The parable of “the ten virgins” serves to illustrate the evil of inaction and delay. This parable is drawn from the sad history of Vesta,—a little girl of eight years, who takes the most solemn vow of celibacy for thirty years, and is subject to terrible torture if the lamp she [25] tends is not replenished with oil day and night, so that the flame never expires. The moral of the parable is pointed, and the diction purely Oriental. We learn from this parable that neither the cares of this world nor the so-called pleasures or pains of mate- [30] rial sense are adequate to plead for the neglect of spiritual light, that must be tended to keep aglow the flame of [Page 342.] devotion whereby to enter into the joy of divine Science [1] demonstrated. The foolish virgins had no oil in their lamps: their way was material; thus they were in doubt and dark- ness. They heeded not their sloth, their fading warmth [5] of action; hence the steady decline of spiritual light, until, the midnight gloom upon them, they must borrow the better-tended lamps of the faithful. By entering the guest-chamber of Truth, and beholding the bridal of Life and Love, they would be wedded to a higher [10] understanding of God. Each moment’s fair expect- ancy was to behold the bridegroom, the One “altogether lovely.” It was midnight: darkness profound brooded over earth’s lazy sleepers. With no oil in their lamps, no [15] spiritual illumination to look upon him whom they had pierced, they heard the shout, “The bridegroom cometh!” But how could they behold him? Hear that human cry: “Oh, lend us your oil! our lamps have gone out,— no light! earth’s fables flee, and heaven is afar [20] off.” The door is shut. The wise virgins had no oil to spare, and they said to the foolish, “Go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.” Seek Truth, and pursue it. It should cost you something: you are willing to pay for error [25] and receive nothing in return; but if you pay the price of Truth, you shall receive _all_. “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light;” they watch the market, acquaint themselves with the etiquette of the exchange, [30] and are ready for the next move. How much more should we be faithful over the few things of Spirit, that are able [Page 343.] to make us wise unto salvation! Let us watch and pray [1] that we enter not into the temptation of ease in sin; and let us not forget that others before us have laid upon the altar all that we have to sacrifice, and have passed to their reward. Too soon we cannot turn from disease [5] in the body to find disease in the mortal mind, and its cure, in working for God. Thought must be made better, and human life more fruitful, for the divine energy to move it onward and upward.