. 9The Wise and Foolish Virgins.These virgins wee young; for in the East, if they;ad been old, theywould have been married; and yet they were asked to their lord's wedding.Christ still says, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid themnot, for of such is the kingdom of GOD." Now, by a marriage feast ourLORD sometimes meant the kingdom of GOD, as He did in the parable ofthe Wedding Garment. And I think you know when children are askedto that feast. It is when they are baptized.At our baptism we are told to prepare for the Great Feast with ourLORD in heaven, when He calls us; and, like the virgins in the parable, wemust be quite ready.h Thtoil in the lamps ready to light meant gentle and good behaviour,kind fords, and love and obedience; and children who have these have"oil for their lamps," and even if JESUs calls them to Him when they arenot expecting Him, they will be ready.a_ GOD has sent us into the world that we may do all the good we canto everybody. We are told we must "do unto others as we would theyshould do unto us." Now, no one likes to be spoken to crossly, or to beunkindly treated. So children must take care to speak gently, and to mindwhat is said to them, and not to be idle and careless, but always trying todo that which pleases GOD.Then if He calls them home to heaven soon, they will be quite readyto go. You will see by what we have said, that the wise virgins were notunkind to the foolish ones when they would not give them some oil, because'it is not possible for us to help each other, when we are called by JESUS togo to Him. We cannot give other people our good works. You cannotunderstand this yet, but the virgins were not unkind.Let us try to keep the lamp of love and obedience lighted, and thenwhen He calls us, we shall be ready for JESUS to take us to His heavenlyhome.An,