispensation, and saying, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, hath been shewed in the Exposition of the sixth verse, and the words of this seventh verse testifie that loud voice or Cry did awake and cause the Virgins to Rise, Then all those virgins arose, to wit, out of the slumber and sleep of their sinful silence, worldly ease, carnal security, careless formality, backsliding and Apostasie, and some of them with their Loins girt, and their Lamps burning, did arise and shine, and went out again to meet the Bridegroom.
2. Meditation. That some of the Virgin- professors shall be recovered out of their Security, Backsliding and Apostasie, and shall rise and shine at the coming of Jesus Christ as the Bridegroom of his Church.
God hath promised to heal the Backslidings of his People upon their repentance and returning to the Lord, Jer. 3.22. Return ye back-sliding Children, and I will heal your back-slidings: Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the LORD our God, Hosea 14.1, 4. And he will cause the light of the knowledge of the glory of God to shine in their hearts, 2 Cor. 4.6. And make them shine in a holy Gospel-Conversation, Isa. 60.1, 2, 3. to the praise and glory of God, Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee, — For behold the darkness shall cover the Earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his Glory shall be seen upon thee. And Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the Brightness of thy Rising.
3. Meditation. It's the Duty of Virgin-professors and Church-members to prepare themselves for the coming of Christ as the Bridegroom, Matth. 24.44. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh, Luk. 12.35, 36, 40. Let your Loins be girded about, and your lights burning. — And ye your selves like unto men that wait for the Lord, when he will return from the Wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
To be so prepared and ready, The wise Virgins must put on their beautiful Garments, Isa. 52.1. and rejoyce as Zion did, Isa. 61.10. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness, as a Bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels. And those that have spotted their Garments of profession by any sinful Conversation or complyance, ought to wash their Robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7.14. That so they all being cloathed with fine Linnen, white and clean (which is the Righteousness of the Saints, Rev. 19.8.) as a Bride adorned for her husband, Rev. 21.2. may walk with Christ in white. And (being thus adorned and made ready to meet the Bridegroom) may be counted worthy to enter with him into the Marriage Chamber. Of this Preparation you will read more in ver. 10.