the Miracles present only one or another, no t all the aspects of the truth.

Another archæological inquiry will, perhaps, be more helpful to our understanding of this

Parable. The 'lamps' - not 'torches' - which the Ten Virgins carried, were of well -known

construction. They bear in Talmudic writings commonly the name Lappid, but the

Aramaised from the Greek word in the New Testament also occurs as Lampad and

Lampadas.3 The lamp consisted of a round receptacle for pitch or oil for the wick. This

was placed in a hollow cup or deep saucer - the Beth Shiqqua4 - which was fastened by

a pointed end into a long wooden pole, on which it was borne aloft. According to Jewish

authorities,5 it was the custom in the East to carry in a bridal procession about ten such

lamps. We have the less reason to doubt that such was also the case in Palestine,

since, according to rubric, ten was the number required to be present at any office or

ceremony, such as at the benedictions accompanying the marriage-ceremonies. And, in

the peculiar circumstances supposed in the Parable, Ten Virgins are represented as

going forth to meet the Bridegroom, each bearing her lamp.

The first point which we mark is, that the Ten Virgins brought, presumably to the bridal

house, 'their own6 lamps.' Emphasis must be laid on this. Thus much was there of

personal preparation on the part of all. But while the five that were wise brought also 'oil

in the vessels'7 [presumably the hollow receptacles in which the lamp proper stood], the

five foolish Virgins neglected to do so, no doubt expecting that their lamps would be

filled out of some common stock in the house. In the text the foolish Virgins are

mentioned before the wise,8 because the Parable turns to this. We cannot be at a loss

to interpret the meaning of it. The Bridegroom far away is Christ, Who is come for the

Marriage-Feast from 'the far country' - the Home above - certainly on that night, but we

know not at what hour of it. The ten appointed bridal companions who are to go forth to

meet Him are His professed disciples, and they gather in the bridal house in readiness

to welcome His arrival. It is night, and a marriage-procession: therefore, they must go

forth with their lamps. All of them have brought their own lamps, they all have the

Christian, or say, the Church-profession: the lamp, in the hollow cup on the top of the

pole. But only the wise Virgins have more than this - the oil in the vessels, without which

the lamps cannot give their light. The Christian or Church-profession is but an empty

vessel on the top of a pole, without the oil in the vessels. We here remember the words

of Christ: 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and

glorify your Father Which is in heaven.'9 The foolishness of the Virgins, which consisted

in this that they had omitted to bring their oil, is thus indicated in the text: 'All they which

[αιτινες]10 were foolish, when they brought their own lamps, brought not with them oil:'

they brought their own lamps, but not their own oil. This (as already explained),

probably, not from forgetfulness - for they could scarcely have forgotten the need of oil,

but from the wilful neglect, in the belief that there would be a common stock in the

house, out of which they would be supplied, or that there would be sufficient time for the

supply of their need after the announcement that the Bridegroom was coming. They had