66 "be. For as in the days that were before the 6 flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and "knew not until the flood came, and took "them all away; so shall also the coming of "the Son of man be. Then shall two be in "the field; the one shall be taken, and the "other left. Two women shall be grinding at "the mill; the one shall be taken, and the "other left. And take heed to yourselves, "lest at any time your hearts be overcharged "with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares "of this life, and so that day come upon you 66 unawares. For as a snare shall it come, on "all them that dwell on the face of the whole "earth. "Watch therefore for ye know not what "hour your Lord doth come. But know this, "that if the good man of the house had known "in what watch the thief would come, he "would have watched, and would not have "suffered his house to be broken up. There"fore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 66 "For the son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his "work, and commanded the porter to watch. 66 When the day of desolation shall come upon the city and temple, the inhabitants will be as thoughtless and unconcerned, and unprepared for it, as the antediluvians were for the flood in the days of Noah. The providence of God will make a distinction between his faithful and disobedient servants, he will protect the one, but leave the other to be taken and destroyed. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, "whom his lord hath made ruler over his "houshold, to give them meat in due season? "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when "he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say "unto you, That he shall make him ruler over "all his goods. But and if that evil servant "shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his "coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the "drunken; the lord of that servant shall come "in a day when he looketh not for him, and “in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall "cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion "with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping "and gnashing of teeth. Watch ye therefore: "for ye know not when the master of the "house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at "the cock crowing, or in the morning: lest "coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. "And what I say unto you, I say unto all, "Watch. 66 a "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be "likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and "five were foolish. They that were foolish took "their lamps, and took no oil with them: but "the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried they "all slumbered and slept. And at midnight 66 * This parable alludes to the ceremony used in Jewish marriages, in bringing home the bride by night, when the virgins who attended her, went out to meet the bridegroom with lamps, to give them light in the way. 66 66 "there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. "Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed "their lamps. And the foolish said unto the "wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are 66 gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came "also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, 66 open to us. But he answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man "cometh. 66 66 a "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man "travelling into a far country, who called his "own servants, and delivered unto them his 66 goods. And unto one he gave five talents, "to another two, and to another one: to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that "had received the five talents went and traded "with the same, and made them other five "talents. And likewise he that had received 66 two, he also gained other two. But he that "had received one went and digged in the "earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, 66 The object of this and the following parable is to call our attention to the last solemn day of retribution, and to warn us of the necessity of being always prepared for it. "and reckoneth with them. And so he that "had received five talents came, and brought "other five talents, saying, Lord, thou de"liveredst. unto me five talents: behold, I "have gained beside them five talents more, "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good "and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful "over a few things, I will make thee ruler "over many things: enter thou into the joy "of thy lord. He also that had received two "talents came, and said, Lord, thou deliveredst "unto me two talents: behold, I have gained "two other talents beside them. His lord "said unto him, Well done, good and faithful "servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy lord. "Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou "art an hard man, reaping where thou hast "not sown, and gathering where thou hast not "strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid 66 66 66 66 thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast "that is thine. His lord answered and said “unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, "thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, " and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to "the exchangers, and then at my coming I "should have received mine own with usury.* "Take therefore the talent from him, and give "it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he "shall have abundance: but from him that a With interest. hath not, shall be taken away even that “which he hath. And cast ye the unprofit"able servant into outer darkness: there shall "be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 119. Jesus describes the proceedings at the last day. How Jesus employed himself during this week. 66 66 "WHEN the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then "shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: "and before him shall be gathered all nations; " and he shall separate them one from ano"ther, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from "the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then "shall the King say unto them on his right "hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inhe"rit the kingdom prepared for you from the "foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, "and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: "I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we "thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, "and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 or in prison, and came unto thee? And the "King shall answer and say unto them, Verily "I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done 1 |