There is one more class justly belonging to the number of those already described.  This is a sad class indeed, although probably no worse off than some others.  I hope no one here will ever be found in their number.  You may read about them in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.  They are called the “foolish virgins.”  We all know that a virgin is an unmarried woman who has kept the integrity of her virtue unbroken.  The ten spoken of in the chapter are virgins in a figurative sense.  They are so called because in appearance and profession they were not defiled with the world.  They all had lamps.  David says:  “Thy word is a LAMP unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  Each one had this lamp according to their understanding and use of the Word.  All denominations of Christians claim the Word as their lamp or guide through the darkness of this world.  But lamps differ greatly in almost every imaginable way,—­in form, size, material and illuminating capacity.  Much also depends upon the sight.  If the sight be diseased, not good, the same lamp that shines brightly to one may be darkness to another.  “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light; but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be darkness.  If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!”

The foolish virgins had lamps, that is, they professed faith in God’s Word, but their faith lacked the oil of love; it was not made perfect by works in life proceeding from love to God and their neighbor.  Oil in the Scriptures stands for love.  Priests and kings had to be anointed with oil as a sign or emblem that they were to perform their official duties from love.  Hence the light that is fed by pure oil beautifully symbolizes the truth that shines in the Christian’s life, warm with the love of God; but the light that comes from a wick in a lamp destitute of oil symbolizes the life of the hypocrite, the vain professor.  It may burn for a little; but it will soon go out and leave him in eternal darkness.  The wise virgins represent those who make a profession of faith in the light of truth and in the love of it.  These go in with the Lord to the marriage feast.  But the foolish virgins find the door shut.  They call, “Lord, Lord, open to us.”  But he answers by saying:  “I know you not.”  “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

I recently heard of a preacher who had attended one of our meetings.  If I remember rightly, a good deal had that day been said on the importance and value of good works.  I think that one who had spoken that day went so far as to quote these words of the Lord:  “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.”  Good works are good fruit, he had also said.  He had quoted this passage too:  “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”  Evil works are evil fruit, he had also said.